Remembering Dr. John Stivelman (1950-2026)

Dr. Stivelman joined NKC in 1999 and served as our first Chief Medical Officer before retiring in 2015 as Senior Medical Director and Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington. During a period of tremendous growth for our organization, he established the standards of clinical care that continue to guide us today. He strengthened partnerships with nephrologists throughout our region and helped bring the Kidney Research Institute from vision to reality. He shared his recollections of that era in the video on the left, part of NKC’s oral history project.

His influence extended far beyond Northwest Kidney Centers. As a nationally respected nephrologist, educator and patient advocate, Dr. Stivelman helped shape dialysis care and public policy across the country. His legacy will continue to benefit patients and families for generations to come. We are honored to include him in the “Kidney Care Heroes” display in our Dialysis Museum.