(Brussels, Belgium) – – – Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) announced today that Michael Cheung has joined its staff as Chief Scientific Officer. Mr. Cheung has had seven years experience working on KDIGO guidelines as a staff member of KDIGO’s Founding Sponsor, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF).
KDIGO is a self-managed, global organization focused on improving patient outcomes through the development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, consensus conferences on cutting edge kidney disease topics, and implementation of guidelines around the world. The addition of Mr. Cheung is a significant expansion of KDIGO’s staff and improves KDIGO’s ability to support scientific activities by its volunteers. KDIGO volunteers develop guidelines and conference content and provide KDIGO’s leadership.
KDIGO Co-chair, David Wheeler, MD of the University College, London, said, “We welcome Mike to our team. We have worked with him for several years but now that he is a full time staff member, our work will take a great leap forward.”
“Mike’s scientific abilities and knowledge will allow our guidelines to be developed more quickly and smoothly. Our volunteer work groups will still have the final decision on all recommendations, but Mike’s help in writing, researching and editing will make their job easier,” Dr. Wheeler added.
Mr. Cheung completed his undergraduate work at New York University in biology and received his Master’s Degree from Columbia University in biochemistry. He has been with the NKF for seven years, most recently as Senior Director, Education. Prior to that he was Guideline Development Director for KDIGO guidelines.
“Mike’s responsibilities will be to provide support to us in all our scientific and medical work,” said Dr. Bertram Kasiske, MD, KDIGO Co-chair and Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota. “His expertise is in the precise translation of medical evidence into practical guidelines for physicians and patients to use in treatment decisions.”
Mr. Cheung will be based in New York City. KDIGO is a Belgian Foundation in the public interest working globally in all areas of kidney disease. KDIGO has published eight clinical practice guidelines and held twelve consensus conferences to date. Its work is recognized for its worldwide scope and commitment to the most rigorous standards of scientific methodology.
KDIGO’s governance is provided by elected volunteers. Michael Cheung will devote full time to facilitating KDIGO’s reputation for excellence as the only global organization developing guidelines in kidney disease.
For further information please contact KDIGO Communications at kdigocommunications@kdigo.org.
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