In early March 2026, I had the opportunity to join neurologist Dr. Andrew Wilner on his podcast, The Art of Medicine, to discuss living kidney donation, kidney transplant awareness, and the broader medical and human impact of kidney failure. As both a physician and a living kidney donor, the conversation allowed me to explore the issue from two perspectives: clinical medicine and personal experience.
My journey toward becoming a living kidney donor began decades earlier when my father developed kidney failure and spent nine years on dialysis. Watching his health gradually decline left a lasting impression on me and ultimately influenced my decision in 2017 to donate a kidney to a stranger as a non-directed donor. That experience reshaped my understanding of transplantation and strengthened my commitment to raising awareness about living kidney donation.
During the podcast, we discussed the realities of dialysis and why kidney transplantation—particularly from living donors—is considered the gold standard treatment for kidney failure. Living donor kidneys typically function 15 to 20 years, often twice as long as kidneys from deceased donors, and recipients generally experience better long-term outcomes. Yet more than 90,000 Americans remain on the kidney transplant waitlist, and many people are unaware that healthy individuals can safely donate a kidney and return to full, active lives.
We also talked about my ongoing advocacy work and the record-setting expedition in which I joined four other living kidney donors to climb the highest point in all 50 states in just 41 days. The climb was designed to demonstrate something simple but powerful: donating a kidney does not limit what a person can accomplish physically or professionally. That journey is documented in my book, Ascending America, which highlights both the adventure and the deeper mission behind it—expanding awareness of living kidney donation.
Conversations like this are an important part of changing public perception. If more people understood the need for kidney donors—and how donation can transform lives—we could dramatically reduce the number of patients waiting for a transplant.
If you are interested in kidney transplantation, dialysis, living kidney donation, or the intersection of medicine and advocacy, I encourage you to listen to my conversation with Dr. Wilner on The Art of Medicine podcast.
In Ascending America, I share the full journey—climbing the highest peak in all 50 states alongside four fellow living kidney donors, pushing through brutal conditions, and challenging the limits people assume come with donation. More than an adventure story, it’s a powerful look at the science, resilience, and life-changing impact of living kidney donation.
If you’ve ever wondered what’s truly possible after saving a life—or how one decision can create a ripple effect that impacts dozens more—this book is for you.
👉 Get your copy of Ascending America today and rethink what’s possible.
