Author: Heather Trafton, CEO of Evergreen Nephrology
Evergreen Nephrology experienced tremendous growth in 2025. Over the past year, we introduced new technology and refined our care model to better serve those living with kidney disease. We established new clinical programs aimed at reducing unnecessary utilization, delaying disease progression, supporting proactive end-of-life goals, and more precisely identifying high-risk patients. Focusing on improving our risk stratification models, we restructured our technology and data infrastructure to enable sustainable and scalable patient-centric care. The purpose-driven programming and innovation we accomplished over the past year set the stage for even more in 2026.
As a former practicing physician assistant who has transitioned to the business side of healthcare, it’s central to my personal mission, and to Evergreen’s, that patients remain at the forefront of what we do. Every decision we make is rooted in the lived realities of our patients’ stories and physician partnerships. Since joining the company in 2024, I have seen firsthand how our teams across Evergreen help our patients avoid unnecessary dialysis, start treatment earlier and under safer conditions, and experience better quality of life and outcomes, and are driven to continue improving upon our programs and technology. I am inspired by my colleagues every day. With deep passion for our mission, extreme pride in our team and partners, and such great things on the horizon, I couldn’t be more excited to be leading as Evergreen’s CEO during this new era for kidney care.
Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond
Over the next year, Evergreen’s key priorities are improving patient outcomes and growth. With patient journeys of the utmost importance, we are focused on expanding thoughtful, personalized, and sustainable care to as many kidney disease patients as possible. While our efforts in 2025 centralized around progressing our care model and analytical framework, our goal this year is to use these tools to deliver industry-leading outcomes. With kidney care becoming increasingly reliant on digital technologies, we aim to be at the cutting-edge of innovation, ensuring our data and technology is robust and purpose-built.
To accomplish these goals, we are relying on the new and longstanding collaborations we have established with our nephrology partners. We work with so many talented and dedicated healthcare professionals across provider groups, health networks, and states that drive meaningful value-based care to support our patients. Our expansions into new markets like South Carolina and increased market penetration in Alabama and Tennessee this year will further our reach as we provide much-needed support to more nephrology groups across the country.
Alongside nephrologists are a host of additional healthcare professionals that ensure kidney disease patients receive holistic, personalized treatment. Evergreen has worked diligently to enhance our programs to support patients’ medical, behavioral, and social needs throughout their kidney care journey with the help of these allied professionals. Building infrastructure to further support interdisciplinary coordination across the care continuum remains a priority in our value-based approach to kidney care.
I’ve already seen such diligence and determination across Evergreen to build on all this momentum in 2026. From welcoming new team members and partnerships to continuing to build upon our founding mission, Evergreen is steadfast in meeting patients and providers where they are and measurably transforming kidney care. We’re looking forward to another great year ahead.
