The World's Premier Nephrology Meeting

Kidney Week 2021 - Important Update

Dear Colleague:

It is with disappointment that I share the following news. With increasing uncertainties around variants of the COVID-19 virus, ASN has changed its plans for the in-person component of ASN Kidney Week 2021 in San Diego, CA. Throughout the planning process for Kidney Week, the health and safety of our members and participants has been a top priority. As such, the ASN Kidney Week Education Committee and staff planned for both an in-person and a fully virtual meeting—completing an incredible amount of work for which I am so grateful.

In recent weeks, the trajectory of rise in cases driven by the delta virus have raised significant concerns about the appropriateness of bringing a large group of people together from across the country and throughout the world. During our meeting last weekend, the ASN Council and Kidney Week Education Committee Chairs voted unanimously to move to a fully virtual meeting.

In light of this decision, ASN has extended early registration for ASN Kidney Week 2021 until Wednesday, September 22. For more information about Kidney Week, including answers to your questions about shifting from a hybrid to a fully virtual meeting, please visit the Kidney Week 2021 FAQs.

I was so looking forward to connecting with all of you in person in November—seeing old friends and colleagues and meeting new ones. However, I know this decision is in the best interest of our meeting participants, our stakeholders, our partners, and—most important—the millions of people who've entrusted us with their health care. ASN must continue to set the standard among health professionals and medical specialty societies. In addition, Kidney Week is such a rich experience because nearly 50% of the participants travel from outside the United States, which would not have been possible this year.

I'm excited about ASN's ability to build on last year's success and provide an incredible educational and scientific experience for all participants. The kidney community is deeply committed to continuing education, learning more about the latest scientific advances, and improving care for the millions of people with kidney diseases, and a fully virtual ASN Kidney Week 2021 will exceed the community's understandably high expectations. I commend the ASN Kidney Week Education Committee—cochaired by Deidra C. Crews, MD, MS, FASN, and S. Ananth Karumanchi, MD—for planning a phenomenal program this year!

Thank you for your understanding, continued support, and for all you do for kidney patients every day. I am very much looking forward to seeing you online in November at Kidney Week 2021.

Sincerely,

Susan E. Quaggin, MD, FASN
ASN President