The Kidney Week 2023 session “Serving the Underserved: Improving Kidney Health in Underserved Populations” highlighted the often overlooked kidney care needs of Asian American, American Indian, and Alaska Native communities in the United States. Dr. Leslie Wong from Intermountain Health and Dr. Vallabh “Raj” Shah from The University of New Mexico School of Medicine shared insights into the unique challenges these populations face and efforts to address them. Dr. Wong discussed the diverse cultural landscape within the Asian American population, emphasizing the need for better representation in nephrology and health research. He also highlighted disparities in kidney disease mortality and the importance of accurate assessment methods tailored to different ethnic groups. Dr. Shah focused on the disproportionately high rates of kidney diseases among American Indian and Alaska Native communities, stressing the impact of historical injustices, socioeconomic factors, and inadequate healthcare funding.
Asian Americans, comprising various ethnic subgroups, face significant disparities in kidney care, including underrepresentation in research and inadequate assessment tools. Dr. Wong emphasized the need for targeted interventions and established the Coalition of Asian Americans Transforming Opportunities in Nephrology (CATION+) to address these issues. On the other hand, Dr. Shah underscored the urgent need for culturally sensitive care and community-based approaches to tackle kidney diseases among American Indian and Alaska Native populations. He highlighted the success of community health worker programs in improving access to healthcare and reducing health disparities. Both speakers emphasized the importance of addressing social determinants of health, building trust within communities, and investing in preventive care to improve kidney health outcomes in these underserved populations.