Previous Award Recipients

CARMEN PERALTA, MD (2007-2008) As an American Kidney Fund-Amgen Clinical Scholar at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Peralta's research examined the roles that individual genetic ancestry and socioeconomic status play in chronic kidney disease, and how these factors impact the progression to end stage renal disease. In July 2008, Dr. Peralta joined the faculty of the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.

TAMMY BRADY, MD, MHS (2006-2008) As an American Kidney Fund-Amgen Clinical Scholar from Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Brady investigated whether an automated computerized algorithm increased the recognition of elevated blood pressures in an urban primary pediatric clinic setting.  Dr. Brady also worked to identify the modifiable risk factors associated with poor physician recognition of elevated blood pressures during well-child visits and determine the prevalence of hypertension in the stated population over a twelve month period. She was awarded Best Clinical Abstract at the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology annual meeting in 2007 for her work on this project.  In July 2008, Dr. Brady will join the faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor.

ORLANDO GUTIERREZ, MD, MMSc (2006-2008) As an American Kidney Fund-GENZYME Clinical Scholar from Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Gutierrez examined novel connections between disorders of phosphorus metabolism and cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease.  In addition, Dr. Gutierrez examined racial differences in phosphorus metabolism in healthy patients and in those with chronic kidney disease.  Dr. Gutierrez was named the 2008 Valedictorian of the Scholars in Clinical Science Program at Harvard Medical School. In July 2008, he will join the faculty of the University of Miami School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor.
 
JEFFREY FADROWSKI, MD (2005) As an American Kidney Fund-Amgen Clinical Scholar at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Fadrowski examined the type of vascular access in a cohort of pediatric hemodialysis patients and the relationship between the type of vascular access and the frequency of infection and hospitalization. In late 2005, Dr. Fadrowski joined the faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor and was awarded NIH's K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award and the National Kidney Foundation's Young Investigator Grant Award.

KRISTA LENTINE, MD, MS (2004-2005) As an American Kidney Fund Clinical Scholar at Washington University School of Medicine in Missouri, Dr. Lentine explored registry data from the USRDS, OPTN and Medicare to investigate the risk, predictors and outcomes of cardiovascular disease events after kidney transplantation.  During her CSN fellowship she completed a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology degree from Stanford University. Dr. Lentine is now Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Center for Outcomes Research and the Division of Nephrology at Saint Louis University. Since completing her CSN fellowship, she has earned a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Loan Repayment Award for Clinical Research and a five-year Career Development (K-series) Award from the NIH National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases for her active interests in the cardiovascular complications of kidney disease.

ERIC TAYLOR, MD (2004-2006) As an American Kidney Fund-Genzyme Clinical Scholar at the Brigham and Women's Hospital of Massachusetts, Dr. Taylor evaluated novel risk factors for kidney stone formation. During his fellowship, he completed his Masters of Science in Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Taylor is now an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a faculty member of the Renal Division at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is the recipient of a 5 year NIH career development award.

YOSHIO HALL, MD (2003-2005) As an American Kidney Fund–Amgen Clinical Scholar at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Hall investigated differential outcomes among Asian and Pacific Islander Americans with ESRD. During his fellowship, Dr. Hall completed the UCSF Advanced Training in Clinical Research Program and is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington-VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
 
KAREN SMIRNAKIS, MD, PhD (2003- 2005): As an American Kidney Fund Clinical Scholar at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Smirnakis’ research interests focused on the prevention of end-stage renal disease by early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus. Her project examined postpartum screening for diabetes among women with a history of gestational diabetes. Dr. Smirnakis completed a Masters of Public Health degree from the Harvard School of Public Health. She is currently working at Amgen.

MANJULA KURELLA TAMURA, MD, MPH (2002-2004): As an American Kidney Fund-Genzyme Clinical Scholar at the University of California San Francisco, Dr. Kurella Tamura focused on the impact of chronic kidney disease in the elderly. Her proposal focused on cognitive function in elderly patients with advanced renal failure. Dr. Kurella Tamura received a Master of Public Health degree from University of California, Berkeley. Currently, she is Assistant Professor in Residence in the Division of Nephrology at the University of California, San Francisco and continues her research focus on functional outcomes among elderly persons with kidney disease.

JEFFREY RUBEL, MD (2001-2003):  As an American Kidney Fund-Amgen Clinical Scholar at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Rubel evaluated the effectiveness of established guidelines for treating and preventing coronary artery disease, and the ability of health care providers to successfully implement these strategies.  Dr. Rubel completed a Master of Public Health degree from the Harvard School of Public Health.
 
HOLLY J. KRAMER, MD, MPH (2000- 2002):  As an American Kidney Fund Clinical Scholar at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Kramer conducted what may be the first study to investigate the effects of hormone replacement therapy on morbidity and mortality in post-menopausal women with ESRD.  Also during her CSN fellowship, Dr. Kramer completed a Master of Public Health degree from the Harvard School of Public Health. She is now a faculty member at Loyola University in Chicago.

PRESTON S. KLASSEN, MD (2000-2001): As an American Kidney Fund Clinical Scholar at Duke University, Dr. Klassen conducted an in-depth study of the relationship between blood pressure and clinical outcomes in dialysis patients.   Dr. Klassen had the unique opportunity to spend part of his fellowship at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Baltimore, Maryland.  Also during his fellowship, Dr. Klassen completed the requirements for a Master of Health Science degree at the Duke University Clinical Research Training Program. Dr. Klassen was previously on the faculty of Duke University Medical Center and is now working for Amgen.

LIAM CASSERLY, MD, MSc (1999-2001):  As an American Kidney Fund-Amgen Clinical Scholar at Boston Medical Center, Dr. Casserly conducted a study of hypertensive heart disease among ESRD patients and completed a Master of Science degree in epidemiology and biostatistics at Boston University’s School of Public Health. He is now an academic nephrologist in Ireland.

CHI-YUAN HSU, MD, MSc (1998-2000):  As an American Kidney Fund Clinical Scholar at Massachusetts General Hospital and later at the University of California, San Francisco, he completed a study of the risk factors for chronic renal insufficiency.  During his fellowship Dr. Hsu also earned a Master of Science in Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health.  Dr. Hsu is the Interim Division Chief and Associate Professor in the Division of Nephrology at the University of California, San Francisco.

RULAN S. PAREKH, MD, MPH (1997-1999):  As an American Kidney Fund-Amgen Clinical Scholar at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Dr. Parekh conducted a study of cardiovascular mortality in children with ESRD.  She also completed a Master of Public Health degree, with a concentration in biostatistics and clinical research.  Dr. Parekh is Assistant Professor of Nephrology in both the Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Parekh is a Trustee of the American Kidney Fund and serves on the CSN committee.

LYNDA SZCZECH, MD (1996-1997):  As an American Kidney Fund Clinical Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Dr. Szczech studied the impact of post-transplant antibody therapy on kidney transplant survival. Dr. Szczech is on the faculty of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. She also serves on the CSN Committee.

RAVI THADHANI, MD, MPH (1995-1998): As an American Kidney Fund-Amgen Clinical Scholar at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Thadhani conducted research on pregnancy-related kidney disease and earned a Master in Public Health degree.  Dr. Thadhani is the Director of Clinical Research in Nephrology at the Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

DAVID M. KATES, MD, MHSc (1994-1996):  As an American Kidney Fund Clinical Fellow at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Dr. Kates studied cardiovascular disease in ESRD patients.  He now combines patient care with teaching and clinical research as the Head of the Division of Nephrology at Kelowna General Hospital in Kelowna, British Columbia.
 
GLENN M. CHERTOW, MD, MPH (1993-1995) As an American Kidney Fund-Amgen Clinical Scholar at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Dr. Chertow conducted research on nutrition and kidney disease and earned a Master’s Degree in Clinical Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health.  Dr. Chertow is currently Professor of Medicine and Chief, Division of Nephrology at Stanford University School of Medicine.  Prior to joining the faculty at Stanford, Dr. Chertow served with distinction on the faculties at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School (1995-98) and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) (1998-2007).  Dr. Chertow has established a successful career as a clinical investigator and continues to maintain a productive research program focused on improving care for persons with acute and chronic kidney disease.  He was Vice Chair and member of two workgroups for the Kidney Disease Quality Outcomes Initiative (K/DOQI) and Associate Editor of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.  Dr. Chertow received the 2007 National Torchbearer Award from the American Kidney Fund for his contributions toward improving the lives of persons with kidney disease.  He also serves on the CSN Committee.

DAVID A. ROTH, MD, MSCE (1992-1994):  As an American Kidney Fund Clinical Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Roth conducted research on renal disease among African Americans and earned a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology degree.  He subsequently served on the faculty at Temple University School of Medicine.  Dr. Roth currently is on the staff of GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals in Philadelphia.

REBECCA L. HEGEMAN, MD, MPH (1991-1993):  As an American Kidney Fund Clinical Scholar, Dr. Hegeman researched renal failure in transplantation and completed classes required for a Master of Public Health. Dr. Hegeman is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Iowa College of Medicine in Iowa City.  She was the Medical Director of the Dialysis Program at the University of Iowa from 2003 to 2007 and is currently the Vice Chair of Clinical Programs for the Department of Internal Medicine.

GARY C. CURHAN, MD, ScD (1990-1992):  As a Kidney Fund Clinical Scholar, Dr. Curhan conducted studies focusing on kidney stones. This research has served as the foundation for the ground-breaking kidney stone research that Dr. Curhan currently pursues at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.  Dr. Curhan has published over 100 articles to date. He is a Trustee of the American Kidney Fund and Chair of the CSN Committee.

RHONDA B. RUBIN, MD (1989-1991):  As an American Kidney Fund Clinical Scholar at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY, Dr. Rubin studied the impact and special needs of AIDS and HIV infected patients in dialysis units. Dr. Rubin is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.

STEPHEN R. SMITH, MD, MHS (1989-1991):  As an American Kidney Fund Clinical Scholar at Duke University School of Medicine, Dr. Smith studied the effects of potassium chloride supplementation on blood pressure among elderly patients. Dr. Smith is a Professor of Nephrology, the Director of the Nephrology Training Program, and Medical Director of the Kidney Transplant program at Duke.

MARIA E. FERRIS, MD, MPH, PhD (1989-1991):  As an American Kidney Fund Clinical Scholar at the University of California, San Diego, Dr. Ferris studied congenital renal and urinary tract conditions. Dr. Ferris is an associate professor of pediatrics and a nephrologist at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Dr. Ferris is also a Trustee of the American Kidney Fund and serves on AKF’s education and CSN committees.