My story

Paul Conway

5 March 2025

Paul Conway is a 48-year kidney patient that has progressed through chronic kidney disease, kidney failure, home dialysis and, for the past 28 years, as a kidney transplant recipient. As a public policy professional and national patient advocate, he is committed to the principles of patient care choice, the ingenuity of free-market healthcare to develop innovations to save more lives, and full inclusion of patients and their insight data in every decision – policy & medical – that is made in their name or on their behalf. In order to achieve these goals, patients must be engaged because true quality in healthcare means the alignment of treatments to match the inherent aspirations of patients (like any other member of society) to exercise their full freedoms to imagine, create, work, live independently and retire securely. Paul is the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) and serves as the Chair of Policy & Global Affairs. He is the former Chair of the US FDA Patient Engagement Advisory Committee (PEAC) and has served in senior roles under US presidents.

Hello, my name is Paul Conway and I have managed kidney disease for most of my life, along with many of the other chronic conditions that accompany this diagnosis, including heart and bone disease. I believe that patients have the unique ability to positively impact and improve the lives of other people who live in fear or uncertainty about their own diagnosis and the prospect of managing a chronic condition, while also maintaining their career, trade or business. It is my hope that by learning about my experiences and those of my patient friends and allies, people facing similar circumstances will gain greater confidence to be proactive in their own care and better advocates for medical innovation and policies that save more lives.
MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0123-1 | May 2025

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MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0123-1 | May 2025

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Patrick Gee

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MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0125-2 | May 2025

Patrick Gee

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Bell Maddux

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MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0129-2 | May 2025

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MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0128-2 | May 2025

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MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0131-1 | May 2025

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Angel Prince

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MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0133-2 | May 2025

Angel Prince

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Wayne Sandvik

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MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0130-2 | May 2025

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Bob Sheridan

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MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0126-2 | May 2025

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Mateja Malnar Štembal

Type 2 diabetes advocate, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Europe
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>>

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0132-2 | May 2025

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Kostas Tagkalos

Type 2 diabetes advocate, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Europe
Greece
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MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0127-2 | May 2025

Kostas Tagkalos

Type 2 diabetes advocate, IDF Europe
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Marc Bains

Heart disease advocate, HeartLife Foundation
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MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0122-2 | May 2025

Uroš Bogdanović

Type 1 diabetes advocate, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Europe
Serbia

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0124-1 | May 2025

Paul Conway

Kidney disease advocate, American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP)
USA

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0123-1 | May 2025

Patrick Gee

Type 2 diabetes and kidney disease advocate
USA

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0125-2 | May 2025

Bell Maddux

Kidney disease advocate, National Kidney Federation (NKF)
USA

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0129-2 | May 2025

Pesh Patel

Kidney disease advocate, National Kidney Federation (NKF)
USA

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0128-2 | May 2025

Adriana Plevniak

Type 1 diabetes advocate, Breakthrough T1D
USA
MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0131-1 | May 2025

Angel Prince

Type 2 diabetes and heart disease advocate, WomenHeart
USA

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0133-2 | May 2025

Wayne Sandvik

Heart disease advocate, HeartLife Foundation
Canada

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0130-2 | May 2025

Bob Sheridan

Heart disease advocate, Mended Hearts
USA

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0126-2 | May 2025

Mateja Malnar Štembal

Type 2 diabetes advocate, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Europe
Slovenia

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0132-2 | May 2025

Kostas Tagkalos

Type 2 diabetes advocate, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Europe
Greece

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0127-2 | May 2025

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0190-1 | May 2025

GET SUPPORT

Navigating lifelong conditions can be overwhelming

If you need support in living with your condition, are looking for educational resources to help you understand more, or want to get involved in research, engagement and advocacy, take a look at our partner organizations.

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0209-1 | May 2025