Nephrology Curriculum
The nephrology fellowship training program at the ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø Division of Nephrology and Hypertension is a two-year fellowship program which consists of 18 months of clinical rotations and 6 months of laboratory investigation.
The clinical activities are principally divided among the inpatient and outpatient services of the SSM Health ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø Hospital and the VA Saint Louis Health Care System – John Cochran Division.
Didactic Curriculum
- Journal Club
- Grand Rounds
- Interesting Case Conferences (M&M)
- Research Conferences
- Quality Improvement Conferences
- Nephropathology Conferences
Joint conferences have been presented with the following divisions:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiology
- Urology
These conferences are designed to cover a wide scope of topics. Topics Covered in Core Curriculum include:
- AKI
- CKD
- Disorders of fluid, electrolytes and acid-base regulations
- Disorders of mineral metabolism
- Nephrolithiasis
- Renal osteodystrophy
- Drug dosing adjustments and nephrotoxicity associated with alterations in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics in renal disease
- ESRD
- Genetic and inherited renal disorders, including inherited disease of transport, cystic disease and other congenital disorders
- Geriatric aspects of nephrology
- Physiology and pathology of the aging kidney
- Drug dosing and renal toxicity in elderly patients
- Glomerular and vascular diseases, including glomerulonephritides, diabetic nephropathy, and atheroembolic renal disease
- Hypertensive disorders
- Renal disorders of pregnancy
- Tubulointerstitial renal disease
- Urinary tract infections
- Transplant nephrology
- Principles of evaluation of transplant donors, both living and cadaveric, including histocompatibility testing (Ouseph)
- Principles of organ harvesting, preservation and sharing (Varma)
- Psychosocial aspects of organ donation and transplantation
- The pathogenesis and management of acute renal allograft dysfunction
- Nutritional aspects of renal disorders
- Immunologic aspects of renal disorders
- Indication for and interpretations of radiologic tests of kidney and urinary tract
- Pathogenesis, natural history, and management of congenital and acquired diseases of the kidney and urinary tract, and renal diseases associated with systemic disorders
- Renal anatomy, physiology and pathology
- Hemodialysis
- The principles of dialysis access (acute and chronic vascular and peritoneal), including indications, techniques and complications
- The short- and long-term complications of each mode of dialysis and its management
- The artificial membranes used in hemodialysis and biocompatibility
- Urea kinetics and protein catabolic rate
- The technology of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis
- The pharmacology of commonly used medications and their kinetic and dosage alteration with hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis
- The psychosocial and ethical issues of dialysis
Fellows have the opportunity to practice placing central venous catheters, perform kidney ultrasounds and cardiac ultrasounds in a simulated fashion
Upon using a state-of-the-art ultrasound probe, the Butterfly iQ device fellows are trained in examining the kidneys and heart to learn how to perform point-of-care ultrasounds.