I would like to welcome you to the website of the Division of Nephrology, Hypertension, and Renal Transplantation at the University of Florida.
Being at the forefront of innovative approaches, our Division is the highest ranked division of nephrology in the state of Florida with a long history of excellence. It is distinguished by the impact, breadth, and depth of its clinical, educational, and research programs, and is comprised of prominent faculty who are involved in patient care, education, and research. Our culture is built upon a history of innovation, boldness and collaboration. We continue to exemplify these values in an era of extraordinary change within the field of nephrology.
I am honored to be preceded by a long list of influential leaders and directors of the Division, including Dr. Mark S. Segal, Dr. Richard J. Johnson, Dr. C. Craig Tisher, former Dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Florida and editor of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, and the late Dr. Robert Cade, inventor of Gatorade®.
The Division’s mission is to expand the frontiers of basic and clinical investigation in kidney disease, to train the next generation of prominent clinicians and academic nephrology leaders, and to provide the highest level of patient care. I appreciate your interest in our Division, and invite you to take a moment to explore our website and learn more about us.
Clinical Program
- The Division provides outstanding medical care for subjects with new onset and/or complicated hypertension, diabetic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis, onco-nephrology, acute and chronic renal failure, nephron-cardiology, and renal transplantation. Patients entering the clinics are not just offered routine medical care but are seen in multi-specialty clinics dedicated to delivering the latest therapy in a collaborative environment.
- Patients with Lupus Nephritis are seen in a joint Rheumatology-Nephrology clinic and patients with kidney disease secondary to heart disease is seen in a joint Cardiology-Nephrology clinic. We also have close collaborations with Hematology, Hepatology, and Infectious Disease, and Transplant Surgery. Patients are also invited to participate in clinical studies searching for the cause and or cure of their disease and the ultimate plan is to develop NIH Centers of Excellence in Hypertension and Kidney Disease.
- While our goal is to slow down the progression of all kidney disease and effectively manage the complications that are associated with kidney disease, we also utilize the latest treatment modalities to manage our dialysis patients. Dialysis patients managed by the Division exceed national and local standards for the quality of their dialysis and boasts some of the lowest mortality rates in the country. The transplantation program is a state-of-the-art program utilizing the most efficacious and safest immunosuppressive regimens.
Education Program
- The Division has an ACGME-certified training program in nephrology as well as an accredited renal transplantation program accepting a fellow every year. We have developed a high-profile education program for the residents and medical students. The program has a history of exceptional teaching as evidenced by the fact that the most popular clinical nephrology textbook worldwide is co-edited by the former Division Chief (‘Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology’, eds Richard J Johnson and John Feehally, Harcourt, 2010, 3rd edition) and that the extremely popular Nephrology and Hypertension for House Officers is edited by another prior chief and past Dean, Dr. C. Craig Tisher (Nephrology Handbook) with many chapters in both books contributed by members of the Division.
- While the main educational forum is at the bedside, the Division has a number of other educational opportunities including: a weekly Renal Research Grand Rounds, a weekly Renal Grand Rounds, a weekly case conference, a monthly journal club, and a monthly pathology conference. While these conferences have been very successful in educating our fellows, by evidence of a very successful track record on standardized tests, we are not satisfied and have initiated question based sessions for the fellows and the housestaff help educate in the complex concepts of acid base, electrolyte homeostasis, and pathology of glomerulonephritis.
Research Contributions
- The Division has a long history of major contributions to the field of nephrology, heralded by the introduction of physiologically based solutions to treat sports-related dehydration and cholera by the late Dr. Robert Cade (former Chief), leading to the invention of Gatorade and the invention of an industry; the discovery of one of the major cell types in the kidney involved in the excretion of body acids by Dr. CC Tisher (former Chief and past Dean); and research focused on identifying the cause and future cure of essential hypertension (R. J. Johnson).
- Current research includes using artificial intelligence for the development of an Intelligent ICU (A. Bihorac and T. Baslanti); investigating the use of plaquenil to prevent cardiovascular disease in CKD patients (A. Shukla); characterizing location and activity of the ammonia transporter (D. Weiner) and understanding its role in acid-base regulation, stone disease, hepatic encephalopathy and fertility; identification of critical transport mechanisms involved in kidney acid potassium regulation (C. Wingo); investigating the circadian effects on sodium excretion and hypertension (M. Gumz); understanding the effect of AKI and CKD on development of cardiovascular disease (M. Segal and R. Mohandas); iron uptake in the proximal tubule and progression of lupus nephritis (Y. Scindia); understanding the regulation of highly selective cation channels in diabetic nephropathy and in various blood pressure disorders (A. Alli); optimizing treatment of patients post-AKI (S. Gopal);
- The Division boasts over 1 million dollars direct yearly support by the NIH and other institutions with over 30 publications per year. Notable grants include:
- T32 Training Grant
- Members of the Division have been invited to give state of the art lectures across the globe and the Division also brings the leaders in nephrology from around the world to the Division to serve as the J. Robert Cade Visiting Professor in Internal Medicine, as well as the C. Craig Tisher Visiting Professor. Learn more about our distinguished nephrologists who have been past visiting professors.
Philanthropy
Much of the past success and future success of the division is dependent on philanthropy. The Division of Nephrology, Hypertension, & Renal Transplantation is fortunate that many of the developers of Gatorade, former fellows, and grateful patients have supported the division. We have utilized these funds to endow professorships, visiting professorships, improve the physical plant, help educate the fellows, purchase the latest medical equipment necessary for the cutting-edge treatment of patients, and initiate cutting-edge investigations.
If you should have any questions or want to assist in the battle of kidney disease please feel free to contact us.