Residents interested in Nephrology should seek experiences that provide a comprehensive understanding of kidney disease diagnosis and management in children. This includes exposure to conditions such as congenital and acquired kidney disorders, nephrotic and nephritic syndromes, hypertension, electrolyte disturbances, and acute and chronic kidney disease. Residents should aim to participate in multidisciplinary clinics, such as transplant, hypertension, or acute kidney injury follow-up clinics, to develop skills in managing complex and chronic nephrologic conditions. Additionally, gaining experience with diagnostic tools like kidney ultrasound, renal biopsy interpretation, and dialysis modalities (peritoneal, hemodialysis, and CRRT) is essential. Engagement in research and quality improvement projects in nephrology is encouraged to enhance their understanding of evidence-based care and prepare them for subspecialty training.
Contact
Elif Erkan
Essential Elective
Nephrology Elective
During a full block in Nephrology Residents will gain experience in all aspects of pediatric nephrology, including dialysis, acute care nephrology, kidney transplantation, and outpatient management of kidney diseases.
Inpatient Experience:
- Participate in evaluation and management of inpatient consults.
- Attend Intensive Care Rounds to learn about indications and principles of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT).
- Understand indications for acute peritoneal and hemodialysis therapy.
Outpatient Experience:
- Attend general nephrology clinics to learn about hematuria, proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome, and hypertension.
- Observe transplant evaluation and protocol implementation in transplant clinics.
- Attend the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Clinic to monitor patients post-renal replacement therapy for chronic kidney disease and hypertension.
- Gain experience in the Hypertension Clinic
- Shadow faculty in Fetal Consults to understand intrauterine implications of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT).
- Optional opportunity to attend the Kidney Stone Clinic
Recommended Electives
Bone Marrow Transplant
A half or full block elective provides residents with exposure to the renal implications of BMT, enhancing their understanding of fluid management, electrolyte disturbances, and long-term kidney outcomes in this complex patient population.
Urology
A half or full block elective will offer exposure to congenital and acquired urologic conditions that impact kidney function, such as vesicoureteral reflux, obstructive uropathy, and nephrolithiasis. Residents will gain a multidisciplinary perspective on the surgical and medical management of kidney and urinary tract disorders.
Pathology
A half or full block elective provides valuable insight into the histopathologic evaluation of kidney diseases, including glomerular, tubulointerstitial, and vascular disorders. Residents will also enhance their understanding of kidney biopsy interpretation.
Other Electives
Radiology
A half or full block elective provides training in interpreting kidney ultrasounds and renal scans.
Hoxworth / Blood Bank
A half or full block elective can offer foundational knowledge in transplant immunology, helping future pediatric nephrologists understand immune compatibility, rejection risks, and blood product management in transplant patients.
Cardiology
A half or full block elective including time spent in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit familiarizes residents with the management of acute kidney injury (AKI) in the cardiac intensive care unit, including fluid balance, nephrotoxic risks, and cardio-renal interactions.
Recommended procedures
- Bladder catheterization
- Kidney biopsy (observed)
- Hemorrhage control
- Peritoneal Dialysis (observed)
- Hemodialysis & catheter exit site care
- Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) starts in the PICU (observed)
- Point of care urinalysis & urine sediment analysis
Optional procedures
- Kidney transplant (observed)
Other Experiences
- Simulation & Training: Participate in hands-on training opportunities provided by Acute Care Nephrology.
- Structured Teaching: Attend Tuesday afternoon teaching sessions, outpatient reviews, fellow lectures, and journal club.
- Transplant Education: Join the weekly TPCR meeting to learn about the transplant candidate evaluation process.
- Pathology Conference: Attend biweekly pathology conferences to enhance understanding of kidney biopsy interpretation.
Scholarly Activity
Most applicants pursuing Nephrology participate in a scholarly project. The project does not have to be housed in the Division of Nephrology specifically, but most residents applying to Nephrology have completed a project with a Division mentor. The quality the mentoring and methodology are the most important criteria programs consider.
Professional Organizations
- American Society of Nephrology
- American Society of Pediatric Nephrology
- American Society of Transplantation
Journals & Online Resources
- Pediatric Nephrology Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology – key publication for nephrology research and advancements.
- ASN Online Curricula: ASN Distance Learning – educational resources for nephrology trainees.
- Renal Fellow Network: Renal Fellow Network – blog and educational platform for nephrology trainees.
- ASN Resident Educational Resources: ASN Training & Resident Resources – nephrology training materials.
- ASP Nephrology Webinars: American Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ASPN) – National Fellow Lecture Webinar Series and other educational resources.