Eugene Blankenship has witnessed the struggles dialysis patients deal with for his entire life. Kidney disease runs in
his family, and he lost both his father and grandfather to complications from kidney disease. Eugene was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease himself while on a camping trip in 2003.
Since then, he has devoted himself to helping others affected by kidney disease, first as a DPC patient advocate and now as a member of our Board of Directors. Most patients have limited access to their representatives in Congress, so Eugene wants to play a part in ensuring that every patient’s unique story is heard and that every dialysis patient has access to the resources and information they need to take control of their healthcare.
Outside of this work with DPC, Eugene is the Northeast Oklahoma Representative for the Oklahoma Public Employees Association, where he works alongside both active and retired state employees to improve pay, benefits, grievance assistance, mediation, legislation, and much more.
A proud tribal member of the Cherokee Nation, Eugene receives treatment at a dialysis clinic on the Cherokee Nation Reservation in Northeastern Oklahoma three times per week. He lives with his wife Stacy and their four kids Addyson (17), Dawson (16), Colton (14), and Gideon (4 going on 30), all of whom provide boundless motivation and support.
