Education and Training

Medical Student Elective

PED-241C – This course is designed to provide experience in diagnosis, natural history, laboratory test interpretation, and treatment of childhood acute and chronic kidney disorders. Additionally, students will learn the management of fluid and electrolyte disorders in infants, children, adolescents. 

Contact
Candice Sheldon, MD
919.684.4246

Pediatric Nephrology Residency Rotation

Residents rotate through Duke University Medical Center (DUMC) clinics, wards and, the dialysis unit. The objective of the rotation is to gain an understanding of the subspecialty, the aims of therapy, and innovations in clinical practice. It is expected that residents will expand their knowledge of general nephrology, including fluid and electrolytes, structural anomalies of the urinary tract, infections, hematuria, proteinuria, hypertension and other nephrological disorders. 

Residents have the opportunity to view pertinent radiological studies, pathology, and immunopathology. Residents will obtain experience in caring for patients with glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, acute kidney injury, hypertension, autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), urinary tract abnormalities, chronic kidney disease, end-stage kidney disease, and kidney transplantation. Residents will also learn the basics of dialysis including ultrafiltration, continuous renal replacement therapy, peritoneal dialysis, and hemodialysis. The rotation includes Nephrology clinic every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the Children's Health Center at Duke, as well as opportunities on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at Creekstone. Patients are also seen in consultation on the wards and in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Residents will manage nephrology inpatients with attending staff guidance and direction.
 
Teaching and rounding sessions include:

  • Pediatric Nephrology Didactic Lecture and Clinical Conference on Thursday afternoons
  • Pediatric Nephropathology Rounds on Thursday afternoons every 2 months
  • Pediatric Uroradiology Conference Monday evening once a month
  • Nephrology Grand Rounds on Friday mornings* 
  • Journal club on Thursday morning*
  • Daily rounds with staff on in-patients 
  • Daily didactic lectures, scheduled informally as to not interfere with rounds or other patient care, by the pediatric nephrology fellows and attendings 

The outpatient clinics include individual discussions of each patient with an attending to discuss the work-up, management, and pathophysiology of kidney disease. Attention will also be given to understanding the physical and psychological consequences of chronic kidney disease. Residents will work on achieving the objectives of the pediatric nephrology elective. Textbooks, articles and power point lectures for pediatric nephrology are available as a resource. This is a full-time experience that should serve as a broad-based introduction to clinical pediatric nephrology.  Interested residents also have the opportunity to pursue clinical, translational, and basic science research in pediatric nephrology.   

* Joint conferences with adult nephrology
 
Contact
Shashi Nagaraj, MBBS, MD
​919.684.4246

shashi.nagaraj@duke.edu

Pediatric Nephrology Fellowship

DUMC is a nationally-recognized academic medical center with superb clinical and laboratory resources coupled with an intellectual environment that is supportive and conducive to the development of an academic career. DUMC includes Duke University Hospital, a tertiary and quaternary-care hospital, which is consistently rated as one of the top hospitals in the United States. DUMC is a thriving interactive, scientific community where ideas are actively discussed and exchanged among scientists and physicians with clinical research and basic science expertise, providing the opportunity for true multi-disciplinary research and clinical care.

Our fellowship program offers an active clinical service, an excellent research program, and a desirable place to live. We have a diverse, renowned faculty with a wide range of clinical and academic interests within the background of a major university and medical center. DUMC offers countless experts spanning a variety of kidney disease-related fields. Please follow the link below to learn more about our vibrant fellowship program.