Inaugural Alison Norris Symposium Explores Psychosocial Challenges in the Practice of Nephrology

Dr. Alison Norris was a beloved nephrologist who focused much of her practice on patient care and advocacy with equal measures of brilliance and passion. The hundreds of individuals in her care knew Alison would not only fight for them, but with them, through every stage of their treatment and recovery. Sadly, Dr. Norris passed away in 2009 at the age of 57.

Earlier this year, Alison's sister, Laurie Norris, and Laurie's husband, Clarence Pearson, ensured that Alison's commitment to holistic patient care would be remembered and shared with the next generation of nephrologists through a generous, multi-year grant of $250,000 to NYAM. The grant will support the establishment of the Alison Norris Nephrology Section and a national educational symposium for trainees and faculty in nephrology to be held biennially at NYAM on issues of importance to Alison: ethical dilemmas in patient care, patient-centered communication and advocacy, end-of-life care, and controversies in nephrology.

On October 26, NYAM hosted the inaugural Alison Norris Symposium, “Psychosocial Challenges in the Practice of Nephrology.” Dr. Norris sought to understand the emotional, ethical and end-of-life challenges facing patients with renal failure, to inform the medical profession and general public about these issues, and to make patients’ voices heard. The symposium provided a forum for the nephrology community and interested health professionals engaged in the care of patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) to consider these issues and reflect on how they affect the practice of medicine.  The objectives of the conference were to identify the challenges (to patients and to caregivers) at critical points in the progression of CKD, and to delineate effective strategies to engage the patient in the decision process at these points. The key issues of the conference were accommodating to CKD progression, initiation of dialysis, coping with the emotional burden of dialysis, and the decision to terminate dialysis.

NYAM President Dr. Ivey Boufford opened the program. “We hope the process of dialogue on these issues will continue and grow into something we can incorporate into the work of NYAM,” she said.

Laurie Norris then spoke warmly of Alison and her commitment to her patients as well as her friends and family.

“Patient advocacy was in Alison’s DNA,” Ms. Norris said. “She was a patient advocate for current and former patients as well her friends and family. I have heard from them about her pattern of concern and support that characterized Alison’s medical career. Here’s a typical scenario in her life:  for a friend whose father was dying, Alison would call this friend after rounds—midnight or 1AM—to review the father’s records, offer any suggestions, and comfort her friend. This happened every night during the father’s last days.  Alison was a physician who went above and beyond her professional commitments and her patients appreciated it. They were confident that Alison would take good care of them.  And she added humor and friendship to the mix of professionalism and patient-centered care.

“Clarence Pearson, my husband, and I are so pleased that The New York Academy of Medicine is our partner in creating and implementing this legacy related to Alison’s good medicine,” she continued. “In our planning process, all roads led to the Academy. The first place we thought of for this tribute to Alison’s medicine was the New York Academy of Medicine. Through personal experience, we both know the Academy for its quality and innovation, especially under the leadership of Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford:  Clarence is a 30-year Fellow here and I was involved in the early stages of the Age-friendly NYC program here.  Along with the Academy’s reputation for professional development, this was the best of all possible worlds.”

Dr. Alan Weinstein of Weill Cornell Medical College, who was Alison’s supervisor during her fellowship in nephrology at Cornell 28 years ago, played a large role in organizing the symposium. In his remarks, Dr. Weinstein highlighted the importance of the symposium’s focus on psychosocial issues in nephrology, citing that nephrology fellows around the country have reported a lack of training in this area.

True to the symposium’s focus, the featured speakers were a mix of nephrologists and psychiatrists. Dr. Milton Viederman, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, spoke on “Psychological Engagement of Patients Treated for Terminal Renal Failure.” Dr. Ann O’Hare, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington and Staff Physician at VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, addressed “The Decision to Start Dialysis.” Dr. Paul L. Kimmel, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine, “Emotional Well-being and Depression in Dialysis Patients.” And Dr. Lewis Mitchell Cohen, Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine, closed the program with a talk on “Medical Ethics in Dialysis Decision Making.”

Learn more about Dr. Norris and the gift made to NYAM in her honor.

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Posted on October 27, 2011

Contact:
Andrew J. Martin
Director of Communications
The New York Academy of Medicine
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amartin@nyam.org

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