Awards & Recognitions
Dr. Jordan Nestor receives 2023 emerging-generation awards from American society for clinical investigation
In 2010, APOL1 G1/G2 risk alleles were found to be associated with higher risk for kidney disease among individuals of West and sub-Saharan African ancestry. This led Dr. Nestor to pursue the mentorship of Dr. Ali Gharavi and Dr. Krzysztof Kiryluk. Her goal is to become an NIH-funded biomedical informatics researcher and serve underrepresented patient communities. In June 2020, Dr. Nestor completed 8 years of post-graduate clinical training to become an expert in kidney genomics. Her research is focused on the development of automated decision support tools in the EHR that will help make clinical genomics more accessible to general nephrologists at the point of care, and enhance opportunities for understudied and underserved patient populations to receive more personalized nephrology care.
Discarded deceased donor kidneys have increased since 2018
The number of discarded deceased donor kidneys has increased in the US since 2018, according to a study by Dr. Sumit Mohan and Dr. Ali Husain mentioned in Healio. The increase occurred across all age groups and most donor profile indexes, including the revised allocation system. Read more here: https://www.healio.com/news/nephrology/20230317/discarded-deceased-donor-kidneys-have-increased-since-2018
Dr. Thomas Nickolas was Elected 2025 and 2027 Gordon Conference Program Chair for meetings on Phosphate Pathobiology
Dr. Prakash-Polet was given ASDIN Vascular Access Mentorship Program Award
Dr. Ali Gharavi was featured in a Nature Outlook Article entitled "The genetic revolution transforming kidney disease"
Genetic testing is becoming an essential tool for kidney disease specialists in identifying the causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and providing guidance for treatment, as well as reproductive genetic counseling. Researchers estimate that genetic testing has a significant impact on about half of people with kidney disease, changing their treatment or transplant pathway. While the role of genetics in CKD is less understood, research has identified certain well-characterized genetic variants that substantially contribute to the risk of CKD in an individual, such as mutations in the COL4A1, PKD1 or PKD2, APOL1 and HNF1B genes. The presence of a variant does not necessarily mean an individual will develop severe CKD, and genetic testing can help diagnose and treat the disease earlier, potentially delaying or preventing the worst outcomes.
Dr. Ali Gharavi was featured in USA Today: "The claim: Rubbing your ears will improve kidney health"
Dr. Ali Gharavi, chief of the nephrology division at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, told USA TODAY he was “very surprised” by the claim linking ear exercises and kidney health. Some rare conditions can affect both kidney function and hearing, Gharavi said. There are also some medications or toxins that can harm the kidneys and cause hearing loss. “However, there is no evidence that changes in ear function impact kidney function."
Advocating for Inclusion: Dr. Maya Sabatello Discusses the Importance of Including Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in Clinical Trials
Dr. Maya Sabatello, a leading bioethicist and disability rights advocate, was recently interviewed by Urte Fultinaviciute for an article published by GlobalData Healthcare. The article, titled "Inclusion of Adults with Intellectual Disability in Clinical Trials," explores the importance of ensuring clinical trials are inclusive and accessible to individuals with cognitive disabilities. https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/features/trial-diversity-cognitive-disability/
Dr. Maya Sabatello joins the ASHG Professional Practice and Social Implications Committee
Dr. Gerald Appel received the 2023 healthcare Hero Award from the National Kidney Foundation of NY
Dr. Maya Rao is the site PI for multicenter RCT: "Best Case/Worst Case: A multisite Randomized Clinical Trial of Scenario Planning for Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease"
The trial is evaluating the use of a visual aid that has been tested in the surgical consent process for elderly and frail patients needing to make the decision about dialysis versus medical management. Our nephrologists have been randomized to use or not use the tool and then patients who have factors that portend a poor prognosis on dialysis are enrolled. We are the 3rd highest enroller of 11 site.
Dr. Andrew Bomback authors "Long Days, Short Years: A cultural history of modern parenting"
Drawing on parenting books, mommy blogs, and historical accounts of parental duties as well as novels, films, podcasts, television shows, and his own experiences as a parent, Bomback charts the cultural history of parenting as a skill to be mastered, from the laid-back Dr. Spock’s 1950s childcare bible—in some years outsold only by the actual Bible—to the more rigid training schedules of Babywise. Along the way, he considers the high costs of commercialized parenting (from the babymoon on), the pressure on mothers to have it all (and do it all), scripted parenting as laid out in How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, parenting during a pandemic, and much more.