The Nephron Segment: A Kidney Podcast (Samira Farouk, Sam Kant, Elinor Mannon, Matthew Sparks)

It's Episode 1 of The Nephron Segment! Join the Nephrons as we chat with Dr. Lilia Cervantes and Dr. Peter Reese and discuss ending emergency-only dialysis for undocumented immigrants in Colorado, ethics of transplantation, and xenotransplantation.

Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk

Guests: Lilia Cervantes, Peter Reese

Links from the Show:

11:20 Association of Citizenship Status With Kidney Transplantation in Medicaid Patients

11:51 Kidney transplantation in undocumented immigrants with ESRD: a policy whose time has come? (Linden et al.)

Organ donation among undocumented hispanic immigrants: an assessment of knowledge and attitudes (Baru et al.)

12:23 Undocumented immigrants apply for a driver’s license in CA

13:48 Racial disparities in preemptive waitlisting and deceased donor kidney transplantation: Ethics and solutions (Reese et al.)

20:25 Transplantation Ethics (Robert Veatch & Lainie F Ross)

When Death Becomes Life: Notes from a Transplant Surgeon (Joshua Mezrich)

22:06 Peter Ubel & Financial Toxicity

26:23 Passage of the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act—a Chance to Celebrate and Reflect (Gill J et al.)

28:57 eGenesis

30:05  Pig kidney transplant at New York University (NY Times)

Pig kidney transplant at University of Alabama (American Journal of Transplantation)

30:53 Pig heart transplant at University of Maryland (NPR)

38:02 EMTALA

41:30 NephMadness

On Episode 2, guests Dr.Janice Lea and Dr. Osama El Shamy join us for a discussion about home dialysis: it's history, why it's important, and their thoughts the future - including addressing of barriers to meet lofty Advancing American Kidney Health initiative goals and training of the nephrology workforce.

Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk

Guests: Janice Lea, Osama El Shamy

Links from the Show:

2:44 A Brief History of Home Hemodialysis (Blagg C)

4:26 The First US Outpatient Dialysis Unit: Seattle Artificial Kidney Center (Blagg C)

4:48 Dr. Albert Babb and the home dialysis unit for a 15 year-old

6:04 Controversy re: first home hemodialysis case (Shaldon)

11:13 Home Versus Facility Dialysis and Mortality in Australia and New Zealand (Marshall et al.)

11:13 An Incident Cohort Study Comparing Survival on Home Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis (Naudeau-Fredette et al.)

18:59 Advancing American Kidney Health

20:50 USRDS 2021 Annual Data Report Chapter 2: Home Dialysis

21:30 Expanded Prospective Payment System and Use of and Outcomes with Home Dialysis by Race and Ethnicity in the United States (Shen et al.)

23:05 Expanding Utilization of Home Dialysis: An Action Agenda From the First International Home Dialysis Roundtable (Mendu et al.)

29:29 Home Dialysis Training for Fellows: Privilege or Necessity? (El Shamy et al.)

31:18 A Survey-Based Evaluation of Self-Perceived Competency after Nephrology Fellowship Training (Berns et al.)

34:52 The Peritoneal Dialysis Orders Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE): A Formative Assessment for Nephrology Fellows (Prince et al.)

43:19 Buttonhole Technique 

For more on home hemodialysis, check out the Home Dialysis Series on Renal Fellow Network

On Episode 3, guests Morgan Reid & Patrick O. Gee PhD, JLC join us to share their journeys as patients with kidney disease - who received both dialysis and kidney transplants. They share incredibly powerful personal experiences and their advice for kidney healthcare providers

Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk

Guests: Morgan Reid, Patrick O. Gee

Links from the Show:

3:05 Delayed graft function

5:27 Peritoneal Dialysis

7:10 IgA nephropathy

9:57 Lupus nephritis

11:00 Living kidney donor evaluation process

12:00 Mistrust, misperceptions, and miscommunication: A qualitative study of preferences about kidney transplantation among African-Americans

13:00 Social media & living kidney donation

16:00 Health Literacy in African-American Communities: Barriers and Strategies

17:37 Social determinants of health & NephMadness (Patrick O. Gee)

18:00 Chronic kidney disease classification 

23:55 African-Americans suffer from highest rates of end stage kidney disease (ESKD) in comparison to other racial ethnic groups

25:11 The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South

26:24 Donate life

26:30 Living donor protection act

26:55 Clinical trials seek to fix their lack of racial mix 

34:00 National Kidney Foundation peer mentoring program for patients with kidney disease (NKF PEERS) 

36:05 Vaca frita

On Episode 4, guests Dr. Genzton Hall and Dr. Narjust Florez join us for a conversation about their journeys in medicine and the importance of diversity, inclusion, and the creation of communities to foster acceptance and belongingness. Dr. Florez shares why the term "cultural competency" should be forgotten - and replaced with "cultural humility."

In Episode 5, guests Terri Murrray, RN and Jonathan Armenti, RN join us for a discussion about the role of nurses in dialysis and kidney transplantation in the care of patients with kidney disease. They discuss their journeys to their current careers, challenges faced by our patients, the hardest parts of their jobs, and recommendations on how we can improve kidney care.

Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk

Guests: Terri Murray, Jonathan Armenti

Links from the Show:

1:42 The experience of being a dialysis nurse

5:47 Role of the transplant coordinator 

8:59 Challenges faced by patients receiving dialysis  

14:43 Care coordination for patients receiving dialysis 

16:12 Improving care for patients with kidney transplants 

16:44 Importance of social support in kidney transplantation 

18:06 Living kidney donation awareness 

19:21 Building trust with patients 

19:55 Empathetic validation in patient-provider communication 

22:55 The emergence of home dialysis 

24:35 The focus on patient reported outcomes 

27:50 Social support: imperative for patients receiving dialysis 

31:32 Nutrition in kidney disease 

32:48 Educating patients about their disease and improving involvement in their care 

34:19: Patient and care-partner empowerment

In Episode 6, guests Catherine Godson, PhD & Kirk Campbell join us for a discussion about their careers as physician-scientists. They discuss their journeys to their current careers, the "moment" they knew research was the career for them, and share advice for trainees. American Society of Nephrology 2022 Kidney Week Program Co-Chairs Dr. Godson & Dr. Campbell also give us a sneak peak into this year's conference, which starts November 3rd.

Nephrons: Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk

Guests: Catherine Godson, Kirk Campbell

On Episode 7, guests Dr. Crystal Tyson and Dr. Annabel Biruete dive deep on diet and kidney health: why it matters for patients with kidney disease, how patients can be empowered to make dietary choices that may promote kidney health, and..what's the PLADO diet?

Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk

Guests: Crystal Tyson, Annabel Biruete

Show notes coming soon!

In Episode 11, guests Jordy Cohen & Samir Parikh (and members of the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week Education Committee) join us for a discussion about Kidney Week 2023 and their careers as physician-scientists. They discuss their journeys to their current careers, what inspired them to pursue nephrology ("beautiful ribbons of anti-GBM"), and share their advice for trainees. 

For more on Kidney Week 2023, here's a Doximity op-ed.

Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk

Guests: Jordy Cohen, Samir Parikh

Links from the Show:

02:03: PLA2R & Membranous Nephropathy (2009)

04:03: Sflt-1

05:05: FLOW & GLP-1

05:55: ACC HTN Guidelines (2017)

09:33: Bill McKibben Plenary: Too Hot & Inhuman Temperatures

10:45: Climate change & heat stress nephropathy

11:00: Ardem Patapoutian Plenary: How Do You Feel? The Molecules that Sense Touch

13:03: Obesity & RAS Activation (Mice)

In Episode 12, Dr. William Cushman, co-investigator of the 2015 SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention) Trial, joins us for a discussion all about hypertension trials, their long history, and what's ahead for research in this space. Too young to remember SPRINT or looking for a "CliffsNotes" of HTN trials? This episode's for you!

Here's a Renal Fellow Network post from 2017 with a link to a cheat sheet of hypertension clinical trial.

Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk

Guests: William Cushman, Medical Director & Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee

Links from the Show:

00:41: Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (2015)

02:17: VA Cooperative Study (1967)

05:13: ACCORD Study (2010)

06:30: SPRINT MIND (2019)

08:40: Framingham Heart Study (Started 1948)

11:27: Attended vs. unattended blood pressure – learnings beyond SPRINT (2021)

14:03: Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program Study (1989)

14:05: Hypertension Detection & Follow Up Program (1979)

15:32: JNC 8 Guidelines (2014)

16:01 AHA/ACC Guidelines (2017)

17:54: Syst-Eur (Treatment of HTN in Patients > 60 y, 1998)

17:54: HYVET (Treatment of HTN in Patients > 80 y, 2008)

18:01: Syst-China (2000)

22:18: AAFP HTN Guidelines (2022)

22:40: KDIGO HTN Guidelines (2021)

25:37: ALLHAT Study (2002)

32:22: Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes Trial (SPS3, 2013)

It’s Episode 13 of The Nephron Segment and it's time for NephMadness! Join us as we chat with transplant nephrologist Dr. Roslyn Mannon & transplant hepatologist Dr. Elizabeth Aby and discuss all things dual-organ transplantation: liver-kidney, pancreas-kidney, kidney after liver, kidney after pancreas, or even kidney alone?! Listen to the end to hear everyone's picks for NephMadness 2024.

And to be clear, Dr. Mannon supported the Kansas City Chiefs before their Super Bowl 58 win.

Submit your NephMadness brackets here (just like March Madness!) by 3/31. Maximize your changes by submitting 2 brackets per email address.

Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk

Guests: Roslyn Mannon, Lizzie Aby

It’s Episode 14 of The Nephron Segment! Join us as we chat with Dr. Mehmet Sukru Sever and Dr. Rasha Rashan and discuss disaster nephrology and kidney care during crises. To summarize Dr. Sever tells us "disasters are inevitable. And All countries around the globe are at risk of disasters, either natural or man made." We discuss what we might learn from prior disasters, what do expect in the future, and what we should do, as a nephrology community, to prepare for the worst.

Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk

Guests:  Mehmet Sukru Sever, Rasha Rashan

1:44: Marmara earthquake (1999)

2:35: Bingöl earthquake (2003)

2:44: Bam earthquake (2003)

2:57: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

4:07: Some of Dr. Sever's Papers

4:35: "Destructive Disasters, trauma, crush injury, and beyond"

9:42: Kidney News 2024 Special Section

13:10: "Disasters & Kidney Care: Pitfalls and Solutions" (Nature Reviews Nephrology 2023)

16:31: "An Overlooked, Possibly Fatal Coronavirus Crisis: A Dire Need for Kidney Dialysis" (New York Times 2020)

19:23: "Nephrology Care in Challenging Circumstances: A Patient's Perspective" (Kidney News 2024)

19:59: Syrian refugee crisis

22:08: Refugees & asylees in the United States

25:49: National Kidney Foundation's "Emergency Resources"

26:35: Announcement: ASN, ISN, ERA Collective Effort (2023)

29:06: "Planet Sets Record for Hottest Day Twice in a Row" (2024)

29:12: A review of CKD of unknown etiology (CKDu)

29:49: UEFA Euro 2024

It’s Episode 15 of The Nephron Segment! We sit down with David Rush: rapper, singer, songwriter, motivational speaker, kidney patient, kidney advocate, and 2022 recipient of the American Society of Nephrology President's Medal. He shares his inspiring journey with kidney disease, which began in 10th grade right before football season - and journey through which he has been able to complete a 52 city tour with Pitbull. If you don't already know, you'll learn what a battle rap is, what a home hemodialysis machine sounds like while it's warming up, and where the name Rush comes from.

Check out is debut single "Shooting Star" (from 2008) here

Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk

Guests: David Rush

1:11: David Rush

3:39: Alonzo Mourning

4:16: Sock it to Kidney Disease

9:38: Kidney Care Options

10:37: Battle Rap

11:42: Shady Records

12:33: Nems

14:22: 2009 Tour Poster

25:10: American Kidney Fund 2023 Summit

29:12: American Society of Nephrology President's Medal

32:46: David Rush on Spotify

It’s Episode 16 of The Nephron Segment and it's time for NephMadness! Join us as we chat with transplant nephrologist Dr. Swee Levea & transplant surgeon (and obesity medicine specialist!) Dr. Babak Orandi and discuss the obesity in kidney transplant recipients and kidney transplant donors! Listen to the end to hear everyone's picks (except any Blue Ribbon Panelists) for NephMadness 2025. Before you make your picks, check out the Obesity & Kidney Transplant Region here. Or flip a coin.

Submit your NephMadness brackets here (just like March Madness!) by 3/31. Maximize your changes by submitting 2 brackets per email address.

Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk

Guests: Swee Levea, Babak Orandi

On Episode 8, guests Dr. L Parker Gregg and patient advocate Nichole Jefferson join us for a conversation about the importance of mental health in patients with kidney disease. Nichole shares with us the importance of attention to mental health and her journey from hemodialysis to peritoneal dialysis to 2 kidney transplants. We also discuss recent and upcoming research in this area. 

Links from the Show:

04:05:  Rates of depression among patients with kidney disease

06:10:  National estimates of mental health needs among adults with chronic kidney disease

06:41: The overlap of uremia and depression

09:28: The transition from dialysis to transplant

13:48: The CAST trial: effect of sertraline in patients with chronic kidney disease

14:42: The ASCEND trial: cognitive behavioral therapy vs sertraline in patients on hemodialysis

17:46: Adverse effects associated with antidepressant use in patients with chronic kidney disease

21:16: Resources for support for patients with kidney disease

23:06 CONCORD study: Combination of Novel Therapies for CKD Comorbid Depression

Episode 10: Green Nephrology (April 20, 2023)

On Episode 10, we celebrate Earth Day with guests Dr. Katherine Barraclough & Dr. Megha Salani who share with us the startling amount of waste that both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis generate, what climate change means for kidney disease, and what we can do to protect our planet and "go green." They also share how they became interested in the burgeoning field of green nephrology, in addition to the considerable carbon footprint associated with KRT. We delved into the pathogenesis of heat induced kidney injury and how climate change is now considered a public health emergency. 

Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk 

Guests: Katherine Barraclough, Megha Salani

NephMadness 2020: Green Nephrology Region

NephMadness 2020: The Time for Nephrologists to Tackle Climate Change is Now

Links from the Show:

03:57 Waste associated with hemodialysis treatments 

04:31 Carbon footprint generated by plastic waste in dialysis units

05:34 Pursuing environmentally conscious dialysis 

09:43 Innovative solutions to recycle plastic generated from treatments

10:56 Climate change and chronic kidney disease

11:10-Association between high temperature and acute kidney injury

12:21 Climate change: A Public Heath Emergency

13:08 Climate related increase in kidney stones

16:22 Solar power assisted dialysis 

17:02 Incorporating training in environmental sustainability in medical education

21:07 The ISN Green Nephrology Initiative

On Episode 9, guests Dr. Mitchell Lunn and NephMadness 2023 Transgender Health Region writer Dr. Sehrish Ali join us for a discussion of why the 2 teams in this region should win this year's NephMadness crown: Kidney Care for the Transgender Patient and Gender Affirming Care. We discuss what gender affirming care really means, challenges of glomerular filtration rate estimation in those who are transgender, 3 categories of transitioning: social, medical, & surgical - and that there is no singular transition path for transgender people. Our guests and the Nephrons also share their bracket picks for this region. Which team is your pick? Submit your brackets and try to match the Blue Ribbon Panel's bracket at nephmadness.com by the end of March 2023.

Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk

Guests: Mitchell Lunn, Sehrish Ali

Links from the Show:

02:13 Growing awareness for gender-affirming care

03:15 Lack of evidence based guideline on assessing estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients receiving gender affirming hormonal therapy (GAHT)

05:12 Effect of GAHT on kidney function

06:42 Creating a welcoming environment for the patient

09:17 Addressing patients with the correct pronoun

11:50 Health surveys offering limited assessment of gender identity

16:57 Lack of post graduate medical training in addressing disparities in LGBTQ+ community 

22:50 Acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease in transgender individuals on GAHT

25:54 The effect of gender affirming medical interventions on improving mental health 

26:27 Gender affirming surgery