Welcome to the Division of Nephrology! Our mission is to provide world-class care and advanced treatment options for patients with kidney-related conditions while fostering innovation in clinical research and medical education. As a well-rounded nephrology division, our trainees get exposure to our acute kidney disease service, chronic/ end stage kidney disease service and transplant services. Our trainees also participate in core conferences, pathology conferences and Grand Rounds presentation presented by faculty, as well as in case conferences, research conferences, journal clubs, vascular access conference, and transplant conferences. At our core, we believe in a patient-centered approach that focuses on collaborative care and holistic support, ensuring everyone receives the best possible treatment and guidance tailored to their unique needs, throughout the four hospitals in our health system.
Our multidisciplinary team of nephrologists, advanced practice providers , and healthcare coordinators works closely with patients, their families, and referring physicians to deliver comprehensive kidney care — from managing chronic kidney disease and hypertension to providing plasmapheresis, dialysis and transplant services. Our trainees can rotate through specialty areas such as glomerulonephritis clinics, peritoneal dialysis clinics, interventional nephrology suites and transplant clinics. They can also participate in onco-nephrology elective rotations at University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. We are also committed to advancing kidney health through research initiatives that aim to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The division has M.D. and PhD faculty dedicated to the research mission with several federally funded research grants and contracts, as well as industry funded studies. Our trainees have opportunities to learn about research – from bench scientist, clinical researchers as well as research with large datasets done by our health services researchers.
We welcome you to explore our resources and services.
Welcome to the webpage of the Division of Nephrology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. The division is dedicated to providing the highest level of patient care, training the next generation of academic nephrology leaders, and to conducting research and innovation that will lead to improved patient outcomes and quality of life. The Division was the third center in the United States to offer chronic dialysis care, being a leader in home hemodialysis and also having a renal transplant program.
OUR HISTORY
The Division of Nephrology began under the leadership of Drs. Gene Sarles and Ray Remmers in the early 1960s. It was the third center in the United States to offer chronic dialysis-being a leader in home hemodialysis and a renal transplant program. During
their leadership, UTMB Nephrology was a leading center for the development and provision of state of the art care of the renal patient. In 1984, Dr. Thomas DuBose assumed leadership and was instrumental in attracting numerous basic science investigators
to the division including Drs. David Good, Rich Gurich, Elsa Bello-Reuss, and Robert Beach. During this decade, the division assumed a premier role in the physiologic understanding of the kidney. Dr. Beach followed from 1990-1994 and continued the
development of the division as a leader in research and clinical care. Dr. Robert Safirstein became director from 1994-1998 and brought new cell biology investigations to the division. In recent history, the division was led by Dr. John Badalamenti,
1998-2000, Elsa Bello-Reuss from 2000-2004, Dr. Robert Beach from 2004-2008. In 2008, Hurricane Ike devastated Galveston and the hospital and clinics were closed for an extended period. In spite of this devastation, the division survived and provided
patient care and education as Dr. Beach assumed both responsibilities and opened a clinic to maintain patient access. Dr. John Badalamenti resumed direction of the division in 2010 and has overseen its growth and prominence to date.
OUR MISSION
The Mission of the Nephrology Division of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston is
dedicated to providing the highest level of patient care, training the next generation of academic nephrology leaders, and to research and innovation that will lead to improved patient outcomes and quality of life.
Our faculty members are committed to providing leading-edge diagnosis and treatment for the entire spectrum of renal disease, with expertise in chronic kidney disease, polycystic kidney disease, renal transplantation, renal pathology, hemodialysis, glomerulonephritis,
peritoneal dialysis, electrolyte and acid-base disorders, and kidney stones. We are dedicated to ensuring compassionate, high quality care to patients with end-stage renal disease.
On this site you will find links to physician bios and Curriculum Vitaes;
information about our Fellowship Program and other educational
endeavors, the location of our outpatient clinics and information about the inpatient units in the John Sealy towers, various ongoing research projects and how to contact us if you have any questions.
OUR EDUCATION
The Division of Nephrology’s strength and distinction has been at the level of medical school education with the Renal Fluid and Electrolyte (RFE) Course for the second-year medical students. This is a problem-based (not lecture-based) basic and
clinical science renal course that has been well-received by the UTMB Curriculum Committee and the medical students who have participated. The Nephrology Fellowship Program has adapted aspects of the RFE Course to develop a Core Curriculum that is
problem-based and has been well-received by fellows and faculty. Faculty participate in other medical school courses, such as POM 2, with excellent evaluations. We offer nephrology fellowship training. A one-year transplant nephrology fellowship has
been recently supported by UTMB GME.