Saint Xavier brings life-saving kidney screenings to community

A silent but potentially deadly disease took center stage March 31 at Saint Xavier University, where a free community screening aimed to catch early warning signs of kidney disease before symptoms ever appear.

Held in the fourth-floor boardroom of the university’s campus at 3700 W. 103rd St., the event brought together students, health professionals and local residents for several hours of screenings and one-on-one consultations. The effort was organized by the university’s School of Nursing, the Alpha Omicron Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International and Students for H.O.P.E. (Helping Organ Procurement Education), in partnership with the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois.

Also present at the event was Richard Catezone, regional coordinator of the Secretary of State’s Organ and Tissue Donor Program, who said the collaboration added value to the experience for attendees.

“It is really nice having us here combined with the screening process,” Catezone said, noting that the more intimate university setting — compared with a large health fair — helped draw in more interested participants.

Participants were screened for kidney disease, high blood pressure and diabetes — conditions that often develop quietly but can have serious, long-term consequences if left untreated. Organizers emphasized that kidney disease, in particular, remains underrecognized despite its severity.

Each year, kidney disease claims more lives than breast or prostate cancer, yet many people remain unfamiliar with the risk factors and routine tests that can detect it early. Because symptoms may not appear until the disease has progressed significantly, screenings like the one hosted at Saint Xavier play a critical role in early detection and prevention.

This marked the third such screening hosted by the university, and past results underscored the need for continued outreach. During the first screening in 2025, 35.6% of participants showed abnormal results in at least one category. That number rose to 50% during the second screening, with nearly 10% of participants referred for immediate medical care. Common findings included elevated protein levels in urine, high blood sugar and high blood pressure.

Those outcomes reflect the broader impact of the foundation’s KidneyMobile, a custom mobile unit that travels throughout Illinois providing free health screenings. The unit, which was on-site for the event, is the only one of its kind in the nation and focuses on detecting kidney disease and its two primary causes — diabetes and hypertension.

Student volunteers also highlighted the impact of the event, both for the community and for their own learning experiences.

“I like that this event is free and anyone in the community is welcome,” said Ashley Hernandez, 19, of Chicago.

Monserrat Cornelio, 20, of Chicago, added that the event offered valuable hands-on experience for nursing students.

“SXU Students for H.O.P.E. is elated to co-host our third kidney screening,” said John McNamara, president of the student organization. “Not only has the event been a great way to bring people together, it has provided people an opportunity to realize health concerns they would not otherwise have been able to realize. This event is a great, free way for people to get screened for potential critical health concerns.”

In addition to receiving screenings, attendees had the opportunity to speak privately with nurses or physicians to review their results and discuss next steps, offering both immediate feedback and guidance for follow-up care.

The event was open to adults 18 and older, with no appointments required, making it accessible to a broad cross-section of the community. Organizers said the goal was not only to provide screenings but also to educate participants about prevention and encourage proactive health management.

Organizers expressed hope that continued partnerships and outreach efforts will expand access to early detection services and help reduce the long-term impact of kidney disease across the region.