Life as a Nephrology Professional

2024 Wrap Up with the NKF Journals

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.

Kidney Transplantation: An Update for the General Nephrologist

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

Genetics in Nephrology: Navigating Testing and Treatment in CKD

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

Xenotransplantation with Dr. Robert Montgomery

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.

Nephrologists Wielding Ultrasounds

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! 

Advancing Kidney Health Through Patient and Nephrology Partnerships

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.

Promoting Advance Care Planning Among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

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

Unlocking the Link: Protein Metabolites and Pediatric CKD

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

Why "Delayed Graft Function" is Due for a Rebrand: A New Era of Taxonomy, Policy, and Clinical Decision-Making

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

NKF and National MOTTEP Webinar: Increasing Trustworthiness and Community Engagement to Advance Transplant Equity

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