TS Radio Network: Dialysis Advocates with Arlene Mullin # 5

What is the consequence of the kidney shortage?

"It is a catastrophe.  We conservatively estimate that each year 43,000 patients suffer on dialysis and die prematurely because of the shortage.  That’s equivalent to 85 fully loaded 747s crashing each year.  That’s 118 patients dying each day.  Since 1988 (when data collection began) almost 1 million patients have suffered and died prematurely because of the shortage."

Arlene's guest this evening is Marie A. DeFrancesco-Malviya, MSN, CRNA, CRNP, FNP-BC, PNP-BC

Marie received her BSN and MSN from Wagner College. Her primary master’s concentration was as a family nurse practitioner. She continued her education and obtained post-graduate training from Stony Brook University as a pediatric nurse practitioner, Columbia University in their didactic Pediatric Critical Care Nurse Practitioner program, and finally, from Villanova University as a CRNA.

Her roles have included nurse practitioner in the pediatric intensive care unit, pediatric transport nurse, family nurse practitioner, clinical coordinator, and, most recently as a CRNA.

Marie is a faculty member at Villanova University in their Nurse Anesthesia program. She continues to lecture at several universities and anesthesia conferences. Her areas of interest include pediatrics, electrophysiology, neuro-anesthesia, infectious disease, and transplant anesthesia. While in Harrisburg, Marie functioned as a S.A.F.E. nurse and was responsible for collecting evidence, working with law enforcement, and testifying on behalf of her patients, as well as serving as a patient advocate. She has recently been appointed to the board of a dialysis advocacy organization as the Director of Patient Education and Public Relations.

Marie is active in her community as a volunteer for Best Friends in Harford County.

We Welcome and Thank her.