Derek Forfang Patient Advocate Award

Ardelyx is now accepting nominations for the Derek Forfang Patient Advocate Award. The deadline for nominations is January 31, 2025.

Ardelyx is launching the Derek Forfang Patient Advocate Award to recognize passionate supporters of patients living with chronic kidney disease who champion the need for innovation and the need to improve health incomes. This award was established to honor Derek Forfang, an amazing person who suffered from chronic kidney disease and passed away due to issues related to his disease in 2023. Derek was the inspiration and founding member of the Ardelyx Patient Advisory Council, which was just one of the many committees to which Derek belonged. Derek worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the patients, families and caregivers in the chronic kidney disease community. This award serves to recognize those individuals who, like Derek, raise awareness of the challenges that kidney patients face, are willing to be the voice for their community and deserve to be recognized for their contributions.

Are you or someone you know an outspoken advocate for kidney patients? Complete the submission form to be considered for this recognition.

Recipients of the Derek Forfang Patient Advocacy Award will receive:

    • Public celebration and recognition of their achievements and contributions to the kidney community
    • A $1,000 honorarium and a $4,000 donation to be made to a non-profit organization chosen in partnership with Ardelyx
    • A commemorative plaque
    • The opportunity to attend the National Kidney Foundation’s (NKF) Spring Clinical Meeting in Boston in April 2025 on behalf of Ardelyx

Nomination, selection and eligibility

Nominate yourself or nominate someone else! Candidates for the award can be nominated by anyone in the community at large. All nominations will be reviewed and considered for the award by the Derek Forfang Patient Advisory Council (DFPAC). The DFPAC may select up to five recipients per year.

To be eligible for this award, nominees must demonstrate achievements and contributions to advocate for chronic kidney disease patients, which could include raising awareness, educating others, advancing research, advocating for the community and bringing the community together, among many other efforts.

Healthcare professionals (including a physician, nurse, or dietitian), and Ardelyx employees or contractors or family members are not eligible for this award.

Deadline to apply: January 31, 2025

Submit your nomination

Name(Required)
Address(Required)
Does this person know you are nominating them for the Derek Forfang Patient Advocate Award?(Required)
Are they willing for their information and story to be shared if they win the Derek Forfang Patient Advocate Award?(Required)
Share how your nominee has made an impact in the kidney community. Please be specific with their work to raise awareness, educate others, be an advocate for the community, or any other efforts.
Terms and Conditions for the Nomination(Required)