THIS UNITED STATES Renal Data System (USRDS) Annual Data Report is the 16th in the series. This year we pay tribute to Dr. Fred Shapiro, who died this past spring. Dr. Shapiro was instrumental in advancing dialysis technology and in creating programs that led to the provision of decentralized care and greater patient access to dialysis. He will be sorely missed by the dialysis community.

Excerpts from the United States Renal Data System 2004 Annual Data Report: Atlas of end-stage renal disease in the United States