Beth Piraino (USA)

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Dr. Piraino is tenured Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean of Admissions at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She received her bachelors of science from the University of Pittsburgh and attended medical school at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, and graduated magna cum laude. She did her subsequent training in Internal Medicine and Nephrology at the University of Pittsburgh Health Center, after which she joined the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Piraino's major research interest has been to improve outcomes of patients on peritoneal dialysis, in particular by decreasing infectious complications. She has published widely in the area of peritoneal dialysis, with numerous presentations at national and international meetings. She is the former Secretary for the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis, from 2001 to 2006. She received the prestigious Life Time Achievement Award at the 24th Annual Dialysis Conference in February 2004 for contributions to the care of peritoneal dialysis patient.

Mandate

• To foster the development of ISPD-endorsed, evidence-based clinical guidelines for peritoneal dialysis with the intention of improving the practice of the modality
• Where sufficiently rigorous data are not available for guidelines, to provide guidance on best demonstrated practice based on expert opinion and the best available information to provide standards of care.

Membership

Generic Membership

• A minimum of 4 physicians: one European, one North American, one Asian and one Latin-American (including the Chair)
• A nurse and renal dietitian available for particular issues.
• Paediatric representative

Chair

• As appointed by the President of ISPD

Vice Chair

• Franz Schaefer, MD, Germany

Sub-Committee Members

• Judith Bernardini, RN, USA
• Edwina Brown, DM FRCP, UK
• Flavia Caputo, MD, Italy
• Ana Figueiredo, PhD, RN, Brazil
• David Johnson, MD, Australia
• Philip Li, MD, Hong Kong
• Wai C. Lye, MD, Singapore
• Valerie Price, RN, Canada
• S Ramalakshmi, MD, India
• Tao Wang, MD, China

Future Goals

• Position paper on Cardiovascular Risk Factors for PD patients
• Position paper on the Peritoneal Membrane
• Guideline on Nutrition in PD patients