Referring Providers
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Division of Nephrology
Nephrology Care, Research and Education
The Division of Nephrology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) provides individualized, comprehensive and compassionate care for patients with any type of kidney disorder, including kidney stones and kidney failure. We are one of the world’s leading research centers on the study and treatment of kidney disease, and offer Nephrology fellowship programs to train the next generation of physicians.
The Division of Nephrology works closely with the Transplant Institute to manage pre- and post-kidney transplant care and with Joslin Diabetes Center to treat kidney-related diabetes complications.
More About the Division
Care & Services
The Division of Nephrology is dedicated to providing exceptional care for kidney-related conditions in both outpatient and inpatient settings.
Our outpatient clinic offers:
- Comprehensive Evaluations: Thorough assessments for chronic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis, and hypertension.
- Personalized Treatment Plans: Tailored strategies, including medication management and dietary counseling.
- Kidney Genetics Center: Access to advanced genetic testing and counseling for hereditary kidney diseases, helping guide treatment options.
For hospitalized patients, we provide:
- Acute Care Management: 24/7 support for acute kidney injuries and electrolyte imbalances.
- Advanced Surgical Expertise: Specialized procedures like kidney biopsies and dialysis access.
- Multidisciplinary Approach: Collaborative care with other specialists to address complex cases effectively.
Multidisciplinary Kidney Transplant Expertise
BIDMC’s Transplant Institute has one of the oldest and most respected kidney transplant programs in the region. Our longstanding affiliation with the world-renowned Joslin Diabetes Center promotes excellence in kidney care.
Education & Training
The Department of Medicine's Medical Education programs include a robust array of opportunities, with our Nephrology fellowship programs standing out as a cornerstone of our educational offerings. These fellowships include:
- Nephrology Fellowships
- Nephrology Transplant Fellowships
Our educational programs are among our program’s greatest strengths. Our faculty are recognized locally, nationally and internationally for their excellence in medical education. They serve as core educators in our fellowship program, BIDMC’s Internal Medicine Residency Program and at Harvard Medical School.
Our educational mission is to train the future leaders of nephrology. The nephrology training program at BIDMC offers a dynamic mix of clinical care as well as basic and translational research, using novel educational approaches in a warm and nurturing environment. Whether our trainees provide superlative care, perform clinical or laboratory research or take on educational roles, our fellowship program provides the tools necessary to chart the future of our specialty.
Research
As one of the world’s leading research centers on the study and treatment of kidney disease, BIDMC’s nephrology research is at the forefront of innovation and discovery.
History
Decades before Boston’s Beth Israel and New England Deaconess hospitals came together as Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, each was a leader in health care with a long history of personalized patient care and community service. In 1996, the two hospitals merged to form BIDMC. Today, with nearly three quarters of a million patient visits each year in and around Boston, BIDMC is rated among the top hospitals in the country in patient care and National Institutes of Health funding.
Like BIDMC, the Division of Nephrology has a rich and remarkable history, boasting an impressive lineage of members and leaders.
When the Harvard Medical Service at Boston City Hospital closed, nephrologists at the Thorndike Laboratory—led by Franklin Epstein, one of the “fathers of nephrology”—joined the Beth Israel Hospital Renal Unit, then directed by Howard Frazier. When Dr. Epstein became Chief of Medicine in 1975, the unit grew considerably under his leadership and that of Robert S. Brown and Patricio Silva (Acting Chiefs of clinical and research activities, respectively).
In 1981, Dr. Epstein returned to his nephrology roots as the Chief of the Division. Vikas Sukhatme took his place in 1992, and four years later guided Nephrology through the merger between Beth Israel and New England Deaconess Hospitals.
The current division formed in 1999, when Joslin Diabetes Center’s Renal Division joined BIDMC’s. After Mark Zeidel, Chairman of Medicine, served as Acting Chief from 2007 to 2010, Martin Pollak became Chief of Nephrology; and, in 2014, following Robert Brown’s 40 years of service, Bradley Denker assumed the position of Clinical Chief.
Our training program in academic nephrology is supported in part from an NIH T32 grant that has been active for the past 40 years. Dr. Stewart Lecker has been the Program Director since 2008 and was joined by Dr. Jeffrey William as the Associate Program Director in 2018.
