Provide emotional support to patients through conversation, games, and companionship. Help us create a more compassionate dialysis experience.

A three-phase program teaching high schoolers about CKD, dialysis, and health disparities—empowering youth to become advocates and future volunteers.

Renal Care Kits bring comfort and companionship to dialysis patients with items like games, lotions, and helpful materials, delivered by FOD members.

At Friends of Dialysis, we are committed to mentoring and supporting our members through research guidance, leadership development, and career advancement. Since our founding our students have receive ongoing academic support, physician mentorship, and professional development opportunities to help them grow as future healthcare leaders.

Building from this foundation, the Friends of Dialysis Research Initiative was created by Muhammad Fawad, Founder of the UC San Diego Chapter, to expand structured research opportunities. The initiative launches through a research competition at the chapter’s first General Body Meeting (GBM), where students propose nephrology- or dialysis-focused research questions. The top two students are selected to carry out their projects under the supervision of physicians and Friends of Dialysis leadership.

This program promotes early research engagement, gives students real-world scholarly experience, and highlights their work across both chapter and nonprofit platforms—while strengthening the academic impact of Friends of Dialysis. The long-term goal is to expand this model across all chapters and the nonprofit nationally.