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Nephrology Curriculum

The nephrology fellowship training program at the Saint Louis University 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 Saint Louis University 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.