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.
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:
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- Review and recommend to the IPRO Board of Directors policies and procedures;
- Interface with CMS and other regulatory agencies;
- Encouraging patient participation, providers of services, and ESRD facilities in vocational rehabilitation programs;
- Developing criteria and standards relating to the quality and appropriateness of patient care and Network goals;
- Implementing procedures for evaluation and resolution of patient grievances by the Medical Review Board.
- 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
- 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%)
| Member | Title/Committee | Location | Year Appointed | Year Term Ends | Affiliate | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara Breckenridge | Patient Advisory Committee | Buffalo, NY | 2017 | 2020 | N/A | Patient Subject Matter Expert |
| Brian Murray | ESRD Divisional Board Chair | Buffalo, NY | 2016 | 2018 | Erie County Medical Center | Nephrologist |
| Cecile Lewis | Uniondale, NY | 2017 | 2020 | Nassau University Medical Center | RN/Administrator | |
| David Fox | New York, NY | 2017 | 2020 | Fox Vein Care | Vascular Surgeon | |
| George Coritsidis | Queens, NY | 2016 | 2018 | Elmhurst Hospital | Nephrologist | |
| Jerena Barkins | Syracuse, NY | 2016 | 2019 | University Dialysis Inc. | RN Nurse Manager | |
| Salil Gupta | North Syracuse, NY | 2018 | 2021 | Nephrology Hypertension Associates of CNY, PC | Nephrologist | |
| Kisra Anis | Bronx, NY | 2016 | 2019 | Jacobi Medical Center | Nephrologist | |
| Maria Argentina | Grievance Committee Chair | Bronx, NY | 2016 | 2019 | Bronx Dialysis Center | Social Worker |
| Lenore Bruno | Queens, NY | 2017 | 2020 | Northwell Health | Quality Nurse Manager | |
| Maria Elena Siciliano | Mineola,NY | 2017 | 2020 | NYU Winthrop Hospital, Outpatient Dialysis | Dietitian | |
| Neal Mittman | Bronx, NY | 2017 | 2020 | Kidney Care of Brooklyn & Queens, PLLC | Nephrologist | |
| Stephanie Dixon | Patient Advisory Committee Chair/Subject Matter Expert | Brooklyn, NY | 2016 | 2018 | N/A | Consumer Representative |
| Subodh Saggi | Brooklyn, NY | 2016 | 2019 | SUNY Downstate Medical Center | Nephrologist | |
| Anjali Acharya | Bronx, NY | 2018 | 2021 | Jacobi Medical Center | Nephrologist |
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%)
| Member | Title/Committee | Location | Year Appointed | Year Term Ends | Affiliate | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Murray | ESRD Divisional Board Chair | Buffalo, NY | 2016 | 2018 | Erie County Medical Center | Nephrologist |
| David Fox | New York,NY | 2017 | 2020 | Fox Vein Care | Nephrologist | |
| Steven Fishbane | Great Neck, NY | 2017 | 2020 | Northwell Health | Nephrologist | |
| George Coritsidis | Queens, NY | 2009 | 2020 | Elmhurst Hospital | Nephrologist | |
| Helen Danko | Queens Village, NY | 2017 | 2020 | Northwell Health | RN/Administrator | |
| John Wagner* | Brooklyn, NY | 2006 | Emeritus | Kings County Hospital Center | Nephrologist | |
| Kenneth Teasley | Patient Advisory Committee Chair/Subject Matter Expert | Bronx, NY | 2017 | 2020 | N/A | Patient Subject Matter Expert |
| Larry Kunstadt | Jamaica, NY | 2016 | 2019 | N/A | Patient Subject Matter Expert | |
| Lisa Gutekunst | East Aurora, NY | 2017 | 2020 | Davita Inc. | Dietitian | |
| Matthew Merendina | Mineola, NY | 2016 | 2019 | Winthrop University Hospital | Bio Technician | |
| Ellena Linden | Queens, NY | 2018 | 2021 | Elmhurst Hospital Center | Nephrologist | |
| Ritesh Raichoudhury | Flushing, NY | 2017 | 2020 | NYPQ Dept of Nephrology | Nephrologist | |
| Steven Fishbane | Greatneck, NY | 2017 | 2020 | Northwell Health | Nephrologist | |
| Subodh Saggi | Brooklyn, NY | 2016 | 2019 | SUNY Downstate Medical Center | Nephrologist | |
| Suzanne Johncox | Newark, NY | 2017 | 2020 | Fresenius Kidney Care | Social Worker | |
| Robert Lynn | Bronx, NY | 2018 | 2021 | Bronx Dialysis Center/Eastchester Road Dialysis Center | Nephrologist | |
| Vijay Lapsia | New York, NY | 2017 | 2020 | The Mount Sinai Hospital | Nephrologist |
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%)
| Member | Title/Committee | Location | Term Ends | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maria Argentina, LCSW-R, NSW-C | Grievance Committee Chair | Bronx, NY | 2020 | Renal Social Worker |
| Judy Ammar | Grievance Committee Member | Manhattan, NY | 2020 | Renal Social Worker |
| Nelson Nunez | Grievance Committee Member | Manhattan, NY | 2020 | Patient Representative |
| Ashdean Daruwalla, MD | Grievance Committee Member | Queens, NY | 2020 | Nephrologist |
| Minesh Khatri, MD | Grievance Committee Member | New York, NY | 2020 | Nephrologist |
| Evelyn Ayala, LPN | Grievance Committee Member | Lynbrook, NY | 2020 | LPN |
| Patricia Denny | Grievance Committee Member | Buffalo, NY | 2020 | Facility Administrator |
| Dominique Edwards | Grievance Committee Member | Jamaica, NY | 2020 | Admin Assistant |
| Lenore Bruno | Grievance Committee Member | Long Island, NY | 2021 | RN Admin |
| Kisra Anis | Grievance Committee Member | Bronx, NY | 2021 | Nephrologist |
| Suzanne Johncox | Grievance Committee Member | Rochester, NY | 2021 | Social Worker |
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 Name | Credentials | Committee | Location | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maria Argentina | LCSW-R, NSW-C | Education Committee | Bronx, NY | Social Worker |
| Donn Bellmore | PAC/SME | Education Committee | Ithaca, NY | Patient Subject Matter Expert |
| Carol Brower | Education Committee | New York, NY | KUFA Program Director | |
| Michael Butler | PAC Senior Advisor/ SME | Education Committee | New York, NY | Subject Matter Expert |
| Daniel Cukor | Ph.D | Education Committee | Brooklyn, NY | Director of Behavioral Health |
| Kimberly Davis | BSN | Education Committee | New York, NY | Registered Nurse |
| Dawn Edwards | PAC Senior Advisor/ SME | Education Committee | Jamaica, NY | Patient Subject Matter Expert |
| Suzanne Johncox | LCSW | Education Committee | Newark, NY | Social Worker |
| Shelba Jones | CHT | Education Committee | Queens, NY | Certified Home Dialysis Technician |
| Cecile Lewis | DNP, CNN, CCRN | Education Committee | Uniondale, NY | Registered Nurse/ Administrator |
| Robert Lynn | MD | Education Committee | Bronx, NY | Nephrologist |
| Stephanie Maza | LMSW | Education Committee | Port Washington, NY | Social Worker |
| Subodh Saggi | MD | Education Committee | Brooklyn, NY | Neprologist |
| Susan Singer | LMSW | Education Committee | Port Washington, NY | Social 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.