This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Fellowship innovation critical to nephrology’s future
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
SAN DIEGO — The current U.S. nephrology programs, which consists of repeated 2- to 4-week rotations of consultation service, transplantation, and outpatient dialysis over a 2-year fellowship, must evolve, said the current ASN president here at ASN Kidney Week.
“Nothing here is innovative,” Mark Okusa, MD, said.
“We need to learn from our cardiology colleagues who have created subsubspecialty programs in heart failure, interventional cardiology, non-invasive cardiology and congenital heart disease,” Okusa said.
“Imagine subsubspecialty options offering trainees specific tracks such as onconephrology, ICU nephrology and transplant nephrology; or interventional nephrology, hospitalist nephrology and investigative nephrology,” he said.
Okusa harkened back to when “increased numbers of patients with kidney failure and the growth of dialysis units to care for them required the training of nephrologists. Our specialty was thriving – attracting the brightest leaders in medicine” and were the most called upon of all internists.
“Interest in nephrology has diminished in the 21st century,” he said, noting that potential nephrologists point to the stress for caring for the chronically ill, long hours and reimbursement as reasons to choose another medical subspecialty.
Okusa said ASN has focused on “supporting our younger trainees whose success is important in securing the nephrology pipeline” through travel support programs and the development of a mentor/mentee program.
“Some may say that nephrology is at a crossroads. I believe nephrology is beyond the crossroads. Together we have responded with provocation and disruption and we have initiated vanguard programs that continue to bring back the luster of nephrology and distinguish nephology as a discipline. We must adapt to current trends and embrace discovery and innovation so that we can impact the health of people with kidney diseases.” – by Joan-Marie Stiglich, ELS
Reference:
Okusa M. Opening Plenary Session. Presented at: ASN Kidney Week; San Diego; Oct. 23-28, 2018.
Disclosure: Okusa is the current American Society of Nephrology president.