Houston, TX (November 2025) — The National Minority Quality Forum’s (NMQF) Nephrologists for Equitable Kidney Care (NEKC) Initiative earned national visibility at ASN Kidney Week 2025 with the presentation of its abstract demonstrating a scalable, community-centered model designed to close persistent gaps in kidney health outcomes. The abstract, “Building Kidney Health Equity Through Community-Centered Advocacy: A Model from the NEKC Initiative,” was selected for ASN’s Diversity and Equity in Kidney Health poster session—recognition that reflects NEKC’s emerging leadership in equity-focused kidney care innovation.

The poster was co-authored and presented by Kelelaye Emiru, MBA, NEKC Lead and Vice President of NMQF’s Center for Professional & Strategic Alliances (CPSA), and Michael DeSalvo Solarte, MSW, CPSA Program Manager and NEKC Co-Lead. During Thursday’s session at the George R. Brown Convention Center, NEKC’s work drew strong engagement from clinicians, researchers, industry representatives, and policy leaders, many of whom expressed interest in NEKC’s innovative approach to mobilizing nephrologists through data, mentorship, and community partnerships.

In addition to the poster presentation, NEKC hosted a dinner reception for members, sponsors, and partners attending ASN Kidney Week. Patients, advocates and representatives from Ardelyx, Biogen, Vertex, the American Kidney Fund, Renal Physicians Association, the GlomCon Foundation, and others gathered for an evening of connection, collaboration, and conversation. The event reinforced NEKC’s role as a convener dedicated to elevating equitable kidney care through relationship building and shared expertise.

See the poster via ASN’s website linked here. 

A Scalable Model for Advancing Kidney Health Equity

Launched in 2024, NEKC provides a national platform for nephrologists, advocates, and health equity leaders committed to eliminating disparities in kidney care. Its model integrates:

• Data-driven insights from NMQF’s Kidney Disease Index and analyses of social drivers of health
• Policy advocacy to protect patient access to optimal care
• Mentorship and professional development to build a diverse, equity-focused nephrology workforce
• Community-centered engagement that strengthens kidney health in underserved populations

“This recognition underscores the urgent need to address inequities in kidney health through patient-centered, collaborative action,” said Kelelaye Emiru, NEKC Co-Author and NMQF Vice President. “NEKC offers a scalable approach for how data, advocacy, and community partnerships can come together to ensure equitable access to optimal kidney care.”

Growing Momentum and National Attention

With more than 10,000 kidney health professionals gathered in Houston, ASN Kidney Week provided a high-visibility platform to showcase NEKC’s progress and outline its expanding national footprint. Conversations sparked by the presentation generated new interest in partnership, data collaboration, educational programming, and future research opportunities.

As NEKC continues to grow, it remains aligned with NMQF’s mission to reduce patient risk, strengthen community health, and advance equitable access to high-quality kidney care.

About the Nephrologists for Equitable Kidney Care (NEKC)

Founded in 2024, NEKC is a collaborative network of nephrologists, clinicians, researchers, and advocates dedicated to eliminating disparities in kidney care. NEKC leverages data, shared expertise, mentorship, and advocacy to support providers who serve underserved communities. Learn more at https://info.nmqf.org/nekc.

About the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF)

Founded in 1998, NMQF is a leading health equity research and advocacy organization committed to reducing preventable illness, disability, and death in vulnerable populations through data analytics, policy leadership, and community partnerships. For more information, please visit http://www.nmqf.org.

Contact

Michael DeSalvo Solarte

Email: mdsolarte@nmqf.org

Phone: 202-519-2022

Website: https://info.nmqf.org/nekc

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