2025 PKD Summit | Videos
Watch the video recordings of all sessions!
The PKD Foundation of Canada was proud to present the 5th Annual Virtual PKD Summit on November 5 and 6, 2025. The PKD Summit is Canada’s leading patient-focused educational event in the field of polycystic kidney disease. The PKD Foundation of Canada's mission is to promote programs of research, advocacy, education, support, and awareness, in order to discover treatments and a cure for polycystic kidney disease, and improve the lives of all it affects.
Entire 2025 PKD Summit Playlist
Topics & Speakers
Day 1 - Wed Nov 5, 2025
12:00pm - 12:50pm EST: PKD Nutrition That Fits Your Life - Presented by Emily Campbell, RD CDE MScFN
Living with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) often raises tough questions about what to eat and how food choices affect your health. In this session, registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator Emily Campbell shares the latest nutrition guidelines for PKD - highlighting the power of fibre, reducing added sugars, and choosing healthy fats. She also offers down-to-earth tips for grocery shopping, meal planning, and cooking that make eating well feel realistic, not overwhelming. Includes a live question and answer period.
Emily Campbell, RD CDE MScFN, is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator with a Master’s Degree in Foods and Nutrition. Emily specializes in helping those with kidney disease overcome the confusing world of nutrition to promote health. Emily can be found at kidneynutrition.ca.
1:00pm - 1:50pm EST: Family Planning with PKD - Presented by Dr. Nickan Motamedi, Reproductive Endocrinologist
Starting or growing a family while living with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) brings unique challenges – and important choices. In this essential PKD Summit session, Dr. Nickan Motamedi walks you through the options available to individuals and couples who want to build a family while managing the risk of passing on PKD. The session covers: The difference between autosomal dominant and recessive PKD and how they’re inherited; natural conception with ultrasound or genetic testing during pregnancy; use of donor sperm or eggs to avoid passing on PKD; IVF with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-M); and provincial funding programs in Canada that may help with fertility costs. Whether you’re just beginning to think about children or are actively planning, this session will help you understand the full range of reproductive options – and how to make informed, empowered choices that are right for your family. Includes a live question and answer period.
Dr. Nickan Motamedi is a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility specialist at TRIO Fertility in Toronto, Canada. He has published and presented research at national and international conferences, and conducts research in infertility. He has worked with PKD patients to secure funding for IVF with pre-implantation genetic testing for monogenetic disease (PGT-M) for affected couples. Dr. Motamedi is a strong advocate for patient-centered care and decision making in modern fertility care.
2:00pm - 2:50pm EST: Mental Health & PKD: Living with the Unknown - Presented by Joy Pekar, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Living with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) means living with uncertainty. Will your child inherit it? When will kidney failure begin? Will dialysis or transplant be part of your future? For many patients and families, the questions feel endless - and the fear, very real. In this thoughtful session, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) Joy Pekar explores the emotional weight of facing an uncertain future with PKD. Together, we name and normalize the fears that come with this disease - and also look for reasons to hope, connect, and move forward with compassion. Includes a live question and answer session.
Joy Pekar is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) whose professional practice is shaped by personal experience. Joy's family has been directly impacted by polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a journey that has included searching for a kidney donor and navigating the emotional complexities of dialysis and transplant. With this deep understanding, she helps individuals and families cope with the emotional toll of chronic illness, particularly kidney disease, offering compassionate support and mental wellness strategies.
Day 2 - Thu Nov 6, 2025
12:00pm - 12:50pm EST: Exercise and PKD - Presented by Dr. Stephanie Thompson, Nephrologist, and Kylie Morrison CEP
Living with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) can make it hard to stay active - especially with symptoms like fatigue, pain, and enlarged kidneys. But physical activity can still play a powerful role in managing your health. In this session, we’ll explore how PKD affects your ability to exercise at different stages of the disease, from early diagnosis through to dialysis, transplant, and recovery. You’ll learn about common barriers to movement, and simple, kidney-friendly ways to stay active - no matter where you are in your PKD journey.
Dr. Stephanie Thompson is a nephrologist at the University of Alberta, Edmonton. In addition to her clinical role, she conducts research on how exercise can improve health in people with kidney disease. Dr. Thompson is the physician lead for Alberta Kidney Care North's Clinical Exercise Program. This is one of the few structured exercise programs for people with kidney disease in Canada. She collaborates with a team of exercise specialists, patients, and administrators to help people with kidney disease improve their physical function and well-being by providing individualized counseling and resources.
Kylie Morrison is a Kinesiologist and Certified Exercise Physiologist with the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology. Kylie has also completed graduate certificates in Rehabilitation Science (UBC) and Chronic Pain (UofA). She works with Alberta Kidney Care North in hemodialysis clinics and has a strong interest in the role exercise plays in disease management and prevention, as well as a keen interest in chronic pain.
1:00 pm - 1:50 pm EST: The Transplant Wellness Program - Presented by Kathryn Wytsma-Fisher CEP, Katie Bakgaard CEP, Kim Holowatiuk ADPKD patient
Join us for a roundtable conversation with the University of Calgary’s Transplant Wellness Program team, and PKD patient partner, Kim Holowatiuk. This innovative 12-week program was designed to support people waiting for transplant - helping them build strength, confidence, and resilience through movement and behaviour support. Learn how the program was structured, why wellness matters before transplant, and what patients can do now to support their health while waiting. Please note: This session does not include unpublished research results. Includes a live question and answer session.
Kathryn Wytsma-Fisher is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist / Kinesiologist and the research program lead for the Transplant Wellness Program at the University of Calgary. Her research interests are around the benefits and impact of exercise on chronic disease patients. She enjoys spending her spare time with her husband, son and two dogs as well as being active outdoors hiking and camping.
Katie Bakgaard is the Kinesiologist/Certified Exercise Physiologist for the Transplant Wellness Program. She brings extensive experience supporting patients through complex cardiac conditions, combining clinical expertise with compassionate care.
Kim Holowatiuk is an ADPKD patient living in Alberta. She is currently waiting for a kidney transplant, and navigating life with stage 5 PKD. Kim shared her Voices of PKD story with us in 2024, and this past summer gave us an update, on her participation in the Transplant Wellness Program. Kim was encouraged by the support and community she found within the program. Read Kim's story about participating in the Transplant Wellness Program, here: endpkd.ca/kim_2025.
2:00 pm - 2:50 pm EST: Pregnancy with PKD - Presented by Drs. Tiina Podymow and Ahsan Alam, Nephrologists
Thinking about pregnancy when you have polycystic kidney disease (PKD) can bring up many questions - and some concerns. In this session, two nephrologists explain the risks and possible complications of being pregnant when you have PKD, and share practical advice on how to stay as healthy as possible before, during, and after pregnancy. Whether you’re planning a pregnancy or already expecting, this session will help you understand what to expect, and how to work with your care team for the best outcomes. Includes a live question and answer session.
Dr. Tiina Podymow graduated from McGill University and completed her medical residency and Nephrology fellowship at the University of Ottawa. She continued fellowship training in Obstetric Nephrology at Cornell University at New York Presbyterian Hospital. She is an Associate Professor in nephrology at McGill and is a practicing nephrologist at the Royal Victoria Hospital of McGill University Health Centre with a clinical and research interest in Obstetric Nephrology. She also runs the first year McGill Medicine Renal Physiology course and is a past winner of The Douglas G. Kinnear Award Outstanding Clinician-Teacher at the McGill University Health Center.
Dr. Ahsan Alam is an Associate Professor of Medicine and a staff nephrologist at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) in Montreal, Quebec. He is also the medical co-director of the MUHC Multiorgan Transplant and Donation Program. In 2015, he established the MUHC Polycystic Kidney Disease Clinic and co-founded the Quebec PKD Network to enhance PKD knowledge translation and research in the province. He is an active member of the Research Institute of the MUHC and is actively involved in PKD clinical trials and epidemiologic studies. He was recently awarded the MUHC Department of Medicine's Clinician Impact Award for his contributions to the field of ADPKD which have had a medical or societal impact through publication, guideline development, and work with policy makers.
4:00 pm - 4:50 pm EST: Emergency Preparedness for PKD - Presented by Dr. Mike Bevilacqua, Nephrologist, and Renal Nurses Sarah Thomas and Naomi Martens
When disaster strikes - from wildfires to winter storms - people living with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) face unique challenges. How do you keep medications safe? What if there’s no power, clean water, or access to a hospital? Join our expert roundtable with a nephrologist, emergency preparedness specialist, and renal nurse to learn practical steps for staying safe at every stage of PKD, including after transplant. You’ll leave with peace of mind, a go-bag checklist, and real-world advice that could make all the difference in an emergency. Includes a live question and answer session.
Dr. Micheli (Mike) Bevilacqua is a nephrologist with additional training in health administration. His clinical nephrology practice is based in Surrey, British Columbia and he is involved in several administrative roles with BC Renal. He is the Chair of the Provincial Kidney Care Committee which coordinates multidisciplinary care delivery for over 15,000 British Columbians living with chronic kidney disease, the Medical Lead for the BC Polycystic Kidney Disease Network which aims to optimize management of PKD in BC and the Co-Chair of the Transplant First Committee aiming to improve access to living donor kidney transplantation. In addition to these clinical and administrative roles, Dr. Bevilacqua is involved in research with specific interests in care of patients living with polycystic kidney disease, knowledge translation, systems improvement and evaluating care delivery.
Sarah Thomas is a project manager and renal nurse specializing in emergency preparedness and response. With experience in coordinating emergency operations, supporting disaster planning, and strengthening community resilience, Sarah focuses on ensuring readiness before, during, and after crises. Skilled in risk assessment, continuity planning, and provincial collaboration, Sarah works to improve preparedness strategies that safeguard patients, staff, and resources when emergencies strike.
Naomi Martens has been a renal nurse since 2007. She has worked in hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and pre-dialysis clinical areas. Currently she is part of a provincial team of hemodialysis nurses called Hemodialysis Emergency Support Team. These nurses can be deployed across the province to help provide or organize dialysis for patients when a disaster has disrupted hemodialysis services or access. Naomi also has an interest in preventing disasters due to climate change and is involved in planetary health committees in her healthcare systems.
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