CORE Kidney Program
The CORE Kidney program at UCLA Health is a patient advocacy and support program based on their founding principles of Clinical excellence, Outreach, Research and Education. They have a focus on integrative medicine, with emphasis on prevention and education.
CORE values
Clinical Excellence
CORE Kidney provides clinical care through programs focusing on specific kidney health states and related conditions. These include programs for polycystic kidney disease (PKD), home dialysis, living donor care, Fabry disease, hypertension, and diabetic kidney disease, as well as clinics for urinary tract infection and hypertension. The program uses a multidisciplinary approach to integrate care across specialties.
Outreach
CORE Kidney focuses on community presence and engagement. We accomplish this by hosting multiple events during the year - both in person and virtual. At these events, healthcare providers and our patient ambassadors volunteer to provide education on kidney health for the general public, patients, and patients' families. These outreach events raise awareness about kidney health in the general public in an effort to increase patient involvement and disease prevention. Some of their past events include,
- Gift of Life Health Fair by Pico Union
- CORE Kidney Monthly Chats
- Kidney Month Santa Monica City Council Proclamation
- Tournament of Roses Parade, 2024 and 2025
- 4th of July Parade in Huntington Beach
- Tijuana Orphanage Drive 2025
- CORE Kidney Galas
- CORE Kidney Appreciation Luncheons
CORE Kidney also partners with Circle of CORE Kidney Foundation, ADPKD Fundation, Alport Foundation, National Kidney Foundation and many more.
Research
They have completed around 200 clinical trials and currently have multiple in ProgresS. Some of the disease states they address include IgAN, Alport syndrome, PKD, Fabry, C3G, FSGS, membranous nephropathy, cardio-vascular outcomes, hypertension, diabetes, vasculitis, dialysis, transplant, genetic diseases and others.
Education
Free monthly events such as monthly chats are hosted for patients, their family and friends, doctors, healthcare providers and professionals to learn about kidney health holistically. These education and outreach programs are created in order to make patients and their loved ones A Part of the decision making team when it comes to assessing their kidney health.
The UCLA Living Kidney Donor Program was also set up by CORE Kidney in order to encourage and help guide healthy individuals who are interested in becoming living kidney donors. This team comes up with an extensive evaluation of your eligibility if you choose to donate one of your kidneys to a family member, friend or even a stranger.
The Circle of CORE
The Circle of CORE is a patient advocacy and support organization affiliated with the UCLA CORE Kidney Program. It is composed of current and former kidney patients, including those with chronic kidney disease, dialysis recipients, transplant recipients, and living donors. The organization works to provide peer support, patient education, and advocacy for the kidney health community. The Circle of CORE aims to empower patients to become active participants in their own care and to support families affected by kidney disease. This support is facilitated through the sharing of lived experiences in patient-to-patient interactions, which help build understanding, mutual support, and informed engagement in kidney care. As an extension of the UCLA CORE Kidney Program, it shares the same goals of improving patient outcomes and promoting awareness of kidney health.