News

Dear ISN Community,

It was an honor to take up my ISN Presidency at the Virtual WCN’21, the first virtual congress in ISN’s history, conducted successfully despite an incredibly challenging global environment. The innovative WCN’21 virtual platform demonstrated the ISN’s commitment to global inclusion, a key theme throughout the year. Indeed, the ISN firmly believes that inclusivity fosters the creativity, innovation, and excellence needed to achieve its mission of advancing kidney health worldwide – together.

As a non-state actor in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), the ISN strongly supports the 1978 Alma Ata Declaration’s assertion that “People have the right and duty to participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of their health care.” Accordingly, I was proud to outline at WHO’s Third Annual Global Summit on Kidney Innovation: Expanding Patient Choices and Outcomes how the ISN helps advance kidney care by empowering local communities through recognizing and supporting regional centers of excellence and encouraging regional training and education.

Throughout 2021, the ISN participated in more than 20 national and regional meetings held by its affiliated and collective member societies in the ten ISN world regions. The ISN adapted quickly to restrictions imposed by the ongoing pandemic and supported its members to hold virtual and hybrid events by identifying expert speakers, helping with recording sessions, devising scientific programs, and even providing access to virtual platforms.

Along with several ISN leaders, I was honored to be part of special joint sessions between the ISN and its affiliated and collective member societies and express a mutual commitment to advancing equitable kidney care.

I was delighted to present the keynote address at the 2021 Women in Nephrology (WIN) Leadership Conference on Developing Future Leaders in Nephrology to share my personal experiences in the field. WIN strives to help women develop exciting careers in kidney care and advocates for education and research relevant to women within the nephrology community.

The ISN continues to succeed in its mission by tirelessly developing and adapting initiatives to advance kidney health worldwide, as showcased in the Insight newsletter. Despite ongoing restrictions on travel and in-person events, the ISN kept innovating in 2021. Notably, the ISN extended accessibility to its current and new members by adapting membership fees according to economic context; we look forward to welcoming an increasingly diverse and global membership. We are also keen to welcome the second Emerging Leaders Program cohort, to be announced shortly. The first cohort enthusiastically passed the baton onto the 2022 group providing animated feedback on the opportunity to develop leadership skills alongside international experts. In addition, the ISN has prepared the groundwork to hold a Consensus Meeting in Translational Nephrology (TRANSFORM) in May next year to best guide translational animal studies in the quest to develop new drugs for kidney care.

Throughout 2022, we will continue to build on the creative solutions and positive outcomes over the past year. We will advance our goals – to build capacity, bridge gaps, and increase our sense of community – by using our talents, passion, and creativity collectively.

Reflecting on everything we have achieved together during 2021, I thank all ISN members and volunteer leaders for their time and dedication: The ISN advances and evolves thanks to your efforts. I look forward with optimism and enthusiasm to the coming year and to continuing to work alongside you – and for you – as your president of the ISN. I wish you all the best for the year ahead.

Agnes Fogo
ISN President