Boards and Committees

The IPRO Board of Directors, ESRD Divisional Board, Medical Review Board, Network Council, and their subcommittees direct and support Network operations. The role and purpose of these governing bodies are annually reassessed to ensure that they meet CMS requirements and Network needs. Board and committee members include representatives from dialysis and transplant facilities, ESRD Stakeholders, and patients in each Network service area.

The involvement of patient representatives is vital to the success of Network activities and to improving the quality of care and life for ESRD patients. Therefore, all boards and committees include at least two patient representatives.

For more information, or if you are interested in volunteering to serve as a board or committee member, please contact the Network by sending an e-mail to esrdnetwork2@ipro.us or calling (516) 209-5578.

ESRD Boards – Duties and Responsibilities

The ESRD Divisional Boards and Medical Review Boards for each Network are composed of renal professionals and patients qualified to evaluate the quality and appropriateness of care delivered to ESRD patients. Members of the Boards represent the diverse geographic areas and the multiple professional disciplines of the Network service area. This includes nephrologists, nurses, social workers, dietitians, technicians, and at least two ESRD patients.

Members are elected for a three-year term, with staggered expiration dates to accommodate rotation of new and retiring members.

Board members meet at a minimum of four (4) times per year (combination of virtual and face-to-face meetings). Attendance at 75% of meetings is mandatory to retain Board status.

Each member is required to sign a Conflict of Interest statement and Affirmation of Agreement with IPRO’s Confidentiality, Privacy and Security Policy on an annual basis.

Education Committee

The Education Committee collaborates with the Network on areas of education for the patient and provider community. This includes providing feedback, suggestions, ideas from the field, sharing and spreading Network initiatives. The Committee is composed of renal professionals and patients qualified to provide expertise and insights into the educational needs of the ESRD community. The members of the ESRD Education Committee represent the diverse geographic areas and the multiple professional disciplines of the Network service area. This includes nephrologists, nurses, social workers, dietitians, technicians, ESRD patients, family members/caregivers, and renal organizations.

Committee Objectives:

  • Annual Meeting Speaker/Topic Recommendations
  • Patient/Staff Educational Areas of Interest
  • Sharing of Publication Resources
  • Strategizing QIA Intervention Approaches
  • Support sharing and spread from Network to local facility level
  • Communication Requirements: Provide educational information, author newsletter articles, suggest community resources, ideas on methods of dissemination to patient community
Member's NameCredentialsCommitteeLocationPosition
Maria ArgentinaLCSW-R, NSW-CEducation CommitteeBronx, NYSocial Worker
Donn BellmorePAC/SMEEducation CommitteeIthaca, NYPatient Subject Matter Expert
Carol BrowerEducation CommitteeNew York, NYKUFA Program Director
Michael ButlerPAC Senior Advisor/ SME Education CommitteeNew York, NYSubject Matter Expert
Daniel CukorPh.DEducation CommitteeBrooklyn, NYDirector of Behavioral Health
Kimberly DavisBSNEducation CommitteeNew York, NYRegistered Nurse
Dawn EdwardsPAC Senior Advisor/ SMEEducation CommitteeJamaica, NYPatient Subject Matter Expert
Suzanne JohncoxLCSWEducation CommitteeNewark, NYSocial Worker
Shelba JonesCHTEducation CommitteeQueens, NYCertified Home Dialysis Technician
Cecile LewisDNP, CNN, CCRNEducation CommitteeUniondale, NYRegistered Nurse/ Administrator
Robert LynnMDEducation CommitteeBronx, NYNephrologist
Stephanie LynnLMSWEducation CommitteePort Washington, NYSocial Worker
Subodh SaggiMDEducation CommitteeBrooklyn, NYNeprologist
Susan SingerLMSWEducation CommitteePort Washington, NYSocial Worker

Patient Advisory Committee (PAC)

If you are a dialysis patient, transplant recipient, family member, or care partner and are interested in becoming a PAC member, speak with your dialysis facility social worker or contact the Network of New York. For more information on the PAC and their activities please see our PAC webpage.

ESRD Divisional Board (EDB)

The Network has an ESRD Divisional Board (EDB) that is responsible for the oversight and management of the Network. The EDB serves as an expert panel that analyzes and advises the IPRO Board of Director on quality improvement activities and policies and procedures for the ESRD Network Program.

The EDB shall perform the following functions in regard to the delivery of ESRD care:

    1. Review and recommend to the IPRO Board of Directors policies and procedures;
    2. Interface with CMS and other regulatory agencies;
    3. Encouraging patient participation, providers of services, and ESRD facilities in vocational rehabilitation programs;
    4. Developing criteria and standards relating to the quality and appropriateness of patient care and Network goals;
    5. Implementing procedures for evaluation and resolution of patient grievances by the Medical Review Board.
    6. Identifying facilities consistently not meeting Network goals, assisting facilities in developing appropriate plans for correction, and submitting recommendations to the Medical Review Board regarding facilities and providers that are not providing appropriate medical care; and
    7. Supporting activities of the Medical Review Board and the Patient Advisory Committee.

ESRD Divisional Board (EDB)

Bylaws state 3 year term. Chair term does not apply. No compensation provided for members.
Percent of Member Terms Ending by Year: 2018 (27%), 2019 (33%), 2020 (40%)

MemberTitle/CommitteeLocationYear AppointedYear Term EndsAffiliatePosition
Barbara BreckenridgePatient Advisory CommitteeBuffalo, NY20172020N/APatient Subject Matter Expert
Brian MurrayESRD Divisional Board ChairBuffalo, NY20162018Erie County Medical CenterNephrologist
Cecile LewisUniondale, NY20172020Nassau University Medical Center RN/Administrator
David FoxNew York, NY20172020Fox Vein CareVascular Surgeon
George CoritsidisQueens, NY20162018Elmhurst HospitalNephrologist
Jerena BarkinsSyracuse, NY20162019University Dialysis Inc.RN Nurse Manager
Salil GuptaNorth Syracuse, NY20182021Nephrology Hypertension Associates of CNY, PCNephrologist
Kisra AnisBronx, NY20162019Jacobi Medical CenterNephrologist
Maria ArgentinaGrievance Committee ChairBronx, NY20162019Bronx Dialysis CenterSocial Worker
Lenore BrunoQueens, NY20172020Northwell HealthQuality Nurse Manager
Maria Elena SicilianoMineola,NY20172020NYU Winthrop Hospital, Outpatient DialysisDietitian
Neal MittmanBronx, NY20172020Kidney Care of Brooklyn & Queens, PLLCNephrologist
Stephanie DixonPatient Advisory Committee Chair/Subject Matter ExpertBrooklyn, NY20162018N/AConsumer Representative
Subodh SaggiBrooklyn, NY20162019SUNY Downstate Medical CenterNephrologist
Anjali AcharyaBronx, NY20182021Jacobi Medical CenterNephrologist

Medical Review Board (MRB)

Bylaws state 3 year term. Chair term does not apply. No compensation provided for members.
Percent of Member Terms Ending by Year: 2018 (23%), 2019 (18%), 2020 (59%)

MemberTitle/CommitteeLocationYear AppointedYear Term EndsAffiliatePosition
Brian MurrayESRD Divisional Board ChairBuffalo, NY20162018Erie County Medical CenterNephrologist
David FoxNew York,NY20172020Fox Vein CareNephrologist
Steven FishbaneGreat Neck, NY20172020Northwell HealthNephrologist
George CoritsidisQueens, NY20092020Elmhurst HospitalNephrologist
Helen DankoQueens Village, NY20172020Northwell HealthRN/Administrator
John Wagner*Brooklyn, NY2006EmeritusKings County Hospital CenterNephrologist
Kenneth TeasleyPatient Advisory Committee Chair/Subject Matter ExpertBronx, NY20172020N/APatient Subject Matter Expert
Larry KunstadtJamaica, NY20162019N/APatient Subject Matter Expert
Lisa GutekunstEast Aurora, NY20172020Davita Inc.Dietitian
Matthew MerendinaMineola, NY20162019Winthrop University HospitalBio Technician
Ellena LindenQueens, NY20182021Elmhurst Hospital CenterNephrologist
Ritesh RaichoudhuryFlushing, NY20172020NYPQ Dept of NephrologyNephrologist
Steven FishbaneGreatneck, NY20172020Northwell HealthNephrologist
Subodh SaggiBrooklyn, NY20162019SUNY Downstate Medical CenterNephrologist
Suzanne JohncoxNewark, NY20172020Fresenius Kidney CareSocial Worker
Robert LynnBronx, NY20182021Bronx Dialysis Center/Eastchester Road Dialysis CenterNephrologist
Vijay LapsiaNew York, NY20172020The Mount Sinai HospitalNephrologist

Grievance Committee

Bylaws state Chair term is 5 year term. No compensation provided for members.
Appointment by year (%): 2016 (0%), 2017 (0%), 2018 (30%), 2019 (0%), 2020 (70%)

MemberTitle/CommitteeLocationTerm EndsPosition
Maria Argentina, LCSW-R, NSW-CGrievance Committee ChairBronx, NY2020Renal Social Worker
Judy AmmarGrievance Committee MemberManhattan, NY2020Renal Social Worker
Nelson NunezGrievance Committee MemberManhattan, NY2020Patient Representative
Ashdean Daruwalla, MDGrievance Committee MemberQueens, NY2020Nephrologist
Minesh Khatri, MDGrievance Committee MemberNew York, NY2020Nephrologist
Evelyn Ayala, LPNGrievance Committee MemberLynbrook, NY2020LPN
Patricia DennyGrievance Committee MemberBuffalo, NY2020Facility Administrator
Dominique EdwardsGrievance Committee MemberJamaica, NY2020Admin Assistant
Lenore BrunoGrievance Committee MemberLong Island, NY2021RN Admin
Kisra AnisGrievance Committee MemberBronx, NY2021Nephrologist
Suzanne JohncoxGrievance Committee MemberRochester, NY2021Social Worker