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Since the inaugural dialysis in the Commonwealth of Virginia was performed at UVa on March 27, 1959, the University of Virginia has been recognized for its excellence in treating kidney diseases. Today, patients can receive our full range of services and medical expertise in The UVa Kidney Center. |
The Division of Nephrology at the University of Virginia was established in 1959 with Dr. Nuzhet Atuk as first Division Chief, succeeded by Dr. Frederick Westervelt. From 1988 to 2008, under the direction of Dr. W. Kline Bolton, Professor of Medicine, the Division of Nephrology underwent extensive change. The Division now consists of a multi-talented cohesive group focused on providing state-of-the-art clinical care, basic and clinical research, education, and disease management for patients with diverse types of kidney disease. On July 1, 2008, Dr. Mark Okusa, John C. Buchanan Distinguised Professor of Medicine, became the fourth Division Chief of Nephrology.
The Division of Nephrology has grown from 2 fellows, 4 faculty, 80 dialysis patients and one RO1 in 1988 to a current combined enterprise of the Division of Nephrology and the Center for Immunity, Inflammation and Regenerative Medicine that includes:
- 8 clinical fellows
- 23 full-time faculty
- over 16 postdoctoral fellows/graduate students
- over 700 dialysis patients including 35 nocturnal dialysis patients
- NIH/foundation/pharmaceutical grants that have helped us to emerge as a nationally recognized program in all facets of academic nephrology, and basic and clinical immunology; Division of Nephrology faculty members are principal investigators funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, Juvenile Diabetes Association, National Kidney Foundation, American Heart Association, and other foundations.
Effective July 1, 2007, Dr. Mark Okusa was appointed Director of the Center for Immunity, Inflammation and Regenerative Medicine (CIIR). The Center is a new Department of Medicine initiative to merge thematic research in the area of immunology and regenerative medicine. The CIIR is housed in 13,000 SF of recently renovated laboratory space and equipped with modern equipment for immunological research.