Management

Barbara Lawson, President & CEO

Barbara Lawson is the first President & CEO of The Kidney TRUST.  The TRUST’s purpose is to increase awareness of kidney disease through public education and testing programs so that progression of chronic kidney disease to kidney failure can be delayed or prevented.  The TRUST will also develop innovative solutions to address the critical unmet needs of people with CKD.

Before joining the TRUST, Barbara was Chief Operating Officer and Senior Project Director for Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation.  In this position she was responsible for the growth and development of Pangaea — a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding access to HIV/AIDS treatment in the developing world. While at Pangaea, Barbara’s achievements included the completion of a state-of-the-art clinic and training center in Kampala, Uganda and the establishment of innovative HIV/AIDS treatment programs in Ukraine.

Barbara’s professional history includes service as vice president for administration and finance at California State University Monterey Bay. Previously, she was vice president for administration and finance at Marin Community Foundation and chief financial officer at the Pacific Stock Exchange, San Francisco. She served on the San Francisco AIDS Foundation board of directors; was a founding board member The Investment Fund for Foundations (TIFF), an investment cooperative serving grant-making foundations and other eligible 501(c)(3) organizations; and has been active in service to the field of philanthropy.

Barbara earned an MBA degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a BA degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Revkah Balingit, RN, Program Director

Revkah Balingit is Program Director of The Kidney TRUST.  In this role she oversees the development and implementation of the TRUST’s rapid-screening and financial assistance programs.  Her background in case management provides unique knowledge of community resources and care coordination, and her clinical experience lends insight into the complex needs of patients and families living with chronic kidney disease.

Revkah has been in health care since 1977, and a Registered Nurse since 1985.  Over her career, she has worked in many different clinical settings, including acute care, long-term care, and home health care.  Revkah has served as a staff nurse, a flight nurse, a nursing preceptor, and as a nurse manager, recently focusing on case management;  from both a health plan and provider perspectives.

During her time as a case manager Revkah was responsible for the design and coordination of disease management programs for patients with diabetes, end stage renal disease (ESRD), congestive heart failure, and asthma.  As a hospital director she participated in many clinical committees and was instrumental in program development and drafting of hospital initiatives, policies and procedures. Prior to joining the TRUST Revkah worked with DaVita, Inc., assisting in the design and implementation of disease management and chronic kidney disease (CKD) education programs.

Revkah earned a Masters Degree in Health Care Administration, and holds advanced certification in Utilization Management and Case Management.

She has four children and lives in Elizabeth, Colorado with her husband David.

Katy Miessner, Fiscal Services and Programs Manager

Katy Miessner is Fiscal Services and Programs Manager of The Kidney TRUST.  In this role she manages the fiscal aspects of the TRUST’s programs, and is also responsible for administering financial systems that support the Kidney TRUST’s mission, values and programs.

Before joining the TRUST, Ms. Miessner was the Budget Director for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, a $25 million AIDS service and education organization.  In this position, she oversaw the budgeting process for the Foundation and their global affiliate, the Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, in support of both organizations’ strategic planning and program development and administration. During her fourteen year tenure, Ms. Miessner was responsible for budgeting and contract management, which included fiscal oversight of City, State, Federal and privately restricted contracts and grants.

Prior to this, Ms. Miessner was the Accounting Manager at Shanti, an organization that provided peer support to People with AIDS, and assisted that organization with a financial statement reissue and resulting successful lawsuit.  Ms. Miessner also held finance positions in other areas, including certified public accounting, university housing management, and real estate management.  Ms. Miessner received her B.A. in Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston.