Rod Kenley
Chief Innovation Officer (CIO)
Rod Kenley, a visionary in the field of dialysis, played an essential role in shaping the landscape of peritoneal dialysis. Over four decades ago, Rod Kenley persuaded a leading company in the med-tech industry to launch the world’s first Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) program. At a time when peritoneal dialysis was confined to academia, Rod’s visionary thinking brought this life-saving treatment into the mainstream clinics from university research. His relentless pursuit of innovation led to the development of the world’s first portable Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD) machine over 35 years ago, which became a massive commercial success.
That product revolutionized the way patients undergo dialysis, making it more convenient and efficient. Rod Kenley’s influence extended beyond product development. He was crucial in convincing the FDA that an entire hemodialysis extracorporeal circuit could be safely reused up to thirty times and that injectable quality could be safely produced in patients’ homes starting from their tap water, leading to significant cost savings and increased access to life-saving treatment globally. His groundbreaking ideas and relentless pursuit of excellence have earned him over 100 patents in the field of dialysis.
Rod Kenley’s visionary leadership extends beyond his work on early peritoneal dialysis systems. He founded America’s first home hemodialysis company, which he successfully took public, and is the mastermind behind the invention of a daily Home Hemodialysis Machine, which was the first-ever home hemodialysis machine approved by the FDA. Rod was invited to define standards for AAMI that are used by the FDA to approve any device to date. It’s not an overstatement to say that his groundbreaking contributions have not just saved lives but also paved the way for advancements in medical technology that will benefit future generations.
Rod Kenley received his Master of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and his Master of Management in Marketing and New Product Development from Northwestern University.