The continuing contributions of Dr. Christopher R. Blagg

Dr. Blagg literally wrote the book on Northwest Kidney Centers. In 2017 he published From Miracle to Mainstream: Creating the world’s first dialysis organization.

Dr. Christopher Blagg was a pioneering nephrologist who led Northwest Kidney Centers for nearly three decades, retiring from the role of Executive Director in 1998. He passed in early 2022.

Dr. Blagg was a strong advocate for patients and caregivers and proponent of Home dialysis. His significant legacy includes impactful policy advocacy for kidney patients, including a vital role in convincing the federal government to fund the treatment of kidney disease.

Dr. Blagg was also a member of our Heritage Society, a group of donors who have included Northwest Kidney Centers in their will. Dr. Blagg had directed that his estate donate $100,000 to Northwest Kidney Centers’ Greatest Need fund so his support of kidney patients would continue in the future. The Greatest Need funds help our most vulnerable patients, with essentials such as one-time emergency grants and transportation to treatments and valuable services like palliative care.

If you’d like to learn more about making a planned gift and the Heritage Society, please contact Jennifer Mounsey at Jennifer.mounsey@nwkidney.org or 206.720.8563.

Chris was a brilliant dedicated physician, passionate about advancing the care of people with kidney failure and the nation’s most stalwart champion of home hemodialysis.  And… he was a lovely gentleman, polite, kind and generous, and extraordinarily well-read.  He will be missed.

— Joyce F. Jackson, Emeritus President and CEO, Northwest Kidney Centers

I worked with Chris for at least 20 years at NKC. For a good part of that time, he was my direct supervisor. We worked on several research projects together, including the EPO studies with Dr. Joe Eschbach, because both Joe and Chris felt nutrition was an important part of caring for patients. When we wanted to start CKD classes to educate people about their diets so they could postpone or delay dialysis, Chris was our champion. When we needed money to run the program, he figured out where to get it.

Chris always had some visiting nephrologist with him and he would make sure they spent a day or two with the dietitians. ‘The diet is as important as the machine’, he would say to them. In the process, NKC made friends around the world who still consider Dr. Blagg their mentor.

Chris always supported nutrition interventions with patients, and was incredibly generous with his time. Kathy Shiro-Harvey or I or Sarah Swartz or one of the other dietitians could call him up any time and ask a question, or refer a complex case to him, and he always took the time to help. In those old days, he attended morning report every morning and rounded on all the patients. He took a personal interest in their care, and it showed.

He was such a genuinely nice man, and we will all miss him.

Katy Wilkens,
Retired Manager, Nutrition and Fitness Services
Northwest Kidney Centers

To share add your tribute, please send a story and/or photo to steve.winter@nwkidney.org.