Board of Directors

As a patient-led organization, our entire board of directors is composed of patients. This ensures that our policies and our mission are guided solely by patients.

Composition of the DPC Board of Directors

According to DPC’s by-laws, the majority of board members must be current dialysis patients. However, the board is open to anyone interested in taking a broader role to improve the quality of life for patients with chronic kidney disease. Each board member serves a term of two-years, staggered.

Board Member Duties and Expectation

Attend board meetings in Washington, DC or other locations and participate in monthly conference calls.
Attend quarterly Patient Ambassador conference calls.
Serve on at least one Board Committee
Stay informed about board and committee matters; review and comment on minutes and reports.
Stay informed about the organization’s mission, services, policies, and programs.
Keep up-to-date on developments in the organization’s field.
Follow developments in the community, government, etc. that may affect the organization.
Offer to take on special assignments as needed.
Get to know other members; build working relationships that contribute to consensus.
Represent the Board of Directors and organization at industry conferences and events as needed.
Suggest nominees to the board who can make significant contributions to the work of the board and the organization.
Participate actively in the board’s annual evaluation and planning efforts.
Serve as an advocate of the organization including attending federal and state advocacy days as needed.
Sign conflict of interest statement.

Code of Conduct

Having been selected by my peers to serve on the Board of Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC), and being fully aware of the high honor bestowed upon me, I pledge to do my utmost to adhere to the following Code of Conduct.
I understand that membership on the Board is not a right I have earned, but a privilege bestowed by my colleagues to allow me to serve them and our mission. I am the servant of DPC’s members, not their master. I pledge to fulfill that role.
I understand that I have a fiduciary responsibility to the membership to oversee the finances of DPC. I pledge that I will make myself aware of association non-profit accounting principles, read and understand the association’s financial reports, and obtain any information I need from the staff to fulfill this obligation.
I understand that funds contributed to DPC through individual and corporate donations are done so to further the mission and good works DPC, not to personally benefit members of the Board. I understand that the expenditure of funds on luxuries for Board Members for travel, meals, accommodations, gifts and other special perks takes funding from the purposes which the donors intended, and that such misuse of funds is as serious as misappropriation of funds. I pledge to be more frugal and responsible with the members’ money than I am with my own.
I understand that the most important principle of leadership is to set the example, and that the DPC staff and other volunteers will establish their own work ethic and fiscal responsibility based on what they see of my conduct. I pledge to always be an example of dedication, probity and frugality for staff and other volunteers.
I understand that the true measure of a leader is one who knows and look out for the welfare of his or her followers. I pledge to know and lookout for the welfare of DPC’s members and staff.
I understand there may be issues discussed at Board meetings that could damage individuals or the Association if discussed outside the Boardroom, and I pledge to maintain confidentiality of such items. But I also understand that the members are the owners of the Association and have a right to know how their association is operating. I pledge to support operating in as open and transparent a manner as is possible, while keeping in mind that some issues must be kept confidential.
I understand that I have a responsibility to fully and fairly share my opinions at board meetings, but that I also have a responsibility to support Board decisions outside the Boardroom. I pledge to do so.
I understand that to fulfill my fiduciary responsibility to the membership, I must be fully knowledgeable about the association. I pledge that I will read and understand the bylaws, policies, financial reports, committee reports and other documents pertaining to the operations of DPC, and that I will devote the time necessary to stay current and to participate in Board meetings and conference calls.
I understand that I have a responsibility to apprise the Board any conflicts of interest that I may have, and to recuse myself from voting where a conflict exists. I pledge to avoid both the appearance and the actuality of any conflict of interest.
I understand that it is a violation of my fiduciary responsibility to the membership to appropriate to myself opportunities that rightfully belong to the association, or to usurp opportunities and appointments for myself that should be open to the membership. I pledge not to do so.
I understand that my authority as a member of the Board is only in the Boardroom, and that I have no management authority or responsibility for the association outside of my participation in Board decisions. It is the staff’s responsibility to manage the association. It is the Board’s collective responsibility to set the strategic direction for DPC, to establish policies relating to ends, means and executive limits, to allocate resources and monitor financial performance, and to hire and oversee the chief staff executive. I understand that no one else can fulfill these Board responsibilities. I know this also means that I am strictly prohibited from approaching DPC staff for assistance with outside projects or to request preferential treatment for myself or any related party. Any outside collaboration between me (or a related party) and DPC must be approved by the Board. I pledge I will devote myself to helping the Board fulfill these strategic responsibilities.
I understand that perception is reality. I pledge to conduct myself in all things relating to the Association in such a manner that I would not be embarrassed to have my conduct fully reported as the lead story in the news.
I understand that members will look to me for their cues about DPC. I pledge I will be an enthusiastic cheerleader and booster of DPC.
I understand that much of the success of DPC will depend on Board dynamics. I pledge I will welcome diverse points of view, that I will feel free to disagree without being disagreeable, that I will not personalize disagreement, that I will discuss issues, not personalities and that I will avoid ad hominem attacks on board members, staff or other volunteers.
I understand that Board service is my opportunity to make a lasting contribution to DPC, our membership and dialysis patients as a whole. I pledge I will work to leave DPC better, stronger and more fiscally sound that I found it at the start of my Board service. I understand that if I am no longer able to fulfill my obligations as a DPC Board Member, it is my responsibility to submit my resignation effective immediately, so that a capable replacement can be found as soon as possible.

Election Process

Applications are received year-round
The Governance Committee reviews applications and follows up with candidates who meet pre-determined criteria to schedule interviews as appropriate
The Governance Committee presents a slate of candidates, from which the Board makes the final decision

Qualifications

1. Candidates are evaluated based on their potential to add value to the Board including:

Dialysis knowledge and experience
Dialysis Modality
Geographic diversity
Professional skills

2. Additional qualifications including record of service to DPC (minimum 1 year), including factors such as:

Past participation in DPC (including political action, membership recruiting, distributing educational materials, fundraising) Leadership/public speaking experience and professional achievement

3. Independence:

Board members and their immediate family members shall have no financial relationship with any dialysis providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, or other related corporate entities in the renal industry other than a financial relationship established by reason of their being a patient.

Meet our Board Members

Apply for a Position on the Board