Nephrology Fellowship
Our fellowship is supported by the resources of Los Angeles General Medical Center, Keck Medical Center of USC and the DaVita-USC Kidney Dialysis Center. The curriculum consists of inpatient block rotations, providing the opportunity to study and participate in a variety of models of renal health care delivery with exposure to a diverse spectrum of clinical nephrology, including the glomerulonephritides, acid-base and electrolyte disorders, acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, kidney transplantation, urgent-start peritoneal dialysis and bedside ultrasound.
In addition, fellows are assigned to a longitudinal clinic in a community-based outpatient environment. The curriculum also includes a core curriculum lecture series, Renal Grand Rounds, journal club, case conference, transplant conference and research conference. An outstanding faculty provides fellows with excellent mentors and role models.
We also offer transplant fellowship training to applicants who have already completed nephrology fellowship training and are interested in specializing in transplant nephrology.
Thank you for your interest in our program. Please do not hesitate to contact us, if you have any questions.
Quick Links
Kenneth R. Hallows, MD, PhD
Chief, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension
Director, USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center
Kenneth.Hallows@med.usc.edu
Hui Yi Shan, MD
Nephrology Fellowship Program Director
HuiYi.Shan@med.usc.edu
Lodel Yerro Caplan, MHA, Fellowship Program Administrator
Nephrology and Renal Transplant Fellowship Programs
Lodel.Caplan@med.usc.edu
Main: (323) 409-3566
How to Apply
We accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) at https://www.aamc.org/students/residents/.
Our institution will sponsor candidates with J1 visas.
Clinical Training
Clinical training is comprised of exceptional clinical experiences in both inpatient and outpatient nephrology.
Inpatient Experience
With rotations in two tertiary care academic centers, fellows are trained in Intensive Care Unit nephrology, continuous renal replacement therapies, glomerular disease, urgent-start peritoneal dialysis, renal transplant, nephrology care in nonrenal solid organ transplantation, renal disorders in pregnancy, onco-nephrology and many other areas covering the full spectrum of clinical nephrology.
Fellows receive excellent training and ample exposure to nephrology procedures, including both native and transplant kidney biopsies, temporary hemodialysis catheter placement and removal of tunneled hemodialysis catheters.
Fellows rotate on the consult services at both Keck Medical Center of USC and Los Angeles General Medical Center. In addition, fellows also rotate on the renal transplant service at Keck Medical Center.
Hospitals
Keck Medical Center of USC
Four hundred bed tertiary care hospital, with multiple ICUs, including MICU, CT-SICU, CCU, Neuro ICU, and SICU.
Large abdominal transplant program, including a nationally recognized renal transplant program equipped with electronic medical records
Los Angeles General Medical Center
Six hundred bed tertiary care hospital, with trauma center, burn unit, CCU, MICU, SICU, and Neuro ICU. Long history of providing care to the community and underserved populations
Equipped with Electronic Medical Records.
Outpatient Experience
Clinic
A longitudinal ambulatory experience allows fellows to care for an individual panel of patients over the course of fellowship. This longitudinal experience fosters patient-physician partnership and provides exposure to the evolution of renal disorders. Fellows gain experience in the assessment and management of secondary hypertension, acid-base and electrolyte disorders, lupus nephritis, as well as glomerulonephritides, chronic kidney disease, onco-nephrology and renal transplant.
Outpatient Dialysis
Fellows receive training in outpatient in-center hemodialysis and home dialysis modalities. With a stellar home dialysis program, fellows participate in the care of approximately 100 peritoneal dialysis patients and receive training in urgent- start peritoneal dialysis. Our peritoneal dialysis program has received national recognition.
Summary of Rotations
Keck Hospital ICU Consult Service
Fellows gain exceptional exposure to the breadth of inpatient consultative critical care nephrology, including continuous renal replacement therapy, acute kidney injury, fluid and electrolyte management and onco-nephrology. Learning is further enhanced by a nationally recognized liver transplant program, cancer center, and Heart Failure and Ventricular Assist Device Program.
To further enhance the fellowship training experience and optimize work-life balance, there is a nurse practitioner nephrology service, which covers additional patients in the hospital directly with a nephroloogist attending to ensure that patient volume for the fellows is not excessive.
Keck Hospital Transplant Service
Fellows gain crucial experience taking care of renal transplant patients, as a member of a thriving and nationally recognized kidney transplant program.
Los Angeles General Medical Center Consult Services
Fellows lead a consultative team comprised of internal medicine residents and medical students, which provides an excellent opportunity to teach. As a tertiary care referral center, fellows gain exposure to the full spectrum of nephrology, including glomerulonephritides, complex acid-base and electrolyte disorders, continuous renal replacement therapy modalities and urgent start-peritoneal dialysis. Fellows truly receive exceptional clinical training in this diverse clinical environment.
Night Float
We are committed to the education and well-being of our fellows. The implementation of a night float call schedule has eliminated the weekday call system to improve fellows’ quality of life, enhance educational experiences and reduce work hours during training.
Procedure Rotation
Fellows rotate on a procedure rotation, which provides additional exposure to interventional nephrology procedures such as tunneled hemodialysis catheter insertion, biopsies, fistulograms, and fistula/graft declotting procedures.
Rotation Schedule
Postgraduate Year 1
- 12 weeks of Los Angeles General Medical Center
- 6 weeks of Keck Hospital of USC
- 8 weeks of transplant nephrology
- 6 weeks of night float
- 6 weeks of procedure
- 6 weeks of research
- 4 weeks of outpatient dialysis
- 4 weeks of vacation
Postgraduate Year 2
- 10 weeks of Los Angeles General Medical Center
- 8 weeks of Keck Hospital of USC
- 4 weeks of transplant nephrology
- 6 weeks of night float
- 6 weeks of procedure
- 8 weeks of research
- 4 weeks of outpatient dialysis
- 4 weeks of vacation
Rotations are four weeks in duration, unless otherwise stated above.
* During the first year of fellowship
**During the second year of fellowship
Conferences
Nephrology Fellowship training is further enhanced by a comprehensive and structured curriculum that includes both didactic and hands-on bedside teaching. Special care is taken to ensure that our didactic curriculum provides each fellow with a broad-based fund of knowledge that complements the outstanding clinical teaching delivered in both the inpatient and ambulatory settings.
Core Curriculum Conference: a concentrated series of didactic lectures delivered weekly on the essential topics covering the breadth of nephrology
Clinical Case Conference: a weekly case-based series on important topics in nephrology, often involving the critical elements for diagnosis
Board Review Conference: a monthly conference dedicated to reviewing board review questions tailored to the learning needs of fellows
Renal Grand Rounds: a weekly clinical-based conference given by a faculty expert
Journal Club: a monthly series focused on interpreting and critiquing the medical literature. Fellows are mentored by our expert faculty.
Research Conference: a monthly conference that focuses on the pathophysiology of renal disorders and highlights cutting-edge basic science research from both local and visiting professor faculty
Transplant Conference: a monthly series focused on key concepts and updates in renal transplantation
Visiting Professor Grand Rounds: Once every one to two months, outside national speakers who are recognized experts in clinical nephrology or research in kidney disease are invited to give seminars for the division.
Educational Resources
USC Nephrology Online Library
The didactic curriculum is further enhanced by access to an extensive online medical library, including an online portal dedicated to nephrology fellow education. This online portal includes an extensive body of nephrology literature that has been compiled by our faculty, with fellows in mind.
Research
Fellows in nephrology are given specific training in research design, the USC Institutional Review Boards’ approval and assistance with the process of writing and submitting manuscripts. Mentored by our distinguished faculty, fellows are encouraged to explore research projects, presentations and writing opportunities in order to foster professional development and promote critical thinking.
Fellows have successfully presented posters at national scientific meetings and have published book chapters, review articles and journal articles. To learn more about the nephrology division’s research, please visit the
USC/UKRO Research Center site.
Fellows
Current Fellows
2nd Year Fellows
- Win Win Hlaing, MD – Residency: Kern Medical Center
- Jim Nguyen, MD – Residency: The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education
- Syed Shahid, MD – Residency: Los Angeles General Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency Program
- James Weltman, MD – Residency: Valley Hospital Med Center
- Viktoriya Yanchuk, MD – Residency: Internal Medicine Skagit Valley Hospital
1st Year Fellows
- Thanh Cao, MD – Residency: Valley Hospital Med Center
- Annika Khine, MD – Residency: Los Angeles General Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency Program
- Tiffany Truong, MD – Residency: University of Texas Health Science Center
- Rangashree Varadarajan, MD – Residency: Honor Health Scottsdale
Jobs of Recent Graduates 2018
- USC nephrology faculty
- Cedars-Sinai
- Large nephrology private practice in Los Angeles
- Transplant Fellowship at USC
- Transplant Fellowship at University of South Florida/Tampa General Hospital
Previous 3 years
- UCSF transplant fellowship
- Kaiser Permanente
- Kaiser Permanente
- Private practice in Michigan
- Cedars-Sinai
- Loma Linda nephrology faculty
- Large group practice in Los Angeles
- Private practice in Kansas
- USC nephrology faculty
- UCLA nephrology faculty
- Private practice in Cleveland