Overview

Dear Future Nephrologist:
Welcome to the George Washington University (GWU) Nephrology fellowship program! Located in the heart of the Nation’s Capital, our program offers diverse and cutting-edge training opportunities at the George Washington University Hospital and the Washington DC VA Medical Center! Our program has a rich history of leading the medical community over several decades in the development and implementation of life-saving and disease- modifying kidney therapies.
Our program provides a comprehensive experience to fellows in the evaluation and management of acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, fluid and electrolyte disorders, critical care nephrology, all modalities of renal replacement therapies, kidney transplantation and immunology. Our nephrology fellows have access to state- of -the -art training at the largest peritoneal dialysis program in the city, a growing home hemodialysis program and therapeutic apheresis. They gain sub-specialty exposure in cardio-nephrology, onco-nephrology, glomerulonephritis, complex hypertension, and precision medicine in kidney disease. The program offers robust training in point of care ultrasound with a dedicated curriculum for this at GWU hospital, as well as the VA Medical center.
The robust clinical experience is complemented by a rigorous conference schedule all year. Trainees will be taught how to critically appraise the scientific literature, design research projects, develop experience with manuscript writing, and as well as present their scientific work at regional and national meetings. Robust discussions of clinical cases in nephrology and transplantation, biopsy interpretations at joint conferences in nephro-pathology with faculty from the Mayo Clinic, as well as exposure to cardio-nephrology and critical care nephrology conferences in collaboration with the divisions of cardiology and critical care are a highlight of the nephrology trainee experience. Dedicated teaching time for point of care ultrasound training is built into the curriculum throughout the year. After completing fellowship, fellows will be well prepared for a career in nephrology across several domains including clinical practice in the community, academic practice, medical education, procedural expertise, leadership roles in business and the industry, as well as several other developing roles for nephrologists in interdisciplinary spaces. Several alumni of the GWU Nephrology program have gone on to pursue further sub-specialty training in areas such as transplantation, academic careers as well as private practice, and remain and important resource for trainees as they navigate their career paths.
We are delighted to invite you to be part of this exciting specialty and our program. We welcome your talent and enthusiasm in the collective fight against kidney disease, and look forward to supporting your aspirations as a future nephrologist.
All the best,
Janani Rangaswami, MD, FACP, FCRS, FAHA
Fellowship Program Director,
GW Nephrology
Professor of Medicine
George Washington University
imfellowships@gwu.edu
Structure
The principal clinical training centers are at the George Washington University Hospital and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. 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
With options for Cardiorenal, Precision Medicine, Stone Disease and Future Integrative Medicine Research
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Training Sites
The George Washington University Hospital (GWUH) is located in the center of Washington D.C., the state of the art tertiary care 385 bed hospital offers a wide range of nephrology services including treatment of complex acute kidney injury, continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT), conventional as well as extended hemodialysis dialysis therapies and peritoneal dialysis.
It is the referral site for Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and for extracorporeal therapies including plasmapheresis, exchange transfusion and leukapheresis. The kidney transplant program is expanding to include pancreas and liver transplant program. The robust cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery programs offer an opportunity to work on complicated acute kidney injury cases and cardiorenal syndrome.
Fellows will learn to treat chronic kidney disease, vascular access problems, fluid-electrolyte disorders, and glomerular diseases. Kidney biopsies are performed with assistance from dedicated radiology faculty. Fellows have an opportunity to work with the interventional radiologists to learn vascular access management. We work collaboratively with our urology colleagues to care for patients with nephro-urological problems. The rotations are complemented by a rich outpatient clinic experience.
The Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, D.C. is a level 1A facility which provides comprehensive medical care for the veteran population in the D.C. Metropolitan area. The Renal section of the Washington, DC VA has 4 full time nephrologists on staff who hold faculty appointments at George Washington University. The section performs dialysis in the inpatient and outpatient setting at the medical center including: chronic intermittent hemodialysis, CVVHD/F (Prismaflex machines), SLEDD (Tablo machines) and peritoneal dialysis (manual and cycler). The section cares for the entire spectrum of CKD in the outpatient and inpatient setting including kidney transplant recipients. Kidney transplants are performed at the VA in Pittsburgh but all pre-transplant evaluations and post transplant care is under the DC VA Renal section.
The Renal Care Center located in building 6 of the Medical Center was built in 2006 to include a chronic hemodialysis unit for approximately 60 individuals as well as a chronic peritoneal dialysis unit, conference room, two patient exam rooms, and offices for all 4 nephrologists, a renal dietitian and renal social worker. There is also a dedicated office for nephrology fellows. Important features of Renal Care Center facilities for fellowship training include: dedicated space for urine microscopy, phase contrast microscope with LCD display, ultrasound machine with vascular and abdominal probes (portable to dialysis unit and hospital), full digital library access to a host of journals, textbooks and medical programs such as Up-to Date through VA Intranet. Fellows are invited to participate in specialized hypertension clinic established between the cardiology and renal sections.
GW Nephrology Fellowship Program Highlights
The GW fellowship offers an optimal blend of unique clinical experience, didactics, and research opportunities. Highlights of the program are given below:
- The program has a rich and long- standing history of pioneering nephrology care across renal replacement therapies, chronic kidney disease care and kidney transplantation in the region.
- Trainees will gain exposure to a diverse range of clinical pathology across George Washington University Hospital and the Veterans Administration Hospital.
- There are opportunities to train in niche areas such as cardiorenal medicine, onco-nephrology, glomerulonephritis, genetics and precision medicine, kidney transplantation, point of care ultrasound, complex hypertension as well as critical nephrology with dedicated faculty expertise in these areas.
- Rigorous academic environment with state-of-the-art conferences focused on case discussions, journals clubs, pathology conference in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic and presentations from a wide breadth of invited national experts.
- Highest level of commitment to diversity across gender, race, and background with a collegial, respectful, and very supportive environment throughout training and after through a rich network of alumni. This atmosphere allows trainees to excel in their future prospects including academic medicine, private practice, future sub-specialty training and any other pursuits of interest.
2023-2024 Recruitment Information
Thank you for your interest in the Nephrology Fellowship Program at the George Washington University. We are looking forward to receiving your application and learning more about you. Recruitment for fellows starting in the 2023-2024 academic year will take place virtually. Interviews will be conducted via Zoom on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons starting in August and ending in October. Applicants will meet with current fellows and faculty during the interview day. Invitations to interview will be sent out in late July. If you have questions at any time during the application and recruitment process, please do not hesitate to reach out to Lisa Horvath, fellowship program coordinator, at imfellowships@gwu.edu or 202.677.6056.
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).
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Horvath, fellowship program coordinator, at 202-677-6056 or imfellowships@gwu.edu.
Nephrology Virtual Tour
Thank you for your interest in our Nephrology fellowship program. While we wish we could be meeting you in person, we are thrilled to offer you this virtual tour as an opportunity to see and learn more about the facilities and resources available to our fellows.
Faculty
To view a faculty member's full profile, click their name to be directed to the SMHS Faculty Directory.
The faculty for the Division of Kidney Diseases and Hypertension include:
Faculty
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Nicolas Guzman |
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Manuel Velasquez Professor Emeritus of Medicine |
Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) Research Faculty:
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Nurse Practitioners
Emnet Habtewold, CRNP |
Alexandra Mack, NP |
Wubit Raru, CRNP |
Research Coordinators
Muhammed Siddiqui, MBBS |
Danielle Kincaid, MPH |
Administrative Assistants
Ebony Kiser |
Adilene Hernandez |