Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Nephrology Curriculum

The nephrology fellowship training program at the Â鶹´«Ã½ 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 Â鶹´«Ã½ 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

Joint conferences have been presented with the following divisions:

  • Endocrinology
  • Cardiology
  • Urology
Conferences Covering Core Curriculum

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
Simulation Sessions

Fellows have the opportunity to practice placing central venous catheters, perform kidney ultrasounds and cardiac ultrasounds in a simulated fashion

Point of Care Ultrasound Training Sessions

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.