Octavia Spencer and Sofia Vergara’s Super Bowl Ad Shines a Spotlight on Kidney Health
February 7, 2026During the 2026 Super Bowl LX, millions of viewers watched a powerful commercial featuring Octavia Spencer and Sofia Vergara that went beyond entertainment to deliver a life-saving message about kidney disease awareness.
The ad is part of the Detect the SOS campaign — a national effort created by Boehringer Ingelheim in collaboration with the American Diabetes Association, National Kidney Foundation, Mended Hearts, and WomenHeart — to raise awareness about hidden kidney damage and the importance of early screening.
At The Transplant Institute at Methodist Dallas Medical Center, we applaud this campaign for using one of the largest television audiences in the world to highlight a disease that often goes unnoticed until it becomes severe.
What Is the Detect the SOS Super Bowl Ad About?
The Octavia Spencer and Sofia Vergara Super Bowl kidney health ad focuses on a simple but urgent truth: Kidney disease often has no early symptoms.
The campaign encourages people — especially those with high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes — to talk to their doctor about a simple urine test called the uACR (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio). This test can help detect kidney damage early, before symptoms appear.
📰 Read more from National Kidney Foundation about uACR screening
Why Kidney Disease Awareness Matters in the U.S.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- 15% of U.S. adults (about 37 million people) have chronic kidney disease
- 9 out of 10 people don’t know they have it
- Diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of kidney disease
Because kidney disease progresses quietly, early screening is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent kidney failure, heart attack, and stroke.
Kidney Disease Disparities We See Everyday
Kidney disease and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) disproportionately affect African American and Hispanic populations.
African American communities
- Over 3x more likely to develop kidney failure than White Americans
- Higher rates of hypertension-related kidney disease
Hispanic and Mexican American communities
- Higher rates of end-stage renal disease (ESRD)
- Greater burden of diabetes and high blood pressure
Barriers to care
- Lower access to early screening and specialists
- Insurance, transportation, language, and trust challenges
- Delayed transplant evaluation and referral
Why This Message Matters to Our Community in South Dallas
At The Transplant Institute at Methodist Dallas, kidney disease awareness is deeply personal.
We are rooted in South Dallas, where:
- 74% of patients identify as Black or Hispanic
- 71% have low to moderate incomes
- Communities experience some of the highest socioeconomic deprivation in Dallas County. This makes access to care, health education, and equity more critical than ever.
These are the exact communities the Detect the SOS campaign aims to reach — and why this Super Bowl message matters so much.
Our Mission at The Transplant Institute at Methodist Dallas
The Transplant Institute at Methodist Dallas Medical Center delivers expert transplant and specialty care for kidney, liver, bile duct, and pancreatic conditions.
With over 40 years of transplant experience, our team provides:
- Life-saving kidney, pancreas and liver transplants
- Dialysis access surgery
- Living donor kidney transplant
- Patient-centered disease management focused on compassion and outcomes
With 17 locations across Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas, and Puerto Rico, we bring advanced transplant care closer to the communities we serve.
👉 Learn more about kidney transplant care
Bringing Education Directly to the Community Through Kidney Health & YOU
Awareness doesn’t stop with a Super Bowl commercial. Kidney Health & YOU, a health educational community program, was created with one simple goal: Bring kidney health education directly to the community — where the need is greatest.
By partnering with local churches and community organizations, this free event:
- Educates residents on kidney disease prevention and early detection
- Explains dialysis, transplant, and living donation options
- Addresses barriers like insurance, healthcare mistrust, and access
📧 Interested in hosting an event? Contact us at MDMC_Transplant@mhd.com
Learn More About Kidney Transplant and Living Donation
Helpful resources:
- Kidney Transplant Program & Application
- Kidney Transplant Education Videos
- Living Donor Kidney Transplant Information
- Living Donor Kidney Transplant Guide (PDF)
- How to Ask for a Kidney PDF
Final Thought
The Octavia Spencer and Sofia Vergara Super Bowl kidney health ad reminds us that awareness saves lives.
At The Transplant Institute at Methodist Dallas, we are appreciative for campaigns like Detect the SOS — that help ensure kidney disease is detected earlier, treated equitably, and never ignored.