Dr. Victor Chan, a member of the Chinese Program Advisory committee of the Canadian Diabetes Association, Vancouver Coastal, is the recipient of the 2009 Wilma Crockett Memorial Award. This prestigious award is presented annually to someone who has made an outstanding contribution to renal care in BC – a leader, an innovator, a role model who inspires others to achieve excellence.

Kidney disease or nephropathy is a serious complication associated with long-term diabetes. Over the years, high blood glucose levels and high blood pressure can damage the kidneys and prevent them from functioning properly or even cause them to fail completely. About one-third of people who have had diabetes for more than 15 years will develop kidney disease.

Dr. Chan has been interested in diabetic renal disease since training at the Joslin Diabetes Clinic, Boston in 1967. Since then he founded the hemodialysis unit at Royal Columbian Hospital in 1972. From 1972 to 2002, he was the driving force in the growth of dialysis facilities and nephrology services in a local BC health authority. Through his encouragement, the bedside peritoneal dialysis program grew be the largest in Canada.

Dr. Chan has improved the lives of countless patients with diabetic nephropathy during his professional health career. He is a true Diabetes Champion.