A Day of Learning and Connection: Inside the Kidney Cancer Patient Summit
On March 15, 2025, the inaugural Kidney Cancer Patient Summit convened at The Alexandria at Torrey Pines in San Diego, uniting patients, caregivers and leading medical professionals for a day dedicated to education, support and community building. Bryan Lewis, kidney cancer survivor and president of the advocacy group KidneyCan, along with Kathy Liu, founder of Joey’s Wings, opened the event by sharing their missions and personal journeys. This set an informative and compassionate tone for the day as they emphasized the vital role of patient advocacy in the kidney cancer community.
Throughout the summit, attendees engaged in interactive sessions covering topics such as risk factors, treatment options, and advancements in kidney cancer therapies. Highlights included Ithaar H. Derweesh, MD, sharing his expert perspective on treatments for localized RCC, and J. Michael Randall, MD, leading a discussion on demystifying clinical trials for patients and caregivers. A keynote address by El Centro city mayor, Sylvia Marroquin, provided inspiration and hope, while sessions on managing treatment side effects and maintaining a healthy lifestyle offered practical guidance. Kidney cancer survivor and clinical trial participant Patti Cappa shared her firsthand experience, offering valuable insight into the process. The event fostered a supportive environment, encouraging networking and the sharing of personal experiences.
Led by kidney cancer experts from Moores Cancer Center — including Rana R. McKay, MD, Ithaar H. Derweesh, MD, Aditya Bagrodia, MD, FACS, and Brenton S. Rose, MD — the event served as a vital platform for patient and caregiver education. In the following quote, McKay shares her reflections on the summit, its objectives and her hopes for its future.
“The Kidney Cancer Patient Summit represents our commitment to bringing together science, support, and strength for those affected by kidney cancer. This inaugural event was designed not just to share medical knowledge, but to create a space where patients and caregivers could connect with each other and with clinicians outside the traditional setting. What made this day truly special was witnessing the powerful exchange of experiences between patients, caregivers, and clinicians. Shared stories created meaningful connections as participants discovered common ground and gained valuable perspectives from others walking similar paths. This authentic dialogue, combined with access to information and community support, has the power to transform the kidney cancer journey. By bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world patient experiences, we’re building a stronger, more informed kidney cancer community ready to face challenges together. This summit is just the beginning of what I hope will become a lasting tradition of education, advocacy, and connection.”
