The American Association of Kidney Patients announced the selection of Robert W. Schrier, MD, as the 2009 Medal of Excellence Award recipient. The Medal of Excellence is an AAKP recognition program honoring a renal physician who has achieved outstanding success in caring for kidney disease patients, while also possessing extraordinary skills and devotion in the field of nephrology.

Schrier is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. His vast contributions to the renal community include patient-oriented research in acute kidney injury; autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease; hypertension and diabetic nephropathy; renal sodium and water retention in heart failure and cirrhosis. He has published more than 900 scientific articles in these areas of clinical research. This research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than 35 years.

Schrier’s presence in the field of nephrology is felt internationally by his development of the world class nephrology unit at the University of Colorado, which is ranked in the top 10 of 126 medical schools by the US News & World Report. He has trained more than 200 nephrology fellows and has lectured and educated physicians in renal and hypertension patient care in more than 75 countries. He served as President of the American Society of Nephrology, the National Kidney Foundation, and the International Society of Nephrology. Dr. Schrier is the Editor of three major kidney text books and Nature Clinical Practice Nephrology.

“Dr. Schrier’s commitment to excellent patient care and his innovative research is unsurpassed,” stated AAKP President Roberta Wager, RN, MSN. “AAKP is extremely proud to honor his extraordinary dedication to the renal field.”

Dr. Schrier has cared for kidney disease patients for more than 40 years and AAKP is privileged to honor such a remarkable physician for his continued devotion to both patients and the field of nephrology.