carolyn lemos

Carolyn Lemos serves as the leader of the Kidneys Quest Foundation in San Fernando, California, where she has worked for 19 years providing essential support to kidney patients and their families. Before establishing the foundation, she spent time in healthcare operations, working nationally with laboratories, case management, as a surgical technician, and in office management. Motivated by the lack of guidance available for those facing kidney conditions, she created the organization to offer navigation through insurance, transplant eligibility, doctor access, and prevention education while respecting patients' existing healthcare teams. The foundation delivers food to approximately 350 dialysis patients weekly, hosts free community health 5K events, and assists with complex cases such as helping patients secure appropriate insurance and transplant placements after years on waiting lists. Referrals often come from transplant teams and social workers, and Lemos maintains close partnerships with medical professionals, including her mentor Nita, a registered nurse and transplant team coordinator. Challenges include securing funding and expanding facilities, yet the grassroots effort continues to prioritize direct community outreach and long-term patient relationships.