Shortly after COVID-19 restrictions were enacted around the nation and the world, the Judy Nicholson Kidney Cancer Foundation began to consider virtual, interactive presentations via Zoom as an alternative way to serve the educational needs of the kidney cancer community.

With development work completed, the Foundation promoted and conducted its first “Kidney Cancer Conversation” Zoom meeting, on June 3, 2020. Since then we have offered eight additional online meeting opportunities.

Response had been very gratifying, with attendance ranging from 24 to 72 participants per meeting and averaging just over 40 participants. Topics have included Kidney Cancer Therapies, Research, Diet, Pediatric Oncology and Kidney Cancer, Exercise and Fatigue, and other important topics of interest to the kidney cancer community. Medical speakers have included, in chronological order, Drs. Winston Tan, John Copeland, Roberto Pili, Jaime Merchan, Naomi Haas, and James Geller.

Other, well-credentialed speakers have included Brian Lewis of KidneyCAN, Deb Maskens of Kidney Cancer Canada, Jenny Spencer of Fight the Fatigue, and the JNKCF’s own Jayla Barnes, FNP-BC.

We are very grateful to all those who have provided their time to present and lead these interactive experiences and those working behind the scenes to make them possible. The JNKCF plans to continue these presentations until we are all free to meet again safely, in person. Watch this site for information about the coming online meetings.