Check out our Patient Ambassador Spotlight, where we highlight members who elevate the voices of people with kidney disease.
This month’s Spotlight is on Adrian Ropp from Draper, Utah.
Originally from Blackfoot, Idaho, Adrian was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2022 and his life changed drastically. So, it was no small feat that on the third anniversary of receiving his kidney transplant, Adrian was on Capitol Hill, advocating with his fellow patient ambassadors for Dialysis Patient Citizens’ 2026 Annual Advocacy Day.
When Adrian went on dialysis in 2022, he quickly made friends with many fellow patients and saw firsthand how kidney failure affects people from every walk of life, including professionals, caregivers and community members. He became passionate about patients getting access to the newest medications, improved dialysis technologies, and innovative care options that can improve outcomes and quality of life.
Once he received his transplant in 2023, Adrian knew that he needed to find a way to use his voice and advocate for his fellow patients, leading him to become a patient ambassador with DPC. This was his first year attending DPC’s Annual Advocacy Day, where he spent time on Capitol Hill meeting with his local legislators from both Utah and Idaho advocating for the Kidney Care Access Protection Act (H.R. 6214), which would expand access to innovative kidney treatments and improve screening and patient education, and the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act. S. 1173 aims to strengthen insurance protections for people receiving dialysis.
You can read Adrian’s full interview about his experience on EastIdahoNews.com here: https://www.eastidahonews.com/2026/07/blackfoot-native-takes-kidney-disease-advocacy-to-capitol-hill/
And read his full Letter to the Editor, written to his local paper, The Salt Lake Tribune, and featured on DPC’s website here: https://www.dialysispatients.org/news/utah-leaders-should-support-kidney-legislation/
Patient Ambassadors represent DPC by serving as leaders in their community and local dialysis facilities. Learn more about this critical role and make a difference in the lives of dialysis patients by applying for DPC’s Patient Ambassador program.
