Award-Winning Medical Education Video Reaches Over 5000 Clinics Nationwide

"Growing up with Kidney Disease" recently received an Aegis Award bringing TDI's number of awards to eleven. Kidney and Urology Foundation of America Inc. chose TDI to produce a 12 minute patient education video detailing the serious risk of growth failure in young patients suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The project was funded through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech Inc.

Director Christopher Smith used a combination of on-screen child testimonials, expert clinical analysis and custom 3D animations to drive home the importance of consistent, proper measurement in children suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The majority of the production was filmed at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore in New York City. TDI accomplished all of the post-production in-house and posted daily edits on a private web page so script-writers, producers and consultants could review the content. Kidney and Urology Foundation of America Inc. Program Director Carol Brower explains:

"Our team included script-writers and consultants all across the country. Each was able to see the project come together daily through on-line previews. This allowed them to make timely suggestions and corrections. The ability to keep our key players in the loop saved us a tremendous amount of time and money. In the end we received a technically superb production which was sensitive to our important message to young patients and their families."

TDI Director Christopher Smith prepared for the project by learning as much as possible about Chronic Kidney Disease and its treatments. Chris met with clinicians, families and young people who have suffered the effects of growth failure. He also did an extensive amount of reading about growth failure in CKD and its primary treatment, Growth Hormone Therapy. Program Director Carol Brower feels this had a direct impact of the quality of the production.

"I had no idea that Chris as the video director would work so hard to understand the disease process and treatments we wanted to illustrate. He could see the project from many angles and interacted with the doctors, patients and families in a very informed and intelligent way. He asked questions that really got to the heart of the matter and dedicated the time and effort to communicate clearly to our audience."

Pediatric Renal Social Worker Maya Doyle of The Children's Hospital at Montefiore was part of the scriptwriting team and as the project's co-producer worked closely with TDI throughout the production.

"The TDI staff impressed us with the way they became "experts" on the topic and helped us organize a good script into a great production.  We had good communication and problem-solving every step of the way. "Growing Up with Kidney Disease" is not only a great teaching tool for families, it's a moving reminder to professionals to not forget about the important issue of growth for these children and their families."

In addition to producing the live video segments, TDI also produced 3D animations to enhance viewers understanding of the content. These included details of the Pituitary Gland, Brain and Skull, as well as an animation showing how Growth Hormone interacts with body tissues to facilitate growth. An on-screen animation of a Growth Chart was produced to help viewers understand how growth failure is detected.

TDI produced the voiceover and other soundtrack elements including the music which is an original piece composed and performed by Christopher Smith.

Growing up with Kidney Disease has been distributed to clinics nationwide and will be used by medical professionals to educate at-risk families. Growth failure in CKD is safely treatable through the use of Growth Hormone Therapy. Early detection and treatment is extremely important in minimizing the serious physical and emotional impact of Growth Failure. For more information on the important work of the Kidney and Urology Foundation of America Inc. CLICK HERE. For information on The Children's Hospital at Montefiore CLICK HERE.

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This article appears under the categories of medical education, medical video, video production and medical webcast. Additional categories include production company and clinical video as well as non-profit video and educational webcast.