UTMB Health has launched a new multidisciplinary clinic designed to streamline care for patients with some of the most complex autoimmune diseases affecting the kidneys.
Led jointly by Tina Kochar, MD, in the Division of Nephrology, and Raai Mahmood, MD, in the Division of Rheumatology, the new Vasculitis and Glomerulonephritis (GN) Clinic brings nephrology and rheumatology together in a single visit to improve care coordination, treatment decisions, and outcomes.
Vasculitis and lupus-related kidney disease are inherently complex and often involve overlapping pathology across multiple organ systems. Patients frequently require close collaboration between nephrology and rheumatology, particularly when managing conditions such as lupus nephritis and ANCA-associated vasculitis, a group of rare, serious autoimmune diseases characterized by antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA).
“Historically, we were already working closely together, calling each other from clinic, sending fellows back and forth, and adjusting treatment plans in real time,” Dr. Mahmood says. “The natural next step was to formalize that collaboration by seeing patients together.”
By consolidating expertise into a single clinic visit, the team aims to reduce inconsistencies in treatment plans, accelerate clinical decision-making, and provide patients with a clearer, more cohesive care strategy.
The Vasculitis and GN Clinic is one of the few combined nephrology–rheumatology clinics in the region and is currently the only one of its kind in the UTMB service area.
“These are very sick patients, and treatment decisions are often urgent and high‑stakes,” Dr. Kochar says. “Having both specialties in the room gives us greater confidence that we’re choosing the right therapy at the right time, especially now, when there are more FDA‑approved treatment options than ever before.”
In addition to physician collaboration, the clinic is supported by a highly trained multidisciplinary team at the Town Center location in League City, including experienced nurses, patient service staff, and a dedicated pharmacist who is familiar with immunosuppressive therapies and insurance authorization requirements.
For patients, the combined clinic model means fewer separate appointments, better coordinated treatment plans, and quicker adjustments to therapy when disease activity changes.
For referring providers, it offers a clear destination for patients with suspected or confirmed autoimmune kidney disease – without requiring multiple referrals or prolonged back‑and‑forth between specialties.
“As we like to say in Nephrology, ‘Time is nephrons,’” Dr. Kochar notes. “Delays in diagnosis or treatment can lead to irreversible kidney damage. Our goal is to get these patients evaluated and treated as quickly as possible.”
Primary care providers and hospital‑based clinicians should consider referral for patients with:
- Unexplained hematuria or proteinuria
- Rapidly worsening kidney function
- Suspected or confirmed lupus with renal involvement
- Signs or symptoms concerning for systemic vasculitis (e.g., rash, inflammatory arthritis, elevated inflammatory markers, AKI)
Both physicians emphasize that early referral is critical, even when the diagnosis is uncertain.
“We’d rather evaluate a patient early and send them back with guidance than see them after significant disease progression,” Dr. Mahmood says.
Referrals currently come primarily from within UTMB, but the team is actively working on streamlining referral pathways and expanding education for primary care and inpatient providers.
Beyond patient care, the clinic also serves as an important educational initiative, offering fellows and trainees exposure to multidisciplinary decision‑making in complex autoimmune disease.
“This really is a win for everyone: patients, trainees, and referring providers,” Dr. Kochar says. “And we’re just getting started.”
The Vasculitis and GN Clinic is held the third Tuesday of each month at Town Center in League City. Additional clinic sessions may be added as demand grows.
For questions about referrals, clinicians are encouraged to reach out directly to the Nephrology or Rheumatology teams.
 |  | Tina Kochar, MD, and Raai Mahmood, MD, see patients at the joint Vasculitis and Glomerulonephritis Clinic at Town Center in League City. |