Staff and History

The UVA Renal Exercise Program was started by Kline Bolton, MD in 1998 with a goal of improving patient outcomes and quality of life. Although at the time the research on exercise and ESRD was in its infancy, Dr. Bolton hired a full-time physical therapist, Jo Reeder, to help start and maintain the program and was based on the research and literature recommended by the Life Options Rehabilitation and Dr. Patricia Painter, the leading expert on exercise and ESRD in the country.

In 2003, Dan Bayliss, an exercise physiologist, took over for Mrs. Reeder and renamed the program the UVA SitFit Exercise Program and expanded it to six other outpatient dialysis units.

In 2007, Mandy Newberry, an exercise physiologist, took over and expanded the program to yet another facility, providing nearly 800 kidney patients across 8 outpatient dialysis units with the opportunity to take part in the SitFit Exercise program. SitFit uses cycle ergometers, steppers, dumbbells, ankle weights and various seated exercises to improve the patient's physical functioning and quality of life. Mandy continually strives to educate and encourage patients to include exercise as a standard treatment for dialysis.

• Kline Bolton, Medical Director, UVA Nephrology
• Debbie Cote, Renal Services Administrator
• Kim Anger, Renal Services Manager
• Kim Deaver, Renal Services Manager
• Mandy Newberry, Exercise Physiologist
• Cathy Shifflett, Medical Center Supervisor
• Wanda Shreve, Administrative Assistant