Location | Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, WV
Cost | $100 (FREE to Vandalia Health employees)
Program Overview
Kidney disease disproportionately affects Appalachians, many of whom face barriers to transplantation, including geographic isolation, limited specialty care access and complex comorbidities. This symposium, hosted by Vandalia Health Charleston Area Medical Center, convenes regional experts and stakeholders to address these challenges and promote innovative, collaborative solutions. From empowering local providers to expanding the use of marginal donors, the goal is to ensure equitable access to life-saving kidney transplantation across the Appalachian region.
Objectives
- Describe the current burden of kidney disease in Appalachia and its impact on transplant access.
- Identify and address patient- and system-level barriers that limit transplant eligibility and referral.
- Highlight surgical and medical innovations that support local transplant growth and organ utilization.
- Promote collaborative strategies among regional providers to improve transplant readiness and continuity of care.
- Explore the evolving role of living donation and management of other solid organ diseases like end-stage kidney disease.
The conference will be held at Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, WV.
Situated within the 2,000-acre Stonewall Resort State Park and combining rustic grace, world-class recreation and superior hospitality, the AAA-Four Diamond rated Stonewall Resort is fast becoming the region’s premier vacation and conference destination.
Lodging
For reservations, please click here. Alternatively, contact Group Rooms Coordinator Courtney Wheatley directly at 304-269-8882 and reference the Bridging Barriers to Transplant event by Vandalia Health Charleston Area Medical Center. Thank you!
We encourage participation by all individuals. If you have a disability, advance notification of any special needs will help us better serve you.
Agenda
Friday, April 24, 2026
Pecan Room
7 - 8 a.m. | Breakfast & Exhibitor Networking – Moderator: Susan Hanna, BSN, RN, CCTC
8 - 8:15 a.m. | Welcome & Opening Remarks – Alice Jones, MSN, RN, CCTC
8:15 - 8:45 a.m. | State of the State: Kidney Disease and Transplant in Appalachia – Asif Rahman, MD
8:45 - 9:30 a.m. | Rural Health Realities: Readying Patients for Transplant (Tackling Comorbidities and Social Determinants of Health) – Ashley Riggs, MSW
9:30 - 10:15 a.m. | Breaking Down the Barriers: A Provider’s Perspective – Physician Panel: Katherine White, MD; Ali Suleiman, MD; James Akers, DO; Mohamed Sekkarie, MD; and Divya Rajan, MD
10:15 - 10:30 a.m. | Break
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. | Homegrown Excellence: Surgical Innovations at CAMC – Joseph Africa, MD
11:15 a.m. - noon | Beyond the Surgery: Navigating Long-Term Post-Transplant Care – Faroug Suliman, MD
Noon - 12:45 p.m. | Lunch & Exhibitor Visit
12:45 - 1:30 p.m. | Organ Scarcity: Expanding the Donor Pool and Living Donation – Elizabeth Chua, MD
1:30 - 2:15 p.m. | Through the Patient Lens: Real-World Transplant Journeys – Patient Panel
2:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Break
2:30 - 3:15 p.m. | Breakout Session
3:15 - 3:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks – Alice Jones, MSN, RN, CCTC
