Life as a Nephrology Professional (National Kidney Foundation)

D.C.-based news reporter Jummy Olabanji takes a look inside the NKF 2012 Spring Clinical Meetings. In this section she interviews NKF's CMO Dr. Joseph Vassalotti about the CDC's upcoming National Online Surveillance System for Chronic Kidney Disease. 

D.C.-based news reporter Jummy Olabanji takes a look inside the NKF 2012 Spring Clinical Meetings. In this section she interviews Dr. Mala Sachdeva about her studying showing the impacts of obesity on organ available for donation. For more information visit http://www.kidney.org/news/newsroom/welcome.cfm. 

D.C.-based news reporter Jummy Olabanji takes a look inside the NKF 2012 Spring Clinical Meetings. In this section she interviews Dr. Judy Beto about her work using Talking Control with kidney patients. 

Utilizing a creative and interactive approach within an interdisciplinary team promotes easy conversation around difficult topics such as advance care planning. Effective communication between team members and with patients helps increase awareness of this critical topic. Join our host and guests in a discussion focused on why, despite the availability of numerous tools designed to assist professionals in guiding patients through the process of planning for future healthcare needs, a noticeable gap persists between our aspirations and the current reality.

Learn more on this topic from the SCM24 abstract, Promoting Advance Care Planning Among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease, published in April 2024 in the Journal of Nephrology Social Work.

Host: Raphy Rosen, MD

Guests: Michelle Rowlett, MSW, LICSW & Grace Scarborough, RDN, CD

This episode explores the 2021 NKF Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative Commentary (KDOQI) on the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guideline for glomerular diseases. The KDOQI commentary provides discussion on issues that are specific for implementation of the KDIGO guidelines in US healthcare settings. Tune in is as our host Dr. Natasha Dave dives into the commentary with Co-Chairs Dr. Bill Whittier, Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and Dr. Laurence Beck, Boston Medical Center.

In this year-end wrap-up episode, we reflect on 2024’s highlights with the editors-in-chief of the National Kidney Foundation's esteemed journals. Covering a broad range of disciplines, including clinical advancements, nutrition, and social work, these journals—American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Advances in Kidney Disease and Health, Journal of Renal Nutrition, Kidney Medicine, and the Journal of Nephrology Social Work—play a vital role in advancing kidney care. Join us as we explore key achievements from the past year and discuss emerging trends shaping the future of nephrology.

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, more than 100,000 people in the United States are currently on the waiting list to receive an organ transplant, and an average of 17 people die every day on the waiting list. Join our host, Dr. Sam Kant, and guest, Dr. Robert Montgomery, as they discuss a practice that has the potential to mitigate this issue and take kidney transplantation into the next frontier- Xenotransplantation.

Welcome to another episode celebrating the 40th year of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. This episode will focus on AJKD’s education features. We are joined by Dr. Jeff Berns, the Deputy Editor of AJKD, Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and a Past President of the National Kidney Foundation, Dr. Agnes Fogo, Editor of the Atlas of Renal Pathology and Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University, Dr Ashgar Rastegar, Core Curriculum Editor, and Professor of Medicine and Global Health at Yale University, and Dr. Debbie Chen, former AJKD Editorial Intern and a research fellow at the University of California at San Francisco. Our guests discuss how AJKD provides education to the nephrology workforce including those who are in training. These educational tools include the Atlas of Renal Pathology, the Core Curriculum, AJKD quizzes and blog, NephMadness and the AJKD Editorial Internship. Finally, they wrap up by sharing their favorite classic paper from AJKD, which are all linked at the bottom of this episode’s description.

Resources and links:

• Atlas of Renal Pathology
• Core Curriculum
• Reviews
• Quizzes
• AJKDBlog.org
• Editorial Internship – Apply by April 30!
• NKF Professional Membership

Our guest’s favorite articles:

• Pathologic Classification of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis: A Working Proposal (2004) Vivette D D'Agati, Agnes B Fogo, Jan A Bruijn, and J.Charles Jennette, MD
• Clinical Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Disease in Chronic Renal Disease (1998) Robert N. Foley, Patrick S. Parfrey, and Mark J. Sarnak
• Management of Acute Kidney Injury: Core Curriculum 2018 Peter K. Moore, Raymond K. Hsu, and Kathleen D. Liu
• Principles of Kidney Pharmacotherapy for the Nephrologist: Core Curriculum 2021 Sheryl F. Vondracek, Isaac Teitelbaum, and Tyree H. Kiser

In this episode, we focus on the Guest Editorial article "The Untapped Power of Patient Engagement in Kidney Diseases" within the January edition of Advances in Kidney Disease and Health (AKDH). Kevin Fowler, a kidney patient-turned-professional advocate, shares his personal and professional journey, emphasizing the importance of patient-centered care and the impact of the Advancing American Kidney Health (AAKH) Executive Order. Kevin is joined by Dr. Sagar Nigwekar and Dr. Charuhas V. Thakar with further discussion to highlight the significance of engaging patients in medical discussions.

Read Kevin's article, "The Untapped Power of Patient Engagement in Kidney Diseases," in AKDH's January edition here.

Discover the latest updates in kidney care with an in-depth look at the KDOQI Commentary on the 2024 KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for CKD. This episode unpacks groundbreaking advancements, including new strategies for albuminuria testing, the adoption of novel cardio-kidney protective agents, updated dietary and medication recommendations, and innovative approaches to improving care delivery. Gain actionable insights on implementing these guidelines and enhancing patient outcomes through interdisciplinary care. Don’t miss this essential listen for kidney health professionals striving to stay ahead in CKD management!

Host: Anna Gaddy, MD, FASN, FNKF

Guests: Michelle Estrella, MD, MHS; Sankar Navaneethan, MD, MS, MPH; Jeffrey William, MD

2023 has been a stupendous year in the realm of nephrology research. Host Sam Kant welcomes editors from the National Kidney Foundation’s family of journals to share reflections on the year, while also discussing what listeners can look forward to in research and publication in 2024.  

POCUS? POCUN? FOCUS? Tune into this episode to learn about the use of point of care ultrasound in Nephrology. Panelists sort out a long list of acronyms, outline the distinctions of POCUS, discuss training requirements for those interested in implementing POCUS into practice, and more! 

In this episode, experts in the field—Dr. Shivam Joshi, Dr. Holly Kramer, Dr. Blake Shusterman, and professional chef Duane Sunwold—explore the upcoming issue of Advances in Kidney Disease and Health (AKDH), titled "Rethinking the Renal Diet." Tune into this discussion that revolves around the critical need for a shift in dietary perspectives for kidney health, debunking misconceptions and highlighting the benefits of embracing plant-based diets. The team recognizes the historical focus on restriction in the renal diet and offers a new way of thinking that aligns with the preference for "more" over "less." This episode aims to inspire a reevaluation of the conventional "renal diet" and encourages health practitioners to prioritize dietary interventions for improved patient outcomes.

The faces of leadership in nephrology are changing, what was once a playing field for exclusively men, is slowly transforming to include a diverse group of men and women.  

In this episode, we are joined by women who have traversed the leadership ladder. This group includes a current President, two incoming presidents of nephrology societies and an industry executive:   

Dr. Holly Kramer, National Kidney Foundation President, clinical nephrologist at Loyola University Medical Center

Dr Lisa Curtis Associate Professor of Medicine at UAB and incoming Women in Nephrology President

Dr. Susan Quaggin, Canadian nephrologist and incoming American Society of Nephrology President

Dr. Reshma Kewalramani, CEO and President of Vertex Pharmaceuticals

These women discuss their journeys, the importance of mentorship, taking risks, kindness, and keeping prospective. Also, they talk about finding your purpose, perseverance, and how to bounce back from failure and rejection. We hope you enjoy this episode with significant insights and advice from each guest. Please share this episode and let us know your thoughts on Twitter @NKF_NephPros or email nkfpodcast@kidney.org

This podcast will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the very first clinical practice guideline for CKD which included recommendations for CKD classification and staging. We are joined by Dr. Kerry Willis, Chief Scientific Officer of the NKF, Dr. Andy Levey Professor of Medicine at Tufts Medical Center and Joe Coresh, Professor of Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and Mike Rocco, Chair of KDOQI and Professor of Medicine at Wake Forest Medical Center.   The original workgroup for the CKD guideline published in 2002 in AJKD was chaired by Dr. Andy Levey and Dr. Coresh from Johns Hopkins for the adult section of the guideline and by Dr. Rob Portman for the Pediatric portion. This guideline had a profound impact on the clinical care of both adults and children with kidney disease and it also was a major catalyst for CKD research. The published guideline was cited by 3,500 journal articles and now has over 20 accompanying editorials.  In 2012, the guideline was updated by the KDIGO and the classification stage was altered to include information on urine albumin excretion. But overall, the CKD staging system basically remains and in this podcast, we talk about how the guideline influenced clinical care, research and even policy.

Dr. Dorry Segev has recently concluded multiple studies that looked at the immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in kidney transplant recipients. In this episode, Sam Kant (our new Life as a Nephrologist co-host) and Dorry Segev discuss these pivotal studies including the process, results, and directions going forward. Lastly, they discuss breakthrough infections.

List of study’s discussed:

• Immunogenicity of a Single Dose of SARS-CoV-2 Messenger RNA Vaccine in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
• Antibody Response to 2-Dose SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine Series in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
• Safety and Immunogenicity of a Third Dose of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Case Series
• Risk of Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Adult Transplant Recipients

Dorry Segev, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Surgery and Epidemiology and Associate Vice Chair of Surgery at Johns Hopkins University. He has published over 650 peer-reviewed research articles, and is ranked #1 worldwide in organ transplantation expertise and influence by ExpertScape. Reflecting his contributions to health care, he was recently elected into the National Academy of Medicine. Reflecting the creativity and broad reach of his contributions, he received a prestigious Global Thinker Award from Foreign Policy Magazine and was named an Innovators of the Year by TIME Magazine. His work has directly influenced policy, including two Congressional bills (the Norwood Act for kidney exchange and the HOPE Act for HIV-to-HIV transplants), and is regularly featured in widely read media including several front-page features in the New York Times. In the context of the pandemic, Dr. Segev has shifted his research to better understanding coronavirus and its implications in solid organ transplantation.

We are bringing on a new co-host for this episode, please help us welcome Sam Kant, MD! He is a transplant nephrology fellow at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has completed nephrology fellowship at Johns Hopkins, internal medicine residency and chief residency at University of Maryland. His research interests include ANCA vasculitis, transplantation and has been a recipient of multiple awards in the realm of education. He is also the chair of the American College of Physicians Young Physician Council, co-editor of the Renal Fellow Network and editorial board member of American Society of Nephrology Kidney News. Additionally, he is a member of the planning committee for the 2022 NKF Spring Clinical Meetings. 

November 2023 marks the 45th anniversary of the International Society for Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (ISRNM)! To celebrate, our host is joined by a team of editors and authors from the Journal of Renal Nutrition’s 45th Anniversary ISRNM Special Supplement, which highlights key themes including plant-dominant diets, microbiome modulation, and how to approach nutrition in patients who select conservative care. Join this discussion on key takeaways from three JRN articles and learn how clinicians can turn this research into action to improve patient experiences and outcomes.

 Articles features in the episode include:

• New Insights Into Dietary Approaches to Potassium Management in Chronic Kidney Disease
• Targeting the Gut Microbiota in Kidney Disease: The Future in Renal Nutrition and Metabolism
• Nutritional and Dietary Management of Chronic Kidney Disease Under Conservative and Preservative Kidney Care Without Dialysis

Host: Natasha Dave, MD

Guests: Kam Kalantar-Zadeh, MD, PhD, MPH; Angela Wang, MD, PhD; Brandon Kistler, PhD, RD, MS; Keiichi Sumida, MD, MPH, PhD; Kelly Lambert, PhD, MS

In this episode, journey with us on an expedition filled with unexpected challenges, daunting obstacles, and arduous travels: the journey of a manuscript on its way to publication. Guiding us there and back again are the editors of Kidney Medicine, National Kidney Foundation’s open access journal focused on clinical medicine in nephrology and hypertension, which includes original research, case reports, and review articles.

Guests: Daniel Weiner, MD, MS; Jenny Shen, MD, MS; David Drew, MD, MS

In part two of this 2-episode mini-series, our panelists discuss the recent approval of tenapanor for hyperphosphatemia management in patients on dialysis by the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Tune into this discussion where our expert panelists share how the phosphate absorption inhibitor (PAI) works, factors to consider when integrating this agent into a patient’s treatment regimen, and how it may impact hyperphosphatemia management moving forward.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe the primary pathways for phosphate absorption.
2. Explain the potential role(s) for a phosphate absorption inhibitor (PAI) for people with CKD who are on dialysis.

Host: Sam Kant, MD Guests: Alexander Leidner, MD; Annabel Biruete, RD, PhD; Alex Berrios

Supported by a grant from Ardelyx.

Don't miss Part 1 in this series! Listen to: Patient & Clinician Experiences with Hyperphosphatemia: The Current Landscape

In part one of this 2-episode mini-series, our panelists discuss the current landscape of hyperphosphatemia management for patients on dialysis – including what’s working well and where there is room for improvement. Tune into this discussion where our experts share their experiences with leveraging team-based and person-centered approaches to managing hyperphosphatemia from the perspectives of nephrologist, dietitian, and patient.

Learning objectives:

1. Identify the consequences of elevated serum phosphate levels.
2. Recognize the stigma patients experience as a result of not achieving their serum phosphate target level.

Host: Sam Kant, MD Guests: Alexander Leidner, MD; Annabel Biruete, RD, PhD; Alex Berrios

Supported by a grant from Ardelyx.

Don't miss Part 2 in this series! Listen to: Hyperphosphatemia Treatment Innovations: Phosphate Absorption Inhibitor (PAI)

On this episode, our guests discuss how AJKD has pursued and met objectives over the past 40 years. Specifically, we will discuss how the AJKD has not only influenced the care of patients with kidney disease but helped NKF support its mission. We will discuss how AJKD helped to shape kidney disease research and clinical care and help grow patient centered care.

We are joined by four outstanding colleagues and speakers who will share their thoughts and experiences with AJKD and its impact on clinical care, research, education, and policy. 

Guests:

1. Kerry Willis-Chief Scientific Officer of the National Kidney Foundation 
2. Paul Palevsky, the current President of the National Kidney Foundation 
3. Sylvia Rosas, the president-elect of the NKF
4. Harold Feldman, Editor-in-Chief of AJKD

Other 40th Anniversary materials:

1. AJKD at 40: The Boston Era—Years 25-35 (2007-2016) Editorial by Daniel E. Weiner and Andrew S. Levey
2. Celebrating 4 Decades of AJKD Editorial by Harold I. Feldman, Jeffrey S. Berns, Laura M. Dember, and Nijsje M. Dorman
3. 40th Anniversary Special Collection: CKD 
4. 40th Anniversary Special Collection: Kidney Transplantation
5. July 2021 Table of Contents
6. July 1981 Table of Contents
7. KDOQI Guidelines
8. A Unifying Approach for GFR Estimation: Recommendations of the NKF-ASN Task Force on Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Disease

In this episode of Life as a Nephrology Professional, host Anna Gaddy is joined by Dr. Ali Gharavi, Dr. Alexander Chang, and Dr. Neera Dahl to discuss the role of genetic testing in managing chronic kidney disease (CKD). With an estimated 10-20% of adult CKD cases having a genetic basis, genetic testing is increasingly essential for risk stratification, family counseling, prognosis, and even donor selection. The NKF recently convened a workgroup of experts to establish guidelines for genetic testing in nephrology. Our guests, who contributed to these recommendations, will explore practical applications, the importance of nephrologists in patient counseling, and resources for integrating genetics into clinical practice and training. Tune in to learn how nephrology is evolving in this post-Human Genome Project era.

Read the article here: https://www.ajkd.org/article/S0272-6386(24)00871-0/fulltext

On this episode, Corey is joined by our guest, Holly M. Koncicki, Associate Professor of Nephrology and Palliative Care at Mount Sinai. Dr. Koncicki is in the Division of Nephrology and Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

First, Dr. Koncicki discusses what inspired her to become a nephrologist and how she became interested in palliative care. Corey and Dr. Koncicki review data from To Dialysis and Beyond: The Nephrologist’s Responsibility for Advance Care Planning. She offers advice on decisions about modality for advance kidney disease patients and dialysis. She notes how is it not only important to work well with the interdisciplinary team, but it’s crucial to coordinate with the patient’s other providers, such as their cardiologist, oncologists, etc. The conversation about the patient’s care needs to continue overtime and the care team must be on the same page in order to make it less difficult for the patient.

In relation to advanced care planning and dialysis, they talk about over discussing and reflecting on conversations to match patient values.

They expand upon dialysis versus conservative management:

How do you objectively tell your patients they would not do well on dialysis?

How do we assess who is at a high risk of having poor outcomes on dialysis?

How do we get doctors to think about conservative kidney management?

They wrap up by discussing Dr. Koncicki’s AJKD article Opioid Management in CKD and how doctors should appropriately select opioids as well as the importance of setting expectations for patients.

Get Involved with our Kidney Outreach Team

The National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Outreach Team is a growing group of professionals and community leaders who use their experiences and expertise to inform elected officials and other key decision makers on kidney-related legislation, policies, research, programs and education.  

We need YOU to make better kidney policy possible. To find out more information or get involved go to https://www.kidney.org/advocacy/advocate or email nkfadvocacy@kidney.org

For many in the LGBTQ+ community, fear of discrimination and harassment can get in the way of seeking medical care when they are sick and can put them at increased risk of serious health problems, including kidney disease. In this episode, we discussed how to create an inclusive and affirming environment in a healthcare setting for LGBTQ+ patients such as how a provider earns trust, what qualities a gender affirming provider has, understanding patient’s identities, how you can make your dialysis units more comfortable for LGBTQ+  patients, and how HCPs can participate in advocacy. Our speakers are Dr. Dinushika Mohottige and Dr. Mitchell R. Lunn, two experts in sexual and gender minority health, as well as living kidney donor and the first openly gay elected state legislator in Pennsylvania history, Rep. Brian Sims.

In this episode, you will hear from:

Dinushika Mohottige, MD, MPH:

Dr. Mohottige is a Nephrologist and Medical Instructor in the Division of Nephrology at Duke University Hospitals. She received a B.A. in Public Policy and a Health Policy Certificate from Duke University in 2006, where she was a Robertson Scholar. She then earned an MPH in Health Behavior/Health Education from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and a medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, followed by Internal Medicine and Nephrology training at Duke University. She now works under the mentorship of Dr. Ebony Boulware and Dr. Clarissa Diamantidis to engage in patient and community-centered, inequity-focused research around the impact of socio-structural factors on kidney health and kidney transplantation.

Mitchell R. Lunn, MD, MAS, FACP, FASN:

Dr. Lunn is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Nephrology of the Department of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. As an internist and nephrologist with a strong interest in technology and sexual and gender minority health, Mitch’s research is designed to characterize the health and well-being of these populations. Mitch is the co-director of PRIDEnet, a participant-powered research network of SGM people that engages SGM communities at all stages of the biomedical research process: research question generation and prioritization, study design, recruitment, participation, data analysis, and results dissemination. He currently serves on the American Society of Nephrology’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

PA State Representative Brian Sims:

Brian Sims is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 182nd district. Elected in 2012, Sims is also a lawyer and activist on LGBTQ+ civil rights. Sims is the first openly gay elected state legislator in Pennsylvania history. In January of 2020, he donated his kidney to his friend. He has been vocal about supporting organ and tissue donation. Currently, he is a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania in the 2022 election.

Kidney transplants are a life-changing intervention, but do not work immediately; this delayed graft function has serious implications for transplant programs, patient outcomes, and organ waste. Tune in as our host Dr. Anna Gaddy interviews Dr. Matthew Cooper to discuss the research and implications behind his co-authored special report, “Understanding Delayed Graft Function to Improve Organ Utilization and Patient Outcomes: Report of a Scientific Workshop Sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation”, published in the March 2024 issue of AJKD.

Kidney transplant care teams can work collaboratively to say ‘yes’ to transplant and decrease the number of viable kidneys that are otherwise discarded. Read the article, listen in, and bring this important conversation to your kidney transplant community.

Host: Anna Gaddy, MD, FASN, FNKF Contributor: Matthew Cooper, MD, FACS, FAST, FNKF

In this episode, we discuss the recently published ACKD article, “International Medical Graduates in Nephrology: A Guide for Trainees and Programs” Our guests are the authors, Javier Neyra, Maria Clarissa Tio, Silvia Ferrè and the co-editors Matthew Sparks and Samira Farouk.

Although international medical graduates are offered opportunities for training and professional growth that are beyond those available in their countries of origin, they typically encounter barriers to transition from training to practice and early-stage career development. The authors describe the exchange visitor and temporary worker visas granted to foreign trainees in the U.S, focusing on the transition from training to nephrology practice and/or research. They provide recommendations and encourage trainees to seek continuous support from their programs/sponsors and assistance from immigration representatives at their training institutions. This episode provides a positive message that there are many pathways to arrive at the desired post-training destination and emphasizes how additional funding opportunities are there! Ultimately, these authors will not let you navigate blindly.

We are bringing on a new co-host for this month’s episode, please help us welcome Natasha Dave, MD! She is a nephrologist at the Bruce W. Carter Miami Veterans Affair Medical Center. She completed her internal medicine residency training at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago and then completed her Nephrology fellowship and chief year at Baylor in Houston. Post-fellowship she joined Baylor as an assistant professor of medicine primarily practicing at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center prior to moving to Miami.

Dr. Dave's other clinical and educational interests include mentorship, social media/educational content generation and as her Twitter profile (@NatashaNDave) suggests electrolytes. She serves on the Executive Council of Women in Nephrology and is involved in a number of online projects and roles that begin after she completed a one year social media internship with the Nephrology Social Media Collective (NSMC). Some of these roles include being a faculty contributor for the Renal Fellow Network and American Journal of Kidney Diseases blogs as well as partaking in committees with the American Society of Nephrology, Nephrology Business Leadership University, Kidney Medicine journal and NSMC. Outside of medicine her other passions include long distance running, meditation and travel.

This is the final episode of a series celebrating the 40th anniversary of the American Journal of Kidney Disease, an official journal of the National Kidney Foundation. AJKD is recognized worldwide as a leader in clinical nephrology content, publishing original investigations describing the latest findings related to kidney diseases, hypertension, dialysis therapies, and kidney transplantation. Join us as we discuss how the AJKD has helped bring the patient experience and patient voice to researchers and clinicians in order to enhance the quality of research ideas and improve the quality of care delivered.

Guests: Harold Feldman, MD, Dena Rifkin, MD, MS & John Ortiz

Increased prevalence and treatment modalities for kidney disease, shifts in priorities, clinical demands, and changes in funding have altered how we approach nephrology education. We are witnessing a massive shift in how education is delivered and implemented; innovative methods now exist outside the classroom and beyond the medical wards. Our focus in this episode is a journal issue of Advances in Kidney Disease and Health*, entitled Nephrology Education for the 21st Century. The study of nephrology is already a daunting undertaking; how can we develop novel ways of teaching at all levels of higher education? Co-editors Drs. Niralee Patel and Staci Leisman join host Dr. Sam Kant to discuss and explore examples of restructured nephrology curricula and learning methods in undergraduate, graduate, fellowship, and continuing medical education spaces.

*Formerly called Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease.

This episode features the the second cohort of interns from the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD) Editorial Internship Program. This one-year program is an opportunity for nephrology fellows to participate in journal editorial processes. Tune in to learn more about their experience!

The 2020 interns are:

Harish Seethapathy - Massachusetts General Hospital

Bethany Roehm - Tufts Medical Center

Amy Yau - Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Ryann Sohaney - University of Michigan

The application for the 2020-2021 is due May 30, 2020! Applicants need to be current first year neph fellows or second year fellows staying on for a third year, with an interest in academic writing and publishing. 

Music by Scott Holmes “Follow Your Dreams” licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

This episode we bring on Eric L. Wallace, M.D., FASN, Director of Home Dialysis at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Medical Director of Telehealth. Telehealth allows patients to teleconference and/or have telephone conversations with their existing doctor(s).  In today’s environment, with many provider offices still closed, this may be a good solution and/or alternative for patients to continue their existing care under the direction of their provider via teleconference. Dr. Wallace discusses his journey to becoming an expert in telemedicine and the challenges that come with the territory. He explains how you can accomplish a lot over the phone in nephrology, but there can be issues with technology, internet connection (especially for patients in rural areas), and tech literacy. Lastly, he explains how socioeconomics play a huge role in Telehealth, public health and public education issues, techniques to improve your phone calls with patients, and the future of Telehealth. 

In this episode, Editor-in-Chief Daniel E. Weiner, MD, MS, discusses Kidney Medicine, a peer-reviewed, open access journal focused on clinical research in nephrology and hypertension launched in 2019. Listeners will more about how Kidney Medicine provides content that encompasses all clinical nephrology while additionally providing a platform for highlighting the patient-reported outcomes research and qualitative research that are essential for improving patient care. Follow @KidneyMed on Twitter and visit kidneymedicinejournal.org to check out the current issue and submit manuscripts!   

Please help us welcome our new host of "Life a Nephrologist", Corey Cavanaugh, DO! Corey Cavanaugh, DO, is a nephrologist specializing in glomerular diseases or diseases that impact the kidneys. These include lupus, vasculitis, membranous nephropathy and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), among others. Cavanaugh attended medical school at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine at Ohio University, where he met his wife. They both completed their internal medicine training at the University of Louisville. Cavanaugh then went on to pursue a nephrology fellowship at Yale University before settling in Virginia. 

Music by Scott Holmes “Follow Your Dreams” licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

Join us in this episode as we explore the intriguing world of pediatric kidney health with Dr. Casey Rebholz, an esteemed expert in epidemiology and clinical research. Discover recent insights from the Journal of Renal Nutrition (linked here) regarding the impact of dietary protein-rich foods on kidney disease progression in children. Dr. Rebholz shares valuable perspectives on the significance of protein metabolites, the importance of metabolite testing, and effective strategies for preserving renal function in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Tune in for a deep dive into protecting and optimizing kidney health in our young population. 

Host: Osama El Shamy, MD Contributor: Casey Rebholz, PhD, MS, MNSP, MPH

In this episode, we are discussing critical care nephrology, a dynamic and developing field which has seen an increase in popularity in the last decade. Our guests include a mix of junior and senior faculty, which is a testament to how this field is expanding.

Amanda Dijanic Zeidman and Michael Heung have recently authored the ACKD article “The Workforce in Critical Care Nephrology: Challenges and Opportunities”  which is the topic of this episode’s discussion. They are also joined by Jay Koyner and Javier Neyra (critical care nephrologists) and Matthew Broyles a critical care anesthesiologist.

They discuss their journeys to critical care, why anesthesiologists or nephrologists might be interested in critical care, pros of receiving critical care training, how anesthesiology has supported this subspecialty, how to support nephrologists that are interested in critical care and more! They wrap up with resources, communities, and courses for trainees and nephrologists interested in critical care. Listen in to this discussion from this great community with diverse backgrounds!

Follow them on Twitter!

Javier: @jav_neyra

Amanda: @AmandaDZeidman

Michael: @keepingitrenal

Jay: @jaykoyner

In this episode, our host is joined by members of the Kidney Medicine editorial team and author, Dr. Chintan Shah, to tackle the “forgotten electrolyte”, magnesium. The panel highlights the importance and relevance of magnesium through discussion of four published journal articles, including:

• SGLT2 Inhibitors in Management of Severe Hypomagnesemia in Patients Without Diabetes: A Report of 4 Cases 
• Sodium Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors and Management of Refractory Hypomagnesemia Without Overt Urinary Magnesium Wasting: A Report of 2 Cases
• Dialysate Magnesium and Coronary Artery Calcification, Bone Mineral Density, and Cramping in Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Quasi-experimental Study
• Serum Magnesium Levels and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Participants

Host: Sam Kant, MD

Guests: Daniel Weiner, MD, MS; Jenny Shen, MD, MS; David Drew, MD, MS; Chintan Shah, MD

Too many kidney patients face significant barriers to accessing lifesaving care. Research shows longer, more frequent dialysis done in the home yields better kidney health outcomes and improved quality of life for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Yet, patients do not have equal access to this treatment option. Join us as we unpack disparities in today’s kidney disease treatment paradigm and discuss the steps, we, as nephrologists, need to take to alleviate access issues and help make the options of in-home treatment a reality for more patients.

In this episode, we are joined by a hardworking group of individuals who are passionate about advocating for patients with kidney disease. Our guests focus on the ways in which AJKD has communicated health policy updates in the last four decades and discuss key developments in kidney disease and health policy. They explain some of the current policy challenges facing the kidney disease community today. Furthermore, they discuss the future of slowing progression of CKD as well as shifting kidney replacement therapies from the default in-center hemodialysis to home dialysis and transplantation. Join us as we regenerate excitement for the future in advocacy.

Our guests include:

Miriam Godwin, the NKF Health Policy Director

Sharon Moe, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at Indiana University and a Past President of the ASN

Bruce Robinson, Professor of Medicine at the University of Michigan and the Arbor Research Collaborative for Health

Dan Weiner, Associate Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and Editor-in-Chief of Kidney Medicine. Dan is a familiar friend of AJKD, having also served as Deputy Editor for ten years, and then as Policy Forum Editor for another five years.

Resources

• Policy Forum collection
• USRDS
• KidneyX
• NKF Advocacy Blog
• AJKD 40th Anniversary Celebration

After almost two years of collaboration with volunteer advisory committees—comprised of nephrologists, patient advocates, and researchers in academia and the private sector—the NKF Patient Network is live!

On this episode of Life as a Nephrologist, we are joined by Kerry Willis, Lesley Inker, Alexander Chang, Cari Maxwell and Curtis Warfield. Our guests begin the episode by explaining how the patient network journey started and the purpose of creating it. It is the only kidney disease registry that has both patient-entered data and electronic medical records for patients with all stages of kidney disease. By joining the network, patients will not only help build this important data set, but they will have access to on-going clinical trials; health tips; individualized patient education for their specific stage of the disease; and a community of other patients.

The user friendly and secure Network collects both rigorous clinical and laboratory data from electronic health records (EHR), in addition to patient-entered data, which together allow for a complete picture of the patient experience. This model is innovative in that most research initiatives follow one path or the other—EHR or patient self-reporting. The NKF Patient Network will compile data on demographics, medical history, lifestyle, medications, blood and urine test results, in addition to extensive data on patient perceptions, challenges, and priorities. Overall, this network will allow patients to grow their voice, be transparent about their struggles and advocate for themselves. 

This episode deep-dives into a recent AJKD article entitled Fatigue in Patients Receiving Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Review. Our host is joined by a current hemodialysis patient and two of the article’s co-authors to explore and share all about interdialytic and postdialysis fatigue. Listen in as our host and contributors ask the tough questions and review the data around interventions ranging from dialysate composition and temperature to treating depression. Most importantly, hear how the research intersects with a kidney patient’s lived experience in this episode of the Life as a Nephrologist podcast.

Contributing Authors:  Dr. Susan Hedayati and Dr. Parker Gregg

Contributing Patient:  Dr. David Perchinsky

Podcast Host:  Dr. Natasha Dave

Experience a dynamic panel discussion on advancing kidney health equity and increasing access to transplants in our recorded webinar, presented by the NKF and National MOTTEP. 

In 2021, there were 786,000 patients living with kidney failure, yet fewer than 25,000 received a transplant that year. Black people are more than 4 times as likely as White people to have kidney failure. To help address these disparities, the NKF and National MOTTEP (Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program) are teaming up to educate on the importance of building trustworthiness and community partnerships to advance kidney health equity and increase access to transplants for all.

Panelists: Clive O. Callender, MD; Kirk Campbell, MD, FASN; Karim Ali, SA; Tanjala S. Purnell, PhD, MPH, FASN; Morgan Reid, MSJ; Velma Scantlebury, MD, FACS, GCM

Welcome to the Life as a Nephrologist podcast series! In this first episode Dr. Devika Nair (Vanderbilt University Hospital, Nashville, TN) and Dr. Kelly Beers (Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY) talk about their experiences so far as nephrology fellows and why they chose it as a career. Would you like to suggest topics or interviewees for the podcast? Write to us at NKFpodcast@kidney.org.  For more information about the National Kidney Foundation, visit us online.

Dr. Mukesh Sharma is an interventional nephrologist in private practice who also works as an adjunct professor at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Interventional nephrology is a sub-specialization that enables the physician to perform a number of procedures related to creating and maintaining dialysis accesses (AV fistulas and grafts, and catheters). Dr. Sharma went to medical school in India before completing residency and fellowship at Louisiana State University. He shares some great career advice for those interested in interventional nephrology (and anyone, really!).

Music by Scott Holmes “Follow Your Dreams” licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

In this episode I spoke with two internal medicine residents, Dr. Lena Vaynberg (Duke) and Dr. Sam Kant (University of Maryland) about their experiences with nephrology to date. They discuss what draws them to the field, including various works of literature and gaps in medical education, and explain the related work they’ve each been involved with so far. See a write up of Lena's "Project Nephron" here, the book and article Sam references here:  Guns, Germs and Steel (Amazon) The Heroism of Incremental Care (The New Yorker)

Music by Scott Holmes “Follow Your Dreams” licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

Dr. Andrew Bomback is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Columbia University and a specialist in glomerular diseases. He is also a writer, having published in the Los Angeles Review of Books, The Atlantic, and The Kenyon Review, among others. His recently published book is entitled Doctor. It’s part of a series called Object Lessons - short books that are part memoir, part nonfiction, each looking at the ‘hidden lives’ of an everyday object or concept. We talk about that book as well as his thoughts on working as both a physician and a writer. Doctor (Object Lessons) by Andrew Bomback https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/doctor-9781501338175/ https://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Object-Lessons-Andrew-Bomback/dp/150133817X  Music by Scott Holmes “Follow Your Dreams” licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

This is a conversation with the first cohort of interns from the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD) new Editorial Internship Program. This one-year program is an opportunity for nephrology fellows to participate in journal editorial processes. 

The first year’s interns are: Samantha Gelfand MD, University of Pennsylvania

Pascale Khairallah MD, Columbia University,

Devika Nair MD, Vanderbilt University,

Adrian Whelan MD, University of California at San Francisco

The application for the 2019-2020 internship is now open! Applicants need to be current first year neph fellows or second year fellows staying on for a third year, with an interest in academic writing and publishing.  

Music by Scott Holmes “Follow Your Dreams” licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

This episode is a conversation with Dr. Vanessa Grubbs, a nephrologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at UCSF. Dr. Grubbs went to medical school at Duke University, completed internal medicine residency at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California, and nephrology fellowship at UCSF. She describes her true passions as renal palliative care and narrative non-fiction. We talk about these topics as well as racial disparities in the care of kidney patients, and her path to nephrology from primary care. Her book, Hundreds of Interlaced Fingers, a Kidney Doctor's Search for the Perfect Match, was published by Harpers Collins in 2017. It’s a memoir, a love story, and a gripping description of the experience of dialysis and kidney transplant patients all in one. She also has the enviable Twitter handle: @TheNephrologist.

Music by Scott Holmes “Follow Your Dreams” licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

Dr. Lisa Weber is a fascinating and extremely busy person, a nephrologist and dialysis medical director in Wichita, Kansas. Dr. Weber has a multifaceted career involving caring for CKD and transplant patients in the city of Wichita, and travelling to oversee dialysis clinics in the surrounding areas. She attended medical school at the University of Kansas and completed Nephrology Fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. We talk about some of the joys and challenges of practicing as a rural nephrologist and how she “wears a lot of hats” by necessity.

Music by Scott Holmes “Follow Your Dreams” licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

I’m delighted to share a conversation we recorded between two wonderful people, Dr Patty Seo Mayer and Dr JJ Zaritsky. Dr Seo Mayer is Medical Director of Pediatric Nephrology at Inova Children’s Hospital and Pediatric Specialists of Virginia, and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. Dr. Zaritsky is Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson University and Chief of Pediatric Nephrology at Nemours duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE. They have an engaging discussion about pediatric nephrology as a newer field of medicine and describe the people who are drawn to it as naturally empathetic problem solvers. Music by Scott Holmes “Follow Your Dreams” licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

Dr. Devika Nair and Dr. Kelly Beers are back. Laura Brereton (National Kidney Foundation) asks them about general perceptions of nephrology, and what some medical students and internal medicine residents might not know about the field. What else would you like to know about working as a nephrologist? Get in touch at NKFpodcast@kidney.org.

Music by Scott Holmes “Follow Your Dreams” licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

Today we hear from Dr. Clarissa Diamantidis, an Assistant Professor in the Divisions of General Internal Medicine and Nephrology at Duke University and a nephrologist at the Durham VA Medical Center. In addition to seeing patients, Dr. Diamantidis works as a researcher and clinical educator. We ask about her career path and what advice she has for medical students and residents considering combining nephrology and clinical research.

Music by Scott Holmes “Follow Your Dreams” licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0  

This epsiode is a conversation between between Dr. Matthew Sparks, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Associate Program Director for Nephrology Fellowship at Duke University, and Dr. Diana Mina, a graduating nephrology fellow at University of California San Francisco. They talk about the role of social media in medical education, mentorship, and how to get involved with the nephrology community...right now. Email us at NKFpodcast@kidney.org. 

Resources discussed:

GlomCon https://glomcon.org/glomerular-disease-case-conferences/ NephJC (Journal Club) http://www.nephjc.com/ Nephrology Social Media Collective http://www.nephjc.com/internship/ Nephrology Business Leadership University http://NBLUniv.com/ Renal Fellows Network http://renalfellow.blogspot.com/ 

This is an interview with Dr. Leslie Gewin, a practicing nephrologist and basic science researcher at Vanderbilt University. She is an attending physician on the general internal medicine and nephrology consult services at the Nashville VA Medical Center. Dr. Gewin also runs a basic science laboratory which focuses on understanding how growth factors alter the epithelial response to renal injury. We talk about her career so far and how she manages its various components.  Music by Scott Holmes “Follow Your Dreams” licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

Here we talk with Dr. Belinda Lee about some of the various career choices available in nephrology. Dr. Lee attended Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NY and completed her residency at Columbia University NY Presbyterian Hospital. She then completed a combined nephrology and transplant fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. She worked first as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Tulane University and is now in private practice in Baltimore. Music by Scott Holmes “Follow Your Dreams” licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

This episode is a conversation between two first-year nephrology fellows, Dr. Anthony Provenzano at Duke University, and Dr. Rachel Hilburg at the University of Pennsylvania. We recorded it the weekend before they began their programs, and it is full of good advice (and enthusiasm)!

Music by Scott Holmes “Follow Your Dreams” licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

In this episode we listen to a conversation between Dr. Vera Delaney, a transplant nephrologist, and Dr. Kelly Beers, a second-year nephrology fellow, both at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City. Dr. Delaney lived and completed medical training (and a PhD) in Ireland and London before moving to the United States in the 1970s to pursue a nephrology fellowship. She talks about transplant nephrology as a subspecialty and the changes she has seen in the field over the past few decades. 

UCSF medical student Ani Chiligirian talks about her experiences to date and how they have sparked her interest in nephrology. She also explains the research she's working on as a 2018 NKF award recipient. Music by Scott Holmes “Follow Your Dreams” licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

In this episode of Life as a Nephrology Professional, we explore key topics from the September issue of Advances in Kidney Disease and Health, titled Kidney Transplantation: An Update for the General Nephrologist. Featuring guest editors Drs. Anju Yadav, Scott Westphal, Bassam Abu Jawdeh, and Editor-in-Chief Dr. Charuhas Thakar, this discussion unpacks practical insights into transplant candidacy, living donor evaluations, immunosuppression, management of acute rejection, the latest in non-invasive biomarkers, and more. Designed to support nephrologists in collaborative transplant care, this episode provides valuable updates and actionable advice for optimizing patient outcomes in both pre- and post-transplant phases. Whether you’re new to transplant care or looking to expand your expertise, tune in for a deep dive into this essential topic.

Read the article here: https://www.akdh.org/current

Host: Osama El Shamy, MD, FNKF

Guests: Scott G. Westphal, MD; Bassam G. Abu Jawdeh, MD; Charuhas V. Thakar, MD; Anju Yadav, MD, FAST

Over the past year and a half, the NKF and ASN have been leading the effort to develop race-free eGFR test results while maintaining the accuracy of the test. The NKF-ASN Task Force on Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Diseases has recently released its final report that recommends a new, race-free approach to estimate eGFR. In this collaborative episode with the ASN, the Task Force discusses how they approached the work and what efforts are being made to ensure the new equation is implemented as quickly as possible. Our guests, Dr. Cynthia Delgado, Dr. Lesley Inker, Dr. Joe Vassalotti and Tod Ibrahim discuss the goals of the Task Force and how the healthcare team came together to come up with a solution that better served kidney patients. They discuss the implications for patients, how clinicians and researchers can adopt these new guidelines, and what resources are available for both patients and the medical community to learn more.

Developed in accordance with the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) and recommended by the National Kidney Foundation and American Society of Nephrology Task Force Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Diseases, the new app is available for free by visiting the NKF website. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Have ideas for future episodes? Email us at nkfpodcast@kidney.org or tweet us @NKF_Nephpros. Thank you for tuning in!