Kidney Week Session:
Trauma Behind My Smile: Better Access to Behavioral Health Resources During the Transplant Process

Session Description
This session focuses on the patient experience of kidney transplantation and the lack of access, or sometimes limited access, to behavioral health resources during the process. When patients are diagnosed with CKD, they are rarely encouraged to talk with qualified mental health care professionals to deal with their fears, anxieties, sadness, or other emotions concerning their diagnosis. Patients are unlikely to be emotionally prepared for unexpected difficulties and related trauma experienced during the transplant process.
ASN gratefully acknowledges Travere Therapeutics and several of Celeste’s family members, friends, and colleagues for support of the Celeste Castillo Lee Endowed Lectureship.

Learning Objective(s)
• Explain the positive result of access to behavioral health for patients with kidney transplants
• Describe the patient’s perspective of the challenges of kidney transplantation and adherence
• Outline implementation strategies for goal-directed behavioral health therapies and tools
• Specify approaches to incorporating mental health practices during the treatment course, from CKD diagnosis through kidney transplantation
• Develop a health and wellness plan that includes psychosocial education

Learning Pathway(s)
• Kidney Transplantation

Moderators
• Anne E Dawson, PhD
• Martha Pavlakis, MD, FASN

Presentations
• Incorporating Mental Health Practices by Increasing Psychosocial Education for Kidney Recipients: The Celeste Castillo Lee Endowed Lectureship
04:30 PM EDT – 04:50 PM EDT
Patrick O. Gee, PhD

• Impact of Having Access to Behavioral Health for Kidney Recipients
04:50 PM EDT – 05:10 PM EDT
Nichole M. Jefferson

• Behavioral Challenges That May Arise and Adherence Before and After Kidney Transplantation
05:10 PM EDT – 05:30 PM EDT
Jennifer L. Jones

• Goal-Directed Behavioral Health Tools and Lack of Access to Behavioral Health
05:30 PM EDT – 05:50 PM EDT
Jennifer L. Steel, PhD

• Q&A
05:50 PM EDT – 06:00 PM EDT