Accomplishment Award

WashU Nephrology Nurse Practitioner Lisa Koester-Wiedemann Receives Dean’s Distinguished Service Award

Lisa Koester-Wiedemann, Nurse Practitioner, WashU Nephrology receives the highest form of staff recognition at WashU School of Medicine – the Dean’s Distinguished Service Award.

The Division of Nephrology is proud to announce that Lisa Koester-Wiedemann, ANP, CNN-NP, received the prestigious Dean’s Distinguished Service Award for 2020.  The award is the highest form of staff recognition at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Recipients of the award are nominated by their colleagues and are selected for “displaying ongoing commitment to exceeding job responsibilities, helping to create a positive working environment, and improving the community in which he or she lives.”

As a renal nurse practitioner in our division, Koester-Wiedemann is responsible for clinical coverage of in-center hemodialysis, home dialysis (hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis) and the chronic kidney disease patient population.  She educates patients about current dialysis modality options and is an adjunct instructor of medicine for nurse practitioner students. 

Anitha Vijayan, MD, FASN, Professor of Medicine, WashU Nephrology, nominated Koester-Wiedemann for the award.  Here is an excerpt of Dr. Vijayan’s comments that accompanied her nomination:

“[Lisa] is an exceptional individual and nurse practitioner who goes above and beyond to take care of patients with End-stage kidney disease. She is bright, compassionate and a true leader, recognized nationally for her expertise in home dialysis.  Shortly after joining our division, she was instrumental in creating our home hemodialysis program about 19 years ago.  With her commitment and passion, it has grown to one of the largest home dialysis programs in the country. Her dedication to promoting the care of patients undergoing dialysis, especially home dialysis, has been recognized nationally.  In 2012, she was an invited panelist in the first National Summit on Home Dialysis Policy.  She, along with leaders from large dialysis organizations, presented data to congressional committees on the benefits of home dialysis.  

“More recently, she, along with nephrologists at the National Kidney Foundation, published a pivotal paper on overcoming barriers for continued use of home dialysis.  She is the recipient of several awards, including the 2008 Kelly McManus Memorial Award for Clinical Excellence in Home Hemodialysis and the 2020 Barbara Prowant Lifetime Achievement in Nephrology Nursing, at the Annual Dialysis Conference.  In 2014, she was one of the St. Louis Magazine Excellence in Nursing Award Finalists.  Lisa Koester-Weidemann exemplifies all the qualities encompassed in the Kelley Mullen Service Award.  She is brilliant, innovative and compassionate, and is a proud member of the Division of Nephrology and Washington University in St. Louis. She is committed to improving the care of her patients and educating the nurses and medical trainees on home dialysis and its advantages.  She is an exemplary ambassador for WashU School of Medicine.”

The Dean’s Distinguished Service Award includes an engraved plaque, a monetary prize of $1000, as well as acknowledgment in WashU’s internal publications such as the Record, the HR Resource newsletter, and the WashU Staff Recognition website and the School of Medicine News website.  In addition, she will be highlighted in a recorded message from David H. Perlmutter, MD, Dean of the School of Medicine.

Lisa Koester-Weidemann speaking at the National Kidney Foundation Conference on Home Modalities
Lisa Koester-Weidemann speaking at a National Kidney Foundation conference on Home Modalities

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