Pediatric Nephrology Chief Recognized with National Kidney Foundation Award

First New Jersey Pediatric Nephrologist to Receive Excellence in Care Honor

Kenneth Lieberman, M.D., chief of Pediatric Nephrology at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, and professor of Pediatrics at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, has received the 2022 Excellence in Care Award from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), a research and advocacy organization. He is the first New Jersey pediatric nephrologist to receive the honor.

The NKF’s Excellence in Care Award honors a health care professional who strives to improve the lives of patients, colleagues and the community-at-large by sharing their energy, knowledge and expertise in the fight against kidney disease. Under Dr. Lieberman’s leadership, the Division of Pediatric Nephrology at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital provides leading-edge treatment — including innovative clinical trials and transplant services — for children living with kidney disorders from birth through young adults. Last year, the division, in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of other health care professionals including surgeons, performed a record number of transplants.

“I am humbled by this honor,” said Dr. Lieberman, who was recently named a 2022 member of the American Pediatric Society. “In my more than 40 years of practicing pediatric nephrology, I have found that what children with complex kidney disease and their families need, above all, is empathic medical care. This NFK recognition is affirmation of not only what I have dedicated my life to, but of the way I have chosen to provide state of the art care. Respect for the patient remains my core value.”

"We are incredibly proud about this award, and grateful that the NKF has recognized our colleague and friend for making such a difference in the lives of so many patients who need the compassionate care that is at the heart of Dr. Lieberman’s practice of medicine," said Namrata Jain, M.D., medical director of Pediatric Kidney Transplant.

Dr. Lieberman received the honor during this month’s NKF’s 2022 Eve of Giving Awards Ceremony, which brought together hundreds of health care, civic and business professionals to celebrate the evening’s honorees and the NKF’s mission.

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