University of Wisconsin Interventional Nephrology Fellowship

• Exposure to cutting-edge technologies and techniques
• Balance of service and procedure time ensures clinical skills are maintained
• Robust didactic schedule with highly involved faculty.

• Dedicated one-year program in a high-volume academic center with opportunities to practice in both university and private practice settings
• Opportunity to do research in dialysis access care and present at national meetings

We accept two fellows per year. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until both positions fill, though to ensure your application is considered, you should submit your application by the end of September.

As a part of your application, you will be asked to upload a current CV, personal statement (cover letter), and three references; one of your references must be the Program Director of your general nephrology fellowship program.

Apply Now!

We are currently accepting applications. As a part of your application, you will be expected to upload your current CV, a cover letter (personal statement) and a list of three references from individuals that would be able to complete a questionnaire or provide a letter of recommendation for you; one of your references should be your Nephrology Fellowship Program Director. For more information, please contact:

Derek Strom
Program Manager

University of Wisconsin interventional nephrology fellowship graduates have gone on to outstanding careers in both academic and private settings. Several have successfully established new vascular access programs in their practices.

View list of recent graduates (PDF)

• Micah Chan, MD, MPH
• Andrey Vavrenyuk, MD

All Nephrology faculty

Didactic Experiences

You'll have access to all general nephrology didactics and conferences, plus these didactic sessions and teaching methods:

• Teaching Interventionalist lecture series (weekly) 
• Journal Club (quarterly)
• Vascular access care conference/M&M (monthly)
• Procedural teaching (daily)

Clinical Procedure Requirements

• 100 angiograms
• 100 angioplasties
• 100 tunneled catheters
• 25 PD catheters
• 25 thrombectomies
• 10 native biopsies (may transfer from previous program)
• 10 transplant biopsies (may transfer from previous program)

Scholarly Activity

• Research. You'll conduct research with interventional nephrology faculty in dialysis access care. You are expected to present abstracts at national meetings and to publish manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.
• Teaching. You'll have the opportunity to teach general nephrology fellows, medical students and internal medicine residents who rotate with Nephrology throughout the year. You may also choose to lead small and medium group discussions as a part of the medical school’s renal course each year.
• Educator Development. The Department of Medicine's Fellow Medical Education (FAME) Training Track trains fellows to become effective clinician-teachers and scholars. 

Fellows are mentored by the program director and by Micah Chan, MD, a nationally renowned leader in interventional nephrology.

Aims

At the end of the training year, fellows will be able to:

1. Demonstrate expertise in vascular access management
2. Demonstrate expertise with all endovascular procedures involving dialysis vascular access
3. Understand the potential complications that can occur with endovascular procedures and how to effectively manage them
4. Understand the techniques available to implant a PD catheter
5. Understand and manage potential complications of PD catheter placement
6. Understand the basic elements and operation of ultrasonography equipment
7. Understand how to perform venous mapping
8. Demonstrate the ability to perform native or transplant kidney biopsy
9. Understand how to perform kidney, bladder, and urinary system ultrasound
10. Understand the concept of endovascular AV fistula creation, patient screening and post procedure maturation process.
11. Understand basic radiation physics
12. Understand the effects of radiation exposure and the methods to decrease risk
13. Become familiar with radiation monitoring
14. Understand the operation of fluoroscopy equipment
15. Understand the principles of epidemiology and clinical research design
16. Be able to apply research to clinical practice
17. Understand the principles of biostatistics in research
18. Understand the principles of ethics in research
19. Understand all aspects of office and personnel management
20. Be familiar with medical insurance and reimbursement
21. Excel at billing and coding interventional nephrology procedures
22. Demonstrate the ability to independently manage an outpatient vascular access center

The program is accredited by the American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology (ASDIN). At the end of their training, fellows have enough experience to receive ASDIN certification in both hemodialysis vascular access procedures and peritoneal dialysis catheter placement.