MU Department of Medicine 2011-2013 Annual Report Feb. 2014 | Page 43

2011-2013

Department of Medicine

43

Overview of education
The Nephrology Fellowship Program provides an all-around

medical care of acute and chronic renal transplant patients,

educational experience such that trainees may acquire complete

hypertension, diabetic nephropathy and other relevant areas

competency in the field of Nephrology. Fellows are given

in clinical nephrology. Pediatric nephrology experience is also

opportunities to assume continuing responsibility for both

offered.

acutely and chronically ill patients with kidney diseases in
order to learn the natural history of disease processes as well as
the effectiveness of therapeutic programs, and to observe and
manage patients with a wide variety of kidney-related diseases
on an inpatient and outpatient basis. Our training program gives
wide array of opportunities to receive a hands-on experiences in
scholarly activities including clinical and bench research.

The first years’ experience for fellows is organized to provide
intensive exposure to clinical nephrology. Time is spent on the
nephrology consult services at University Hospital, the Harry S.
Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, in the outpatient clinics,
and dialysis facilities. Fellows work closely with nephrology
attending faculty as they rotate through the services. Under the
supervisio n of the attending staff, fellows will develop skills in

The University of Missouri has one of the largest and most

renal biopsy, peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis, plasmapheresis,

comprehensive renal replacement therapy centers in the nation.

and many other techniques of blood purification and kidney

The highly acclaimed faculty treat a large and diverse patient

transplantation. Clinical complaints include a variety of

population from Mid-Missouri in modern facilities.

electrolyte and fluid disturbances, chronic renal failure, acute
renal failure, hypertension, and acid-base disorders. In addition,

The division continues to receive national and international
recognition for its scholarly activities. Our faculty areinvolved in
teaching within and outside the institution and carry out both

fellows teach residents and medical students assigned to
nephrology rotations.

clinical and basic research. Ample opportunities are available

During the second year, fellows can vary the time they spend

for collaboration with other disciplines within the institution

in clinical and research activities. Outpatient clinic and consult

and across campus. Faculty and fellows publish and present a

activities are continued in the second year, but there are unique

substantial number of scientific findings each year in national and

opportunities to pursue research related to the kinetics of

international platforms. Fellows participate in either clinical or

solute transport during peritoneal and hemodialysis, basic renal

basic research and chose an option to tailor the type and amount

physiology (both animal and clinical), morphological studies of

of research accomplished during the fellowship according to

the peritoneum, immunology, clinical and basic studies in the

individual interests and career goals.

pathophysiology of hypertension, pharmacokinetics, case studies,

The Division of Nephrology and Hypertension has maintained
an active fellowship program since 1969. Graduates of the
fellowship program are found throughout the world in clinical
and academic practices. The main goal of the two-year fellowship

and other areas. All fellows are required to participate in research.
We encourage fellows to tailor the type and amount of research
accomplished during fellowship to conform to their individual
interests and career goals.

program is to provide advanced educational opportunities to

Education in a more formal guise also continues throughout

physicians in clinical and investigative Nephrology. Additionally,

the Fellowship. Weekly conferences include Faculty and Fellow

opportunities are available for a third year doing bench research

lectures on special topics, journal and research conferences, renal

subject to availability of funds.

biopsy conference, Journal Club, and special presentations from

The program covers all aspects of current nephrology practice

visiting professors.

including acute and chronic dialysis (hemodialysis and all forms
of peritoneal dialysis), ICU nephrology (including CRRT/SLED),

Overview of Research

Editorial Boards • Funded Research • Publications

Research in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension has

delivery methods to improve peritoneal fibrosis and Dr. Ravi

been supported by multiple investigators over the past years and

Nistala with work directed at exploring mechanisms related to

derived from numerous funding sources including the National

blood pressure regulation and kidney disease. The group has

Institutes of Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, societies

published numerous papers in the leading nephrology and

such as the American Society of Nephrology and industry

internal medicine journals ranging from the New England Journal

through investigator initiated trials. Work has been diverse

of Medicine, Archives of Internal Medicine, American Journal of

ranging from dialysis related outcomes work, CKD prevention,

Kidney Diseases, among others. Fellows are given electives in

and more mechanistic bench applications investigating the

research during their second year and every opportunity is given

pathology of kidney disease. There has been recent work

to fellows in the first year for scholarly activity.

from Drs. Kunal Chaudhary and Ramesh Khanna on novel gene