2026 ANNA Carolinas Symposium

Graduate of Medical University of SC then completed internship/residency at University of South Carolina of Medicine in General Surgery. Medical Director of Dialysis Access Institute. Certified by American Board of Surgery & American Society of Interventional & Diagnostic Nephrology. Recipient of Academy of Master Surgeon Educator 2019 & Life Achievement Award in 2015. I have over 40 publications & 66 presentations related to dialysis accesses. Active involvement in numerous research studies in my specialty.

Master's prepared nephrology nurse with over 26 years in nephrology. Former ANNA National President.

Kristin Larson has been a nephrology nurse practitioner and a member of the American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) for 24 years. As an Advanced Practice Nurse, she has cared for individuals with all stages of kidney disease. Kristin’s current role is with Roseman University in South Jordan, Utah, where she leads the hemodialysis rotation for undergraduate student nurses. She also serves as a distance renal educator for NYU—Langone Health and rounds in dialysis clinics in the Salt Lake City area.

Kathy is a Nephrology Nurse Practitioner in practice in Marquette, MI. She began her Nephrology career as a dialysis technician, became a dialysis RN, and then went to grad school to obtain her MSN. She became a board certified NP in 2001. Kathy became Executive Director of NNCC in 2017. She has had numerous presentations and publications throughout her career.

UNC Graduate; Board certified NP in Family & Nephrology. Director of APPs Metrolina Nephrology Associates in Charlotte, supervising largest group of Nephrology APPs. A fellow of NKF, clinical consultant w/ Clear Edge Medical Management, creator & chair of formalized CKD program managing over 29,000 CKD patients. Chief Education Officer & Co-Founder for Interactive Nephrology creating new nephrology APP training programs "Ready for Rounds & Cleared for Clinic"; trained over 240 APPs since launch in June 2020. Served as Chair of ANNA Conf. Committee; held National leadership roles in NKF,ASN & RPA & numerous speaking engagements

Amy is a Transplant Nurse Practitioner at the Ralph H Johnson VA Healthcare System in Charleston, South Carolina. She is currently the clinical administrator for the kidney transplant program that is being started there. She has been a transplant nurse practitioner for 9 years, but has been a Nephrology Nurse Practitioner for 22 years. Prior to working at the VA, she worked in a private practice caring for dialysis and CKD patients. She is serving her second year as President of the Palmetto Chapter for ANNA and joined the Transplant SPN last year. She has presented both nationally and internationally on topics in nephrology.

Dr Dowd has practiced hospice and palliative care since 2017. He is the Medical Director for community-based palliative care at Transitions LifeCare since 2023. He learned about the hemp landscape in North Carolina back in 2019, since then has worked on educating himself and others on the benefits of using cannabinoids for medical purposes. He has presented on this topic to multiple different audiences since 2019; and created personalized symptom management plans using cannabinoids for multiple patients.

Judy has over 25 years in leadership roles at an academic medical center. Her expertise has been sought for multiple presentations and publications related to leadership.

23 years nephrology experience including clinical, operational, leadership, and national clinical support roles within chronic, acute, and pediatric modalities with focus on compliance, safety, and risk mitigation. Clinical evaluation and ranking of new dialysis platform and product technology; bench test, value prop validation, cost optimization and capacity creation solutions. Specify study design and endpoints; Pre-FDA/vendor partnerships to provide feedback on desired features, human factors and labor savings to derive total cost of ownership and assess scalability.