Pictured from left to right:
Rice Powell (CEO of FMCNA, RTG)
Juan Sanchez (President, FMC Canada),
Ben Lipps (CEO FMC Global),
Kent Wanzek (President, North American Operations, RTG),
Ken Sharp (Dialysis patient of 32 years)
RICHMOND HILL, ON, March 21 /CNW/ - Ken Sharp was all smiles today as he accepted the first ever "Gerd Krick Achievement Award" at Fresenius Medical Care Canada's headquarters. The idea for the award came from Rice Powell, CEO, Fresenius Medical Care North America, Renal Therapy Group and Ben Lipps, CEO of Fresenius Medical Care Worldwide after reading about Ken's story when it came up on a news wire service supplying stories on dialysis related topics.
Juan Sanchez who heads up the multinational's Canadian division said about the award "It just seemed appropriate for Dr. Lipps, a pioneer in dialysis with close to four decades in the field, to recognize an individual that is also a pioneer in that he has far exceeded even the most optimistic of medical expectations by being on dialysis for over 32 years." The award is named after Dr. Gerd Krick, another pioneer in the Fresenius dialysis family and the previous chairman of the FMC-AG Supervisory Board. Both Dr. Lipps and Dr. Krick share Ken Sharp's passion in advocating renal research for the advancement of patient care.
Officials at Fresenius believe that Sharp accomplished this feat particularly because his treatment allowed him to remain in his community, and because of his spirit for life, which includes singing and playing guitar in a local band. This quality of life was arguably made possible, because he stays close to home.
Fresenius Medical Care is the global market leader in dialysis products and services and also provides dialysis treatments to over 200,000 patients world-wide primarily in community-based dialysis clinics. In Canada , FMCC has operated two independent Health facilities in Ontario for the past decade providing dialysis services for patients closer to their community. Fresenius supports Ken Sharp's dream that more dialysis should be provided in community clinics or in the home setting. Pioneers in daily Nocturnal Hemodialysis, FMCC recently established the first industry-operated central remote monitoring program for dialysis patients across Canada.
Local politicians and members of Sharp's medical team joined Fresenius employees and executives who flew in to participate in the presentation. Dr. Ted Toffelmire a Canadian nephrologist, Chief of Nephrology at Queens University and FMCC's Medical Director said, "when considering patient inconveniences like travel and parking, when you think about someone being in a hospital as a constant reminder of their chronic illness, its easy to see why community-based and/or home dialysis are therapies that could contribute to a higher quality of life. I believe Ken Sharp having done both home and community-based dialysis is a great living example of the benefits of this form of therapy." He went on to say, "with patient survival for end stage renal disease at 50% after 5 years, Ken's longevity on dialysis is a remarkable achievement and we have to consider his history of home and community-based therapy as a possible factor."
This award is not the company's only step into its surrounding community. In 2008 a few of their employees raised money for the Shad Ireland Canadian Foundation by participating in a triathlon. The charity was formed in both Canada and the U.S. to provide fitness grants for dialysis patients in honor of the first dialysis patient to complete the Iron man Triathlon. This year 23 FMCC employees will compete in a triathlon with a goal of raising over $90,000 in support of Canadian renal patients like Ken Sharp.