{"id":53095,"date":"2026-03-27T13:03:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T13:03:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theisn.org\/?page_id=53095"},"modified":"2026-08-13T11:01:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T11:01:55","slug":"patient-liaison-advisory-group","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.theisn.org\/in-action\/advocacy\/patient-liaison-advisory-group\/","title":{"rendered":"Patient Liaison Advisory Group (PLAG)"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]People living with kidney disease experience care in ways that data alone cannot capture. Their perspectives reveal what works, what doesn\u2019t, and what needs to change.<\/p>\n

As kidney disease gains recognition as a global health priority<\/a>, the thoughts and opinions of patients are essential to shaping more effective and equitable responses.<\/p>\n

The ISN firmly supports WHO\u2019s 1978 Alma Ata Declaration that \u201cpeople have the right and duty to participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of their health care.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ISN Patient Liaison Advisory Group (PLAG) plays a central role in this effort, bringing the voice of people living with kidney disease into global advocacy and engagement worldwide.<\/p>\n

Established in 2021, PLAG brings together patient representatives from each of ISN\u2019s 10 regions<\/a>, reflecting the diversity of experiences across the global kidney community.<\/p>\n

Their contributions help ensure that ISN\u2019s advocacy efforts are grounded in real-world needs, and support more inclusive, effective kidney care worldwide.<\/p>\n

The people behind the perspectives: ISN PLAG members<\/strong><\/p>\n

Each member brings a unique experience of living with kidney disease, shaped by different health systems, challenges, and realities. Discover their stories.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_video link=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oEFrZecw77Y”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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Members of the Patient Liaison Advisory Group are listed below<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Title<\/th>First Name<\/th>Last Name<\/th>Country<\/th>ISN Region<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Mr<\/td> Joab<\/a><\/td>Wako<\/td>Kenya<\/td>Africa<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ms<\/td> Marianella<\/a><\/td>Sierra<\/td>Honduras<\/td>Latin America<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mr<\/td>Makram<\/td>Khalife<\/td>Lebanon<\/td>Middle East<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mr<\/td> Richard<\/a><\/td>Knight<\/td>USA<\/td>North America and Caribbean<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mr<\/td>Kevin<\/td>Fowler<\/td>USA<\/td>North America and Caribbean<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ms<\/td>Diana<\/td>Clynes<\/td>USA<\/td>North America and Caribbean<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mr<\/td> Bill<\/a><\/td>Wang<\/td>Hong Kong<\/td>North East Asia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ms<\/td> Nicole<\/td>Scholes-Robertson<\/td>Australia<\/td>Oceania & South East Asia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mr<\/td> Manvir<\/a><\/td>Victor (Chair)<\/td>Malaysia <\/td>Oceania & South East Asia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ms<\/td> Serene<\/a><\/td>Mai<\/td>Singapore<\/td>Oceania & South East Asia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ms<\/td> Vasundhara<\/a><\/td>Raghavan<\/td>India<\/td>South Asia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ms<\/td> Fiona<\/a><\/td>Loud<\/td>UK<\/td>Western Europe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Image by rawpixel.com \/ Freepik<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes”][vc_column]\n

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Bill Wang<\/h4> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHong Kong <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

As a retired lawyer\u202fand lived experience expert\u202fwho has navigated autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease…<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t\n\t\t

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Diana Clynes<\/h4> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUSA <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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Fiona Loud<\/h4> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUK<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

After years of health problems (such as anemia and hormonal issues), it was only…<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t\n\t\t

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Joab Wako<\/h4> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKenya<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Living with kidney disease feels relentless. I was diagnosed at stage 5 and immediately…<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t\n\t\t

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Kevin Fowler<\/h4> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUSA<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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Makram Khalife<\/h4> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLebanon<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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Manvir Victor<\/h4> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMalaysia<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Living with the Disease: What is the most significant or defining aspect of…<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t\n\t\t

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Marianella Sierra<\/h4> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHonduras<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Living with kidney disease not only marked my mother\u2019s life, it also profoundly…<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t\n\t\t

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Nicole Scholes<\/h4> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAustralia<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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The Diagnostic Journey: I was diagnosed with IgA nephritis (IGAN) at the age…<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t\n\t\t

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Richard Knight<\/h4> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUSA<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Living with kidney disease redefines how you view time and certainty. For me,…<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t\n\t\t

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Vasundhara Raghavan<\/h4> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIndia<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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I remember the embarrassment my son, Aditya Raghavan, felt when he continued to…<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t\n\t\t

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Serene Mai<\/h4> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSingapore<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
My journey with chronic illness began in 1994 with a diagnosis of systemic…<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t<\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]People living with kidney disease experience care in ways that data alone cannot capture. Their perspectives reveal what works, what doesn\u2019t, and what needs to change. As kidney disease gains recognition as a global health priority, the thoughts and opinions of patients are essential to shaping more effective and equitable responses. The ISN firmly supports […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":52511,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-53095","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theisn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/53095"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theisn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theisn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theisn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theisn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53095"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.theisn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/53095\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54966,"href":"https:\/\/www.theisn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/53095\/revisions\/54966"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theisn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/52511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theisn.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}