NKF Council Awards
The four NKF Executive Councils acknowledge the contributions of their members and those impacting the kidney community through annual awards given at the NKF Spring Clinical Meetings (SCM). The Executive Councils encourage members and the public to consider submitting nominations for these awards annually. Winners receive free registration to attend SCM, and are celebrated at the NKF Executive Councils Award and Networking Reception.
Nominate exceptional nephrology Social Workers, Dietitians, Nurses, Technicians, and APPs for the esteemed Council Awards by June 30th Winners will be celebrated in New Orleans at the NKF 2026 Spring Clinical Meetings, May 6 - 10.
Congratulations to our 2026 award winners! Winners can be viewed on the NKF Spring Clincal Meetings website.
Jump to: CNNT Awards | CAPP Awards | CNSW Awards | CRN Awards |
Council of Nephrology Nurses and Technicians (CNNT)
Carol Mattix Award
The Council of Nephrology Nurses and Technicians have established the Carol Mattix Award to honor a home-training dialysis nurse or technician who works tirelessly to improve the lives of kidney patients.
Outstanding Dialysis Technician Award
CNNT awards the Outstanding Dialysis Technician Award to a dialysis technician that demonstrates exceptional clinical skills, compassionate care, and exemplary service to kidney patients.
Outstanding Nurse Award
CNNT gives the Outstanding Nurse Award to a nurse that demonstrates exceptional clinical skills, compassionate care, and exemplary service to kidney patients.
CNNT Lifetime Achivement Award
This prestigious award is established to recognize an exceptional and dedicated healthcare professional whose extraordinary leadership in the kidney care community has profoundly advanced the mission of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). It is presented to an individual who has made significant, sustained contributions to the fight against preventable kidney disease and elevated the dignity and quality of care for kidney patients. Through their longstanding dedication, they have exemplified the highest standards of excellence and contributed to their field through action in advocacy, patient care and volunteerism.
Click here to view all past CNNT award recipients.
Council of Advanced Practice Providers (CAPP)
Emerging Excellence in Clinical Practice Award
New for the 2026 award season, this award recognize a CAPP member who is new to Nephrology (within first 5 years of practice) who is demonstrating excellence in clinical care in the Nephrology space.
Nephrology Hero's Award
The Nephrology Hero's Award will be given to an NKF-CAPP member who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to their profession, following in the footsteps of Tim Poole. (Formerly the Tim Poole Award)
Nostradamus Award
CAPP established the Nostradamus Award to be given annually to an individual, group of individuals, or organization that, through forethought and vision, recognizes, supports, and promotes the contributions of Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) in nephrology.
CAPP Lifetime Achivement Award
This prestigious award is established to recognize an exceptional and dedicated healthcare professional whose extraordinary leadership in the kidney care community has profoundly advanced the mission of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). It is presented to an individual who has made significant, sustained contributions to the fight against preventable kidney disease and elevated the dignity and quality of care for kidney patients. Through their longstanding dedication, they have exemplified the highest standards of excellence and contributed to their field through action in advocacy, patient care and volunteerism.
Click here to view all past CAPP award recipients.
Council of Nephrology Social Workers (CNSW)
Merit Award
The Merit Award recognizes a CNSW member who has made noteworthy contributions in the areas of leadership, involvement in projects that impact ESRD patients, contributions to the nephrology social work knowledge base, and contributions to patient services.
New Worker Award
The New Worker Award is given to nephrology social workers who have been in the field 3 to 5 years and who have made noteworthy contributions to patient services and project involvement. One does not need to belong to a Chapter to be nominated. A CNSW member can be nominated by their Chapter or by a nephrology professional.
Award for Social Work in a Transplant Setting
The Award in a Transplant Setting will be awarded to a worker who has been in the transplant field two or more years and made a valuable contribution to social work in the field of renal social work in a transplant setting.
The Sandra Coorough Award for Social Work in a Pediatric Setting
The Sandra Coorough Award for Social Work in a Pediatric Setting will be given to a worker who has been in the pediatric field for two or more years, and has made a valuable contribution to social work in the field of pediatric renal social work.
Recognized Chapter Award
The Recognized Chapter Award is given to one affiliated NKF-CNSW Chapter. Chapter activities are reviewed based on development of patient-focused or professional materials, collaboration with renal related organizations and chapter cooperation with CNSW.
Robert Whitlock Lifetime Achievement AwardThis award is named in honor of Robert W. Whitlock, MSSW, MHA, LCSW, Director of the Missouri Kidney Program (MoKP), and a leader in the kidney community, who passed away in 2008. Bob was a dedicated nephrology social worker and an outstanding contributor to research, teaching, and clinical practice in nephrology social work. Candidates are chosen based on a long career of advancing the Nephrology Social Work profession and improving the lives of kidney patients and family through research, presentations, articles, and/or program development.
This award is selected by the CNSW Executive Council.
Click here to view all past CNSW award recipients.
Council on Renal Nutrition (CRN)
Joel D. Kopple Award
The Joel D. Kopple Award is the Council on Renal Nutrition's highest honor and is awarded annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to the field of renal nutrition. The award is based on achievements which have impacted renal nutrition practices and goals in one or more of the following areas: legislation, clinical practice, education, or research.
Susan C. Knapp Award
The Susan C. Knapp Award is designed to recognize an individual who is passionate about teaching renal nutrition to dietitians, health professionals, dietetic interns, and the community. This award represents excellence in education.
Outstanding Service Award
The Outstanding Service Award is an annual award given for recognized contributions such as promotion of CRN and its goals through financial support, lobbying, counseling, patient and professional education materials, providing community support and/or promoting renal nutrition research.
Recognized Renal Dietitian Award
The Recognized Renal Dietitian Award is designed to honor a dietitian who has demonstrated exceptional abilities in both National and Local leadership, creativity, and public involvement in the area of renal nutrition.
CRN Lifetime Achivement Award
This prestigious award is established to recognize an exceptional and dedicated healthcare professional whose extraordinary leadership in the kidney care community has profoundly advanced the mission of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). It is presented to an individual who has made significant, sustained contributions to the fight against preventable kidney disease and elevated the dignity and quality of care for kidney patients. Through their longstanding dedication, they have exemplified the highest standards of excellence and contributed to their field through action in advocacy, patient care and volunteerism.
Click here to view all past CRN award recipients.
NKF Mission To revolutionize the fight to save lives by eliminating preventable kidney disease, accelerating innovation for the dignity of the patient experience, and dismantling structural inequities in kidney care, dialysis, and transplantation. | Questions? membership@kidney.org |
