About the Section
The Section of Nephrology at The University of Chicago is comprised of seventeen faculty members, six Ph.D. scientists, nine postdoctoral fellows as well as a staff of over 20 research, administrative and clinical personnel that are devoted to a mission of excellence in research, patient care and education. The nephrology program has been recognized for its high quality patient care by U.S. News and World Report 2011, ranking 28th in the country on its Honor Roll of America’s Best Hospitals.
Research Accomplishments
The research opportunities in the Section of Nephrology are rich, and include avenues of investigation into both clinical and basic science aspects of Nephrology. Clinical research programs include NIH-funded research in acute renal failure, kidney stones, and lupus nephritis, as well as industry-sponsored work in end stage renal disease (ESRD) and transplantation. Basic science research is in areas of immunological renal disease, lupus nephritis, acute renal failure, epithelial cell transport, functional genomics and computational biology. Our research activities are mainly supported by the National Institutes of Health and non-federal granting agencies.
The Section of Nephrology is home to an NIH-funded Clinical Research Training Program that is directed by Dr. Fredric Coe. The program offers three levels of courses and other formal training in the design, analysis, and implementation of clinical research. The highest level of study affords the opportunity to obtain a Masters of Science in Health Studies for Clinical Professionals (MSCP).
The University of Chicago’s Functional Genomics Facility is also contained within the Section of Nephrology and is an invaluable resource for clinical and basic science research projects. This facility is directed by Dr. Richard Quigg. Rich collaborations also exist with the Departments of Computer Science, Mathematics and Health Studies at The University of Chicago.
Education and Training
The multi-faceted academic program offered by the Section of Nephrology includes education for medical students, interns, residents, and fellows. Continuing medical education for physicians is also offered. Education within the Section of Nephrology consists of instruction at all levels of participation--outpatient clinics, inpatient areas, and laboratories with active student participation.
The Nephrology Fellowship Training Program is directed by Dr. Tipu Puri. Each year four fellows are accepted into the training program that has been funded through an NIH training grant for 22 years. Trainees are exposed to a wide spectrum of clinical nephrology and have a variety of research options to pursue.
Patient Care
The clinical interests of the Section of Nephrology are diverse and include expertise in end-stage renal disease (ESRD), renal transplantation, acute renal failure, kidney stones, and immunological renal diseases. The kidney disease program has been consistently highly rated by U.S. News and World Report.
The Section has a large program in End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), providing care to over 400 patients. Three of the section’s faculty are dialysis unit directors at large outpatient hemodialysis units in the Hyde Park vicinity – Woodlawn (Dr. Mary Hammes), Lake Park (Dr. Bharathi Reddy) and Stony Island (Dr. Nicole Stankus). In addition, Dr. Orly Kohn runs a program in chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis.
The University of Chicago has a successful renal transplantation program, performing approximately 75 living-related and cadaveric kidney and kidney-pancreas transplants annually. The Section of Nephrology maintains an inpatient transplant service and is responsible for all outpatient care provided patients after renal transplantation. The Section is one of a few programs in the country that have an AST-certified fellowship training program in Transplant Nephrology. The transplant nephrologists are Drs. Michelle Josephson (Program Director), James Chon, and Patrick Cunningham.
The University of Chicago Hospitals provide a high level of acute care medicine in the medical wards and six Intensive Care Units. As such, we see a considerable amount of patients with acute renal failure in our consultative service. The Section has both NIH- and industry-sponsored trials in the pharmacological management of acute renal failure. Drs. Patrick Cunningham and F. Gary Toback perform basic research relating to the pathogenesis of acute renal failure.
The University of Chicago has a world-renowned program in the research and clinical management of kidney stones. This program is headed by Dr. Fredric Coe, and includes Drs. Elaine Worcester, Anna Zisman, and Kristen Bergsland. Over 4,000 patients with kidney stones are followed in this program, which allows a wealth of research opportunities, as well as state-of-the-art medical and surgical management of any type of kidney stone.
We also have clinical and basic science expertise in immunological renal diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, lupus nephritis, and diabetic nephropathy. Currently, studies are being performed on genetics and gene expression in lupus nephritis by Dr. Richard Quigg and in diabetic nephropathy by Dr. Orly Kohn.