“All autoimmune diseases have what are called relapsing and remitting tendencies,” says Ron Falk, MD, chair of the UNC Department of Medicine and co-director of the UNC Kidney Center, in a new patient’s guide. “You may have long periods where you feel relatively well followed by severe disease flare-ups or exacerbations.”

Abhijit Kshirsagar, MD, MPH, emphasizes the importance of kidney transplants in the editorial Transplant First, Dialysis Last, joined by Melina Kibbe, MD, chair of the department of surgery, and David Gerber, MD, from the division of abdominal transplant surgery. Published in JAMA Surgery, the editorial recognizes transplants as being cost-effective with the greatest survival advantage, extending life by 7 … Continued

Kidney specialists and public health officials agree, at-risk populations often go untested for chronic kidney disease (CKD) because patients with early CKD have few or no symptoms to indicate kidney damage. Diagnosis at the earliest stage offers the best patient outcomes. Abhi Kshirsagar, MD, MPH, professor of medicine and director of the UNC Kidney Center’s … Continued

The annual dinner for nephrology trainees celebrates graduating fellows and recognizes one faculty member who has shown outstanding commitment and excellence in teaching. Erica Bjornstad, MD, MPH, announced this year’s Maestro Award winner at the recent dinner for 2019 graduates, and her speech reflected the collective thoughts and praises for Dr. Keisha Gibson, associate professor … Continued

The global exchange of knowledge between practicing healthcare providers ensures that regions with the greatest need can have access to training and education essential to providing effective health services. These exchanges also form student mentor bonds, and the experiences can bring life changing perspectives. Dr. Jimba Jatsho is one of the first two pediatricians to … Continued

Community practice and academic health care professionals joined together at the 33rd annual meeting of the Glomerular Disease Collaborative Network (GDCN) on Saturday, May 4, in Chapel Hill. The guest speaker was Jai Radhakrishnan, MD, professor of medicine and director of nephrology clinical services at Columbia University Medical Center. His presentation focused on minimal change … Continued

The UNC Academy of Educators (AOE) held its annual Alan W. Cross Evening of Scholarship on May 23, an event that celebrated the accomplishments of the previous year, welcomed new members and awarded outstanding educators in the community. Koyal Jain, MD, FASN, and Keisha Gibson, MD, MPH, both received a Foundation Phase Teaching Excellence award … Continued

Dr. Keisha Gibson, chief of pediatric nephrology, has been featured in WRAL.com’s Women of the Triangle series, recognized for how she promotes diversity and inclusivity in medicine and life. Dr. Keisha Gibson (Credit: Rochelle Moser) Gibson, who is associate professor of medicine and pediatrics, as well as director of the pediatric nephrology fellowship program, explains in the … Continued

Akhil Hegde, MD, Assistant Professor in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, emphasized the need for a systemized analysis of dialysis access during the 15th Annual Scientific Meeting for the American Society of Diagnostics and Interventional Nephrology (ASDIN), held last month in Atlanta, GA. In his presentation “Developing an Evidence-Based Approach to Dialysis Access,” Hegde … Continued

Abhijit V. Kshirsagar, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology, has been awarded the Marion Stedman Covington Distinguished Professorship. As Chief Medical Director for UNC Dialysis Care and Medical Director of Carolina Dialysis in Siler City, Kshirsagar’s clinical practice and research interests are guided by the need to improve the care of … Continued