The Kidney Chronicles: A Pediatric Nephrology Podcast

Episode 24: Post-transplant FSGS Recurrence

Dr. Katherine Twombley, professor and chief of pediatric nephrology at the Medical University of South Carolina, shares her knowledge on FSGS recurrence after transplant. She discusses the diseases that cause FSGS and her strategy for managing these complex patients. Dr. Twombley is the director of dialysis and kidney transplantation, and does clinical research in the area of transplant. She is involved with leadership roles both in ASPN and AST.
If you have any feedback or would like to come onto the podcast, please email doctoremilyz@gmail.com

Episode 23: Transplant Directorship

As part of the leadership series of podcast episodes, this episode discusses life as a pediatric kidney transplant director. Dr. Jodi Smith, Seattle Children's transplant director and ASPN president, Dr. Gina Barletta, Phoenix Children's transplant director, and Dr. Sarah Kizilbash, co-host and University of Minnesota transplant director, talk about why and how they got to be transplant director, their program's structure, strengths, weaknesses and the greatest joys of their job. 
For more information about the ASPN transplant interest group, check out this link https://aspneph.org/transplant-interest-group/ or email jodi.smith@seattlechildrens.org
For information about UNOS, check out the calendar of events https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/news/calendar-of-events/ 
For UNOS requirements to become a transplant physician, check out this link https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/media/2785/membership_requirements-for_pediatric_components.pdf 

Episode 22: Leadership from Academia to Pharma

Join us in our discussion with Dr. Deepa Chand, who is a pediatric nephrologist, former dialysis and division director, and now director of patient safety in immunology at Novartis. She also continues to practice pediatric nephrology at the University of Illinois-Peoria. She talks about her journey to where she is today, behind-the-scenes information regarding drug development and approval, and provides practical advice that is valuable for clinicians and researchers alike.  

Episode 21: Division Directorship

This is the first episode in our leadership series! We talk with Drs. Sudha Garimella, associate professor of pediatrics at Prisma Health, and Priya Verghese, professor of pediatrics at Lurie Children's/Northwestern University about their roles as division directors in pediatric nephrology. They discuss their career paths, challenges and rewards of the job, tips for recruitment and general leadership advice, helpful for all pediatric nephrologists! 
 
ASNP

Episode 20: Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders

Dr. Vikas Dharnidharka, Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Nephrology Division Director at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, shares his extensive knowledge on PTLD (post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders) in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. He is the first author of a PTLD textbook (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-65403-0) and has published numerous studies and guideline recommendations on the subject. We discuss the pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, work-up, treatment and prognosis of PTLD in this episode.
References
North American Pediatric Renal Trials and Collaborative Studies Registry (NAPRTCS) and Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium (PNRC) studies regarding the advantages of lower dose thymoglobulin induction therapy in kidney transplantation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32903852/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33912749/
International Pediatric Transplant Association (IPTA) PTLD guidelines
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36369733/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36369745/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37294621/
 

Episode 19: IgA Nephropathy- Adult versus Pediatric Perspectives

We have two fantastic Canadian guest nephrologists discussing IgA nephropathy on this episode. Dr. Sean Barbour is an adult nephrologist and associate professor at the University of British Columbia. He is a glomerulonephritis and epidemiology expert and serves as the chair of the British Columbia GN Committee and Registry. He developed and validated the IgA clinical prediction tool for both adults and children and has participated in the TESTING and NefIgArd clinical trials. Dr. Alexandra Cambier is a clinician-scientist and an associate professor of pediatric nephrology at Montreal University. She also worked on the pediatric IgA prediction tool and has numerous publications regarding biomarkers and genetic variants in children with IgA nephropathy. 
Publications that we discuss in this episode-
IgA prediction tool validation:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30980653/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35490842/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33220356/
 
CD89 in childhood IgA nephropathy:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34756952/
 
IgA nephropathy therapies in children:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34756952/
 
Targeted-release budesonide in adults with IgA nephropathy:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36270561/

Episode 18: Applying to Pediatric Nephrology Fellowship

Join us for this special episode regarding how to apply for pediatric nephrology fellowship. We will give residents the inside scoop on succeeding in landing their top match in the application and interview process! Guests on this podcast are pediatric nephrology program directors- Drs. Erum Hartung (CHOP), Julie Goodwin (Yale), Elizabeth Ingulli (UCSD/Rady Children's), Carla Nester (University of Iowa) and current pediatric nephrology fellows- Emily Zangla (University of Minnesota), Carlos Becerril-Romero (Lurie Children's), Emilia Cadiz (Emory), Uche Nwaogazie (CHOP), and Kelly Garrity (UCLA).
Questions? Reach out to Emily at doctoremilyz@gmail.com 
 

Episode 17: Neonatal Dialysis

Join us for the discussion on neonatal dialysis with expert Dr. David Askenazi from the University of Alabama who pioneered the adaptation of the Aquadex machine to infants!
 
We cover acute kidney injury, the utilization of peritoneal dialysis, CRRT, Aquadex and Carpediem in neonates and the logistics behind the use of these novel new machines. 
 
To get involved, visit the Neonatal Kidney Collaborative website at: https://babykidney.org/ 
High-yield papers on neonatal AKI and dialysis:
AWAKEN Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29732396/
Aquapheresis case series in children: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31462396/ 
CRRT vs. Carpediem outcomes: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34414499/ 

Episode 16: The Golden Age of Lupus Nephritis

Dr. Brad Rovin, director of the Division of Nephrology and the Vice Chair of Research in Internal Medicine at the Ohio State University, discusses recent advances in lupus nephritis treatment. Dr. Rovin is deputy editor of Kidney International and the co-chair of glomerular disease guidelines for KDIGO. He has published many major landmark nephrology clinical trials in lupus nephritis (listed below), which he highlights in this episode. It's the "golden age" of lupus nephritis treatment! 
Papers we discuss:
BLISS (Belimumab) https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2001180 
AURORA (Voclosporin) https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(21)00578-X/fulltext 
LUNAR (Rituximab) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/art.34359 
NOBILITY (Obinutuzumab) https://ard.bmj.com/content/81/1/100 
TULIP-LN (Anifrolumab) https://ard.bmj.com/content/81/4/496 
Also check out https://kidney.wiki/ pediatric nephrology platform created by Ryan Town, a fellow from Stanford! 
 

Episode 15: Everything You Need to Know About Membranous Nephropathy

(*OK, maybe not EVERYTHING, but a very thorough and worthwhile review!)
Dr. Michelle O'Shaughnessy, a consultant nephrologist at Galway University Hospitals in Ireland, and Dr. Tiffany Caza, a renal pathologist at Arkana Labs, give us the high-yield points on membranous nephropathy, in both pediatric and adult patients! They are both well published and have excellent clinical experiences to share with listeners. 
Check out Michelle's Cure GN paper on membranous treatment in children: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31844809/ 
Check out Tiffany's newest paper on novel membranous antigens: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36638888/