The Nephron Segment: A Kidney Podcast: Recent Episodes
Samira Farouk, Sam Kant, Elinor Mannon, Matthew Sparks
Welcome to The Nephron Segment: A Kidney Podcast, where nephrology is always concentrated, sometimes convolute, but never dilute. Join a group of nephrons as we try to push the boundaries of kidney medicine.
It’s Episode 17 of The Nephron Segment and it's time for NephMadness! Join us as we chat with NephMadness writers Dr. Steven Clapp & Dr. Alyssa Steitz, and Director of Rare Genetic Kidney Diseases at the University of Alabama Birmingham, Dr. Eric Wallace. We discuss the fierce NephMadness 2026 Genetics Region competitors: Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Masqueraders & Fabry Treatment. How can we spot the PKD wanna-bes? What's new in the treatment of Fabry disease? And how do you say Fabry? Fab-ray? Fab-ree?
Listen to the end to hear everyone's picks for NephMadness 2026. Before you make your picks, check out the Genetics Region scouting report here. Or flip a coin or pick your favorite region image.
Submit your NephMadness brackets at nephmadness.com (just like March Madness!) by 3/31. Maximize your changes by submitting 2 brackets per email address.
Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk
Guests: Steven Clapp, Alyssa Steitz, Eric Wallace
It’s Episode 16 of The Nephron Segment and it's time for NephMadness! Join us as we chat with transplant nephrologist Dr. Swee Levea & transplant surgeon (and obesity medicine specialist!) Dr. Babak Orandi and discuss the obesity in kidney transplant recipients and kidney transplant donors! Listen to the end to hear everyone's picks (except any Blue Ribbon Panelists) for NephMadness 2025. Before you make your picks, check out the Obesity & Kidney Transplant Region here. Or flip a coin.
Submit your NephMadness brackets here (just like March Madness!) by 3/31. Maximize your changes by submitting 2 brackets per email address.
Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk
Guests: Swee Levea, Babak Orandi
It’s Episode 15 of The Nephron Segment! We sit down with David Rush: rapper, singer, songwriter, motivational speaker, kidney patient, kidney advocate, and 2022 recipient of the American Society of Nephrology President's Medal. He shares his inspiring journey with kidney disease, which began in 10th grade right before football season - and journey through which he has been able to complete a 52 city tour with Pitbull. If you don't already know, you'll learn what a battle rap is, what a home hemodialysis machine sounds like while it's warming up, and where the name Rush comes from.
Check out is debut single "Shooting Star" (from 2008) here
Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk
Guests: David Rush
1:11: David Rush
3:39: Alonzo Mourning
4:16: Sock it to Kidney Disease
9:38: Kidney Care Options
10:37: Battle Rap
11:42: Shady Records
12:33: Nems
14:22: 2009 Tour Poster
25:10: American Kidney Fund 2023 Summit
29:12: American Society of Nephrology President's Medal
32:46: David Rush on Spotify
It’s Episode 14 of The Nephron Segment! Join us as we chat with Dr. Mehmet Sukru Sever and Dr. Rasha Rashan and discuss disaster nephrology and kidney care during crises. To summarize Dr. Sever tells us "disasters are inevitable. And All countries around the globe are at risk of disasters, either natural or man made." We discuss what we might learn from prior disasters, what do expect in the future, and what we should do, as a nephrology community, to prepare for the worst.
Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk
Guests: Mehmet Sukru Sever, Rasha Rashan
1:44: Marmara earthquake (1999)
2:35: Bingöl earthquake (2003)
2:44: Bam earthquake (2003)
2:57: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
4:07: Some of Dr. Sever's Papers
4:35: "Destructive Disasters, trauma, crush injury, and beyond"
9:42: Kidney News 2024 Special Section
13:10: "Disasters & Kidney Care: Pitfalls and Solutions" (Nature Reviews Nephrology 2023)
16:31: "An Overlooked, Possibly Fatal Coronavirus Crisis: A Dire Need for Kidney Dialysis" (New York Times 2020)
19:23: "Nephrology Care in Challenging Circumstances: A Patient's Perspective" (Kidney News 2024)
19:59: Syrian refugee crisis
22:08: Refugees & asylees in the United States
25:49: National Kidney Foundation's "Emergency Resources"
26:35: Announcement: ASN, ISN, ERA Collective Effort (2023)
29:06: "Planet Sets Record for Hottest Day Twice in a Row" (2024)
29:12: A review of CKD of unknown etiology (CKDu)
29:49: UEFA Euro 2024
It’s Episode 13 of The Nephron Segment and it's time for NephMadness! Join us as we chat with transplant nephrologist Dr. Roslyn Mannon & transplant hepatologist Dr. Elizabeth Aby and discuss all things dual-organ transplantation: liver-kidney, pancreas-kidney, kidney after liver, kidney after pancreas, or even kidney alone?! Listen to the end to hear everyone's picks for NephMadness 2024.
And to be clear, Dr. Mannon supported the Kansas City Chiefs before their Super Bowl 58 win.
Submit your NephMadness brackets here (just like March Madness!) by 3/31. Maximize your changes by submitting 2 brackets per email address.
Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk
Guests: Roslyn Mannon, Lizzie Aby
In Episode 12, Dr. William Cushman, co-investigator of the 2015 SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention) Trial, joins us for a discussion all about hypertension trials, their long history, and what's ahead for research in this space. Too young to remember SPRINT or looking for a "CliffsNotes" of HTN trials? This episode's for you!
Here's a Renal Fellow Network post from 2017 with a link to a cheat sheet of hypertension clinical trial.
Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk
Guests: William Cushman, Medical Director & Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee
Links from the Show:
00:41: Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (2015)
02:17: VA Cooperative Study (1967)
05:13: ACCORD Study (2010)
06:30: SPRINT MIND (2019)
08:40: Framingham Heart Study (Started 1948)
11:27: Attended vs. unattended blood pressure – learnings beyond SPRINT(2021)
14:03: Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program Study (1989)
14:05: Hypertension Detection & Follow Up Program (1979)
15:32: JNC 8 Guidelines (2014)
16:01 AHA/ACC Guidelines (2017)
17:54: Syst-Eur (Treatment of HTN in Patients > 60 y, 1998)
17:54: HYVET (Treatment of HTN in Patients > 80 y, 2008)
18:01: Syst-China (2000)
22:18: AAFP HTN Guidelines (2022)
22:40: KDIGO HTN Guidelines (2021)
25:37: ALLHAT Study (2002)
32:22: Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes Trial (SPS3, 2013)
In Episode 11, guests Jordy Cohen & Samir Parikh (and members of the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week Education Committee) join us for a discussion about Kidney Week 2023 and their careers as physician-scientists. They discuss their journeys to their current careers, what inspired them to pursue nephrology ("beautiful ribbons of anti-GBM"), and share their advice for trainees.
For more on Kidney Week 2023, here's a Doximity op-ed.
Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk
Guests: Jordy Cohen, Samir Parikh
Links from the Show:
02:03: PLA2R & Membranous Nephropathy (2009)
04:03: Sflt-1
05:05: FLOW & GLP-1
05:55: ACC HTN Guidelines (2017)
09:33: Bill McKibben Plenary: Too Hot & Inhuman Temperatures
10:45: Climate change & heat stress nephropathy
11:00: Ardem Patapoutian Plenary: How Do You Feel? The Molecules that Sense Touch
13:03: Obesity & RAS Activation (Mice)
On Episode 10, we celebrate Earth Day with guests Dr. Katherine Barraclough & Dr. Megha Salani who share with us the startling amount of waste that both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis generate, what climate change means for kidney disease, and what we can do to protect our planet and "go green."
Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk
Guests: Katherine Barraclough, Megha Salani
NephMadness 2020: Green Nephrology Region
NephMadness 2020: The Time for Nephrologists to Tackle Climate Change is Now
On Episode 9, guests Dr. Mitchell Lunn and NephMadness 2023 Transgender Health Region writer Dr. Sehrish Ali join us for a discussion of why the 2 teams in this region should win this year's NephMadness crown: Kidney Care for the Transgender Patient and Gender Affirming Care. We discuss what gender affirming care really means, challenges of glomerular filtration rate estimation in those who are transgender, 3 categories of transitioning: social, medical, & surgical - and that there is no singular transition path for transgender people. Our guests and the Nephrons also share their bracket picks for this region. Which team is your pick? Submit your brackets and try to match the Blue Ribbon Panel's bracket at nephmadness.com by the end of March 2023.
On Episode 8, guests Dr. L Parker Gregg and patient advocate Nichole Jefferson join us for a conversation about the importance of mental health in patients with kidney disease. Nichole shares with us the importance of attention to mental health and her journey from hemodialysis to peritoneal dialysis to 2 kidney transplants. We also discuss recent and upcoming research in this area.
Links from the Show:
04:05: Rates of depression among patients with kidney disease
06:10: National estimates of mental health needs among adults with chronic kidney disease
06:41: The overlap of uremia and depression
09:28: The transition from dialysis to transplant
13:48: The CAST trial: effect of sertraline in patients with chronic kidney disease
14:42: The ASCEND trial: cognitive behavioral therapy vs sertraline in patients on hemodialysis
17:46: Adverse effects associated with antidepressant use in patients with chronic kidney disease
21:16: Resources for support for patients with kidney disease
23:06 CONCORD study: Combination of Novel Therapies for CKD Comorbid Depression
On Episode 7, guests Dr. Crystal Tyson and Dr. Annabel Biruete dive deep on diet and kidney health: why it matters for patients with kidney disease, how patients can be empowered to make dietary choices that may promote kidney health, and..what's the PLADO diet?
Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk
Guests: Crystal Tyson, Annabel Biruete
Show notes coming soon!
In Episode 6, guests Catherine Godson, PhD & Kirk Campbell join us for a discussion about their careers as physician-scientists. They discuss their journeys to their current careers, the "moment" they knew research was the career for them, and share advice for trainees. American Society of Nephrology 2022 Kidney Week Program Co-Chairs Dr. Godson & Dr. Campbell also give us a sneak peak into this year's conference, which starts November 3rd.
Nephrons: Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk
Guests: Catherine Godson, Kirk Campbell
In Episode 5, guests Terri Murrray, RN and Jonathan Armenti, RN join us for a discussion about the role of nurses in dialysis and kidney transplantation in the care of patients with kidney disease. They discuss their journeys to their current careers, challenges faced by our patients, the hardest parts of their jobs, and recommendations on how we can improve kidney care.
Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk
Guests: Terri Murray, Jonathan Armenti
Links from the Show:
1:42 The experience of being a dialysis nurse
5:47 Role of the transplant coordinator
8:59 Challenges faced by patients receiving dialysis
14:43 Care coordination for patients receiving dialysis
16:12 Improving care for patients with kidney transplants
16:44 Importance of social support in kidney transplantation
18:06 Living kidney donation awareness
19:21 Building trust with patients
19:55 Empathetic validation in patient-provider communication
22:55 The emergence of home dialysis
24:35 The focus on patient reported outcomes
27:50 Social support: imperative for patients receiving dialysis
31:32 Nutrition in kidney disease
32:48 Educating patients about their disease and improving involvement in their care
34:19: Patient and care-partner empowerment
On Episode 4, guests Dr. Genzton Hall and Dr. Narjust Florez join us for a conversation about their journeys in medicine and the importance of diversity, inclusion, and the creation of communities to foster acceptance and belongingness. Dr. Florez shares why the term "cultural competency" should be forgotten - and replaced with "cultural humility."
On Episode 3, guests Morgan Reid & Patrick O. Gee PhD, JLC join us to share their journeys as patients with kidney disease - who received both dialysis and kidney transplants. They share incredibly powerful personal experiences and their advice for kidney healthcare providers
Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk
Guests: Morgan Reid, Patrick O. Gee
Links from the Show:
3:05 Delayed graft function
5:27 Peritoneal Dialysis
7:10 IgA nephropathy
9:57 Lupus nephritis
11:00 Living kidney donor evaluation process
12:00 Mistrust, misperceptions, and miscommunication: A qualitative study of preferences about kidney transplantation among African-Americans
13:00 Social media & living kidney donation
16:00 Health Literacy in African-American Communities: Barriers and Strategies
17:37 Social determinants of health & NephMadness (Patrick O. Gee)
18:00 Chronic kidney disease classification
23:55 African-Americans suffer from highest rates of end stage kidney disease (ESKD) in comparison to other racial ethnic groups
25:11 The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South
26:24 Donate life
26:30 Living donor protection act
26:55 Clinical trials seek to fix their lack of racial mix
34:00 National Kidney Foundation peer mentoring program for patients with kidney disease (NKF PEERS)
36:05 Vaca frita
On Episode 2, guests Dr.Janice Lea and Dr. Osama El Shamy join us for a discussion about home dialysis: it's history, why it's important, and their thoughts the future - including addressing of barriers to meet lofty Advancing American Kidney Health initiative goals and training of the nephrology workforce.
Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk
Guests: Janice Lea, Osama El Shamy
Links from the Show:
2:44 A Brief History of Home Hemodialysis (Blagg C)
4:26 The First US Outpatient Dialysis Unit: Seattle Artificial Kidney Center (Blagg C)
4:48 Dr. Albert Babb and the home dialysis unit for a 15 year-old
6:04 Controversy re: first home hemodialysis case (Shaldon)
11:13 Home Versus Facility Dialysis and Mortality in Australia and New Zealand (Marshall et al.)
11:13 An Incident Cohort Study Comparing Survival on Home Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis (Naudeau-Fredette et al.)
18:59 Advancing American Kidney Health
20:50 USRDS 2021 Annual Data Report Chapter 2: Home Dialysis
21:30 Expanded Prospective Payment System and Use of and Outcomes with Home Dialysis by Race and Ethnicity in the United States (Shen et al.)
23:05 Expanding Utilization of Home Dialysis: An Action Agenda From the First International Home Dialysis Roundtable (Mendu et al.)
29:29 Home Dialysis Training for Fellows: Privilege or Necessity? (El Shamy et al.)
31:18 A Survey-Based Evaluation of Self-Perceived Competency after Nephrology Fellowship Training (Berns et al.)
34:52 The Peritoneal Dialysis Orders Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE): A Formative Assessment for Nephrology Fellows (Prince et al.)
43:19 Buttonhole Technique
For more on home hemodialysis, check out the Home Dialysis Series on Renal Fellow Network
It's Episode 1 of The Nephron Segment! Join the Nephrons as we chat with Dr. Lilia Cervantes and Dr. Peter Reese and discuss ending emergency-only dialysis for undocumented immigrants in Colorado, ethics of transplantation, and xenotransplantation.
Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk
Guests: Lilia Cervantes, Peter Reese
Links from the Show:
11:20 Association of Citizenship Status With Kidney Transplantation in Medicaid Patients
11:51 Kidney transplantation in undocumented immigrants with ESRD: a policy whose time has come? (Linden et al.)
Organ donation among undocumented hispanic immigrants: an assessment of knowledge and attitudes (Baru et al.)
12:23 Undocumented immigrants apply for a driver’s license in CA
13:48 Racial disparities in preemptive waitlisting and deceased donor kidney transplantation: Ethics and solutions (Reese et al.)
20:25 Transplantation Ethics (Robert Veatch & Lainie F Ross)
When Death Becomes Life: Notes from a Transplant Surgeon (Joshua Mezrich)
22:06 Peter Ubel & Financial Toxicity
26:23 Passage of the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act—a Chance to Celebrate and Reflect (Gill J et al.)
28:57 eGenesis
30:05 Pig kidney transplant at New York University (NY Times)
Pig kidney transplant at University of Alabama (American Journal of Transplantation)
30:53 Pig heart transplant at University of Maryland (NPR)
38:02 EMTALA
41:30 NephMadness