Overview
Welcome to the George Washington University Nephrology Fellowship Program! The GW Nephrology Fellowship prides itself on outstanding clinical training since its inception in 1970. Located in the heart of the nation’s capital, our program offers diverse training opportunities at the George Washington University Hospital, Washington DC VA Medical Center, and Inova Fairfax Hospital.
GW Nephrology has the largest peritoneal dialysis program in Washington, D.C., a growing home hemodialysis program, and a wide variety of subspecialty training opportunities. Our fellows have the opportunity to work with faculty who are recognized experts in glomerular diseases, hypertension, transplantation, onconephrology, therapeutic apheresis, and point-of-care ultrasonography. We serve as the tertiary care referral center for the management of complex acute kidney injury, resistant hypertension and glomerular disease. The Division has pioneered precision kidney medicine through innovative collaboration. Fellows also enjoy broad exposure to transplant nephrology with the opportunity to train at two regional transplant medical centers at both the George Washington University Hospital and Inova Fairfax Hospital.
Our fellowship program provides a foundation for trainees to use evidence based care for patients with common as well as rare kidney disorders. We are committed as a group to scholarly excellence in patient care, education, and research in a collegial learning environment. Fellows have ample opportunities to further develop their teaching abilities, procedural competence, leadership qualities and to foster educational skills. The program centers upon the fundamental tenet that "research improves the mind that teaches; teaching improves patient care; and quality care provides opportunities for research."
Training at a tertiary care center, GW fellows encounter a diverse patient population. Clinical competence develops through a structured system of bedside learning and from formal learning sessions. The Nephrology Fellowship encompasses two years of comprehensive training. By the completion of the first year, trainees will learn to evaluate patients with kidney disease and will learn the fundamentals of renal replacement therapies, including continuous renal replacement therapies and plasmapheresis. By the completion of the second year, trainees will learn to independently evaluate and manage patients with kidney disease, complex glomerular diseases, onconephrology and complicated hypertension. Fellows will also learn to critically evaluate the scientific literature and learn the fundamentals of research.
Trainees participate in our program to learn, not to provide service. Education and trainee wellness are the top priorities of this fellowship program. We have developed a highly innovative didactic curriculum to supplement clinical learning, including weekly case-based presentations, board review sessions, knowledge bowls, journal clubs, core curriculum sessions, patient safety, and pathology conferences. All of our conferences can be accessed on a virtual platform. Our fellows also receive online access to all major medical journals and clinical nephrology textbooks.
Our fellows come from all parts of the United States and around the world and are a very cohesive group. The fellowship has built in flexibility and fellows can be mentored toward clinical or academic research careers. We continue to support our fellows even after graduation and have a vast GW fellow alumni network. Our fellowship graduates have gone on to successful careers in private practice or academia, becoming division directors and fellowship program directors in prestigious institutions. Two of our recent nephrology fellowship graduates completed transplant nephrology fellowships.
Driven by the popularity of the teaching on the consult and transplant services, all GW internal medicine residents have a nephrology rotation built into their training experience. The success of our educational mission was most evident when our program won the 2019 Nephmadness educational contest sponsored by the American Journal of Kidney Disease, the journal representing the National Kidney Foundation.
Thank you very much for your interest in the GW Nephrology Fellowship Program. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.
Scott D. Cohen MD, MPH, FASN
Fellowship Program Director, GW Nephrology
Associate Professor of Medicine
George Washington University
imfellowships@gwu.edu
Structure
The principal clinical training centers are at the George Washington University Hospital, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Inova Fairfax Hospital. The structure over the 24-month program is as follows:
|
10 to 12 months |
Inpatient rotations at George Washington University and VA Medical Center |
|
4 to 5 months |
Transplant Medicine Service |
|
5 to 6 months |
Renal biopsy Outpatient hemodialysis, Home hemodialysis and Peritoneal dialysis Specialty ambulatory clinics
Research
|
Highlights of the Program
- Peritoneal Dialysis - GWU has the largest peritoneal dialysis program in the Washington DC area. The program offers intensive training in inpatient and outpatient care of peritoneal dialysis patients.
- Home Dialysis - GWU offers home hemodialysis through the center for home hemodialysis. Fellows have the opportunity to learn setting up and caring for home hemodialysis patients.
- Point-of-Care Renal Ultrasonography – Fellows participate and help to perform and interpret renal ultrasound examinations.
- Glomerular Diseases Clinic - Fellows get trained in the management of complex glomerular diseases in the weekly glomerular diseases clinic.
- Hypertension Clinic - GW is a tertiary referral center for the treatment of resistant hypertension. Fellows have the opportunity to learn and manage complex hypertension cases.
- Kidney-Pancreas Transplant experience - Fellows have broad inpatient and outpatient transplantation exposure at both the George Washington University Hospital and Inova Fairfax Medical Center.
- Therapeutic Apheresis – Fellows are trained to order therapeutic apheresis including leukopheresis and exchange transfusion for a variety of renal and non-renal conditions at the GW Hospital.
- Research experience - Fellows have the opportunity to work with world renowned researchers in clinical, basic science and translational research. The Division has over 2.3 million dollars in annual NIH grant support with 66 publications in peer reviewed journals in the past academic year.
- Monthly Regional Clinical Pathological Case (CPC) Conference at the NIH - Fellows have the opportunity to learn from experts at the NIDDK and other regional academic medical centers. This is in addition to the routine weekly conferences: Core Curriculum conference, Renal Grand Rounds, Transplant Conference, Research Conference, Renal Biopsy Conference, and Journal Club.
- Attendance at a national and regional conferences - Fellows have the opportunity to attend the annual American Society of Nephrology Meeting, the National Kidney Foundation Meeting, and Fellowship Research Forum.
Application Information
Applications are only accepted through the Electronic Residency Applications Service (ERAS).
The candidate must register for both ERAS and the National Residency Match Program (NRMP). A candidate who has not registered with the NRMP cannot be considered during the ranking process. It is very important to remember to register.
Requirements for GW Fellowships
Fellowship applicants must have completed three years in an ACGME-Accredited Internal Medicine Residency, and be board-certified or board-eligible.
Required Documents for Complete myERAS Application
- myERAS application
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Personal Statement
- Three Letters of Recommendation (one from the program director)
- USMLE / COMLEX Scores (must have passed Steps I-III prior to start of fellowship year)
- Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
- ECFMG Status Report for International Medical Graduates (must have certification)
- Licensing Information and Board-Eligibility/Certifications (if applicable)
- Citizenship Status
International Medical Graduates
We can only consider applicants with J1 visas. Please see our GME Visa policy.
IMGs must have completed an ACGME-accredited residency program.
Graduates of International Medical Schools must also be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
For more information, please visit the GW Graduate Medical Education website.
Faculty
| Sholey Argani, MD Assistant Professor of Medicine Veterans Affairs Medical Center |
Ines Armando, PhD Associate Professor Medicine George Washington University |
| Laureano D. Asico, DVM Assistant Research Professor George Washington University |
Sharon Bennett, MD Assistant Professor of Medicine Veterans Affairs Medical Center |
| Gabor Bodonyi-Kovacs Assistant Professor of Medicine George Washington University |
Patricia Centron Vinales Assistant Professor of Medicine George Washington University |
| Scott Cohen, MD Associate Professor of Medicine Director, Nephrology Fellowship Program Director, Glomerular Diseases Clinic George Washington University |
Ashte Collins, MD Assistant Professor of Medicine Director, Center for Home Dialysis George Washington University |
| Muralidharan Jagadeesan, MD Associate Professor of Medicine Medical Director of Transplant Services George Washington University |
Jonsson Johann, MD Director of Transplant Surgery Inova Fairfax Hospital |
| Pedro Jose, MD, PhD Professor of Medicine Director of Renal Research George Washington University |
Prasad Konkalmatt, Ph.D. Assistant Research Professor of Medicine George Washington University |
| Susie Lew, MD Professor of Medicine Director, Peritoneal Dialysis Program George Washington University |
Ping Li, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Medicine Veterans Affairs Medical Center |
| Ehsan Nobakht, MD Assistant Professor of Medicine George Washington University |
Carlos Palant, MD Professor of Medicine Director Renal Section VAMC; Site Director VAMC Veterans Affairs Medical Center |
| Samir Patel, MD Associate Professor of Medicine Veterans Affairs Medical Center |
Ali Ramenzani, Ph.D Assistant Professor of Medicine Director, Renal Laboratory George Washington University |
| Shailendra Sharma, MD Assistant Professor of Medicine Director, Acute Dialysis Units & Extracorporeal Therapies George Washington University |
Manuel Velasquez, MD Professor of Medicine Director, Hypertension Clinics George Washington University |
| Van Anthony M. Villar, MD, PhD Assistant Research Professor of Medicine George Washington University |
Xiaoyan Wang, MD, PhD Assistant Research Professor of Medicine George Washington University |
