Fresenius Medical Care Endows J. Michael Lazarus Award through National Kidney Foundation

Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the world's largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because of chronic kidney failure, has endowed the J. Michael Lazarus lectureship award, established by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF).

J. Michael Lazarus, MD, is a pioneer in the field of dialysis care, and was the chief medical officer (CMO) at Fresenius Medical Care for 13 years before stepping down from the position in January. During his tenure, Dr. Lazarus was responsible for initiating a formal quality program that established FMCNA in the forefront of renal care. It developed into one of the strongest quality programs in the industry, long before such efforts were mandated. By always putting patients first, Dr. Lazarus was able to create a strong, patient-centered medical program that still thrives at FMCNA today.

"Dr. Lazarus has made many significant contributions to dialysis care over the last 40 years, and at FMCNA his leadership in the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) process was a groundbreaking development that had a tremendous impact on patient care," said Rice Powell, CEO of Fresenius Medical Care North America.

The J. Michael Lazarus lectureship will be awarded annually to health care professionals who have enhanced clinical practice in dialysis or chronic kidney disease, and will be nominated by the NKF’s Scientific Advisory Board. The first of these endowed lectures will address the NKF’s 2011 Spring Clinical Meetings.

"We are thrilled to institute this new award which will take a prime place at the Spring Clinical Meetings,” said Bryan Becker, MD, National Kidney Foundation President. "Dr. Lazarus’s contributions to clinical science and his impact on practices to enhance care delivery have been profound. His work that extended beyond physicians and affected an entire group of kidney healthcare professionals and patients is completely in step with the multidisciplinary nature of our Spring Clinical Meetings.”

Throughout his career, Dr. Lazarus has been the recipient of multiple grants and worked extensively in the field of nephrologic research, specifically clinical research in end stage renal disease (ESRD) care. In addition to his research, Dr. Lazarus had an extensive clinical practice, primarily at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, where he held the positions of director of dialysis services and director of clinical services for the nephrology division. At the outset of his career in 1969, he treated patients in the first outpatient dialysis clinic. He graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and received his medical degree with honors from Tulane University.

Raymond Hakim, MD, who succeeded Dr. Lazarus as Chief Medical Officer at FMCNA, said, "Dr. Lazarus has been a visionary in nephrology and a personal mentor to me. This lectureship honors the contributions he has made to the field, and the tremendous impact he has had on numerous patients over the years."

Dr. Lazarus continues to work with FMCNA, and in his new role will be leading initiatives designed to enhance patient care, including participation in further development of the company's eCube^® medical information system. The eCube system is a comprehensive clinical system that integrates patient care information within the physician practice, dialysis unit, hospital, pharmacy, laboratory and vascular access center. Dr. Lazarus is also focusing on a formalized Patient Safety Program.

About Fresenius Medical Care

Fresenius Medical Care North America is a subsidiary of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, the world's largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because of chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects more than 1,770,000 individuals worldwide. Through its network of 2,553 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatment to approximately 195,650 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the world's leading provider of dialysis products such as hemodialysis machines, dialyzers and related disposable products. Fresenius Medical Care is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FME, FME3) and the New York Stock Exchange (FMS, FMS-p).

For more information about FMCNA's U.S. network of more than 1,800 dialysis facilities, visit the Company's website at www.ultracare-dialysis.com (in English and Spanish). For more information about Fresenius Medical Care, visit the Company’s website: www.fmc-ag.com.