University of Virginia Health System

Combined adult and pediatric Renal Grand Rounds is held on Monday morning at 8:00 AM. This conference is coordinated jointly by the Nephrology fellows and faculty. Interesting cases encountered in the hospital and clinic are presented and the evaluation and treatment plans are researched and discussed. The first Monday of each month is reserved for the presentation of faculty-sponsored research projects within the Division and from other institutions. A list of recent invited speakers can be found towards the end of the booklet.

Journal Club  is held on Tuesday at 7:30 AM. The purpose of journal club is to develop the ability to critically analyze data reported in the literature. In general, papers are presented and discussed from high quality clinical journals (New England Journal of Medicine, Kidney International, Annals of Internal Medicine, Lancet, Transplantation), and basic science journals (Nature, J. Biol. Chem., Cell, Science, Proc. Natl Acad. Sci., J. of Clin. Invest. Am. J. Physiol.). Once a month Dr. Frank Harrell, Professor and Director of Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Health Evaluations Sciences participates in the analysis of study designs and biostatistics. The 4th Tuesday of each month is reserved for Renal Radiology Conference. This conference is arranged by the faculty and attended jointly by adult and pediatric Nephrology, as well Dr. Robert Older, Department of Radiology. Each hour is divided into a practical portion in which current renal images are reviewed to Dr. Older and a didactic portion in which Dr. Older reviews archived renal images (US, CT, MRI, IVP Angiograms that are included in a commercial CD ROM. This CD ROM was written by Dr. Robert Older.

Medical Grand Rounds  is held on Monday at 12:30 PM. Faculty from UVA, as well as other institutions are invited to discuss clinical topics in medicine. Several times a year Nephrology faculty are asked to present at Grand Rounds. Moreover, internationally recognized Nephrology faculty are invited as visiting professors (see list under Visiting Professors).

Wednesdays from 8:00-9:00 am are reserved for a Research in Progress seminar where principal investigators, fellows, graduate students present their ongoing research work.

Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00pm are reserved for a Rotating Conference Series that cover hypertension, renal physiology (and its clinical application), core topics in nephrology and a core teaching series in renal pathology. The hypertension series is in conjunction with the endocrinology division and features discussion of difficult cases as well as a review of current literature.

The 1st and 2nd Thursdays of each month are reserved for Renal Physiology and Transplant Core Lectures . During this time basic physiology of the kidney will be taught along with clinical applications. Transplant immunobiology and management issues will be discussed. The 3rd Thursday is reserved for Nephrology Clinical Research. Here clinical trials and topics relevant to clinical research will be discussed.

The 4th Thursday of each month is reserved for Renal Biopsy Conference . This conference is arranged by the faculty and attended jointly by adult and pediatric Nephrology, as well as pathology (Dr. Tung & Sturgill). Renal biopsies performed during the month are reviewed and discussed.

Transplantation Conference  is held on Friday at 8:00 AM. Members attend this conference from multiple subspecialties including Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Surgery and Nephrology. Topics in transplantation are presented and discussed by faculty and fellows.

Case Management Conference  will be held on Friday at 12:30 PM. Ongoing, active cases will be discussed. Fellow’s Conference is held on Friday at 1:00 p.m. Various topics in clinical Nephrology, theoretical and practical aspects of dialysis, electrolyte, fluid and acid-base disorders, and transplantation Nephrology are discussed. Over a period of two years major topics on the Nephrology Subspecialty Board will have been covered.

Summer Core Curriculum. A core nephrology curriculum is provided at the beginning of each academic year. This 2-month curriculum is intended to provide fundamental practical concepts in various topics in nephrology early in the training program. This will permit the accelerated acquisition of core information used in management of outpatients and inpatients. Topics may vary from year to year but include: evaluation of renal function, hemodialysis (IHD, CRRT), peritoneal dialysis, evaluation and management of patients with acute and chronic renal failure. Evaluation and management of acid-base and electrolyte disorders, evaluation and management of renal transplant patients and others.

Following two years of training, the trainee will have confidence in evaluating and managing patients with a wide variety of kidney disorders, and have had in-depth training in acute and chronic hemodialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy (CVVHD), renal biopsy, apheresis, dialysis catheter placement, ultrasound and renal biopsies. Each fellow performs 20 renal biopsies during his/her training period.