Special Speaker Event Elaine Perlman

​Join EA NYC on January 22nd for an Inspiring Discussion on the End Kidney Deaths Act with Elaine Perlman.

​Elaine Perlman will speak to EA NYC about the urgent policy failures that result in 10,000 Americans dying annually while waiting for organ transplants—and the practical solutions that could end this crisis.

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​Elaine's unique perspective combines:

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• ​Personal experience as a living kidney donor to a stranger, following her 19-year-old son who did the same

• ​Transition from teaching at Columbia University to becoming a national health policy advocate

• ​Deep expertise on why living kidney donation has stagnated for decades despite clear need

• ​Analysis of the $50 billion annual dialysis cost representing 1% of all federal spending

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​She'll share insights on how policy choices have created artificial scarcity in organ availability, why current incentive structures fail both donors and recipients, and how the End Kidney Deaths Act offers a evidence-based solution that can save both lives and taxpayer dollars. As one of the most solvable yet persistent problems in American healthcare, the kidney shortage represents a critical opportunity for high-impact policy reform. Elaine brings both lived experience and rigorous policy analysis to demonstrate how targeted interventions could eliminate preventable deaths while reducing healthcare costs.