NEPHROLOGY CONFERENCES:
A series of multi-disciplinary conferences provide a framework of instruction to complement the practical training of the post doctoral fellows. These conferences are intended help prepare the fellow for boards and becoming a competent nephrologist. In addition to the post doctoral fellows, others who attend these conferences include members of the nephrology faculty, pediatric nephrologists, community nephrologists, students and residents on nephrology rotation. Conferences are mandatory for all nephrology fellows except when on vacation or away at other conferences. A description of the current conferences scheduled for the nephrology fellowship program is listed below.
CORE LECTURE SERIES:
When: Every Monday & Wednesday for July/August, otherwise every Monday only.
Time: 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Description:
This is a two year course consisting of approximately 80 lectures (40 in year 1 and 40 in year 2). These core tutorial lectures include topics on disorders of fluid and electrolytes; acid base; acute renal failure; chronic renal failure; nutrition; hypertensive disorders; glomeruler & tubulointerstitial renal disease; genetic diseases of the kidney; vascular diseases of the kidney; renal anatomy and physiology; renal diseases associated with systemic disorders; modification of drugs in renal failure; immunology; transplantation; renal replacement therapy with hemo- or peritoneal dialysis; pregnancy and the kidney; geriatric aspects of nephrology; imaging in renal diseases; diagnostic tests of renal disease ; ethical issues of dialysis and transplantation; the impaired physician, patient safety issues etc. This multidisciplinary course is taught by clinical and basic science faculty of Loma Linda University Department of Medicine (especially Nephrology), Pathology, Urology, Radiology, Surgery, Immunology, and Pediatrics and at times from visiting faculty from other institutions. The purpose of this course is to provide a systematic review of clinical nephrology spread over the two year fellowship.
During the first 2 months of fellowship, core lectures will emphasize basic aspects of Nephrology such as hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, renal imaging, urinalysis, basic renal diagnostic tests, emergencies in nephrology for example. These will be repeated on an annual basis.
View core curriculum topics.
RESEARCH CONFERENCE:
When: Second Tuesday of every month
Time: 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Description:
This conference meets once monthly. This conference will be attended by key faculty members of the Nephrology Division of LLUMC and LLUVAMC, plus fellows plus other house staff on nephrology service(s) .Proposed research projects of fellows and/ or attending will be presented and discussed in detail. Any papers, abstracts, poster presentations, other presentations to be made at local or national meetings pertaining to research will be presented/discussed and critiqued by the faculty. At the beginning of each academic year, basics regarding research/including use of biostatistics will be presented. Ideas for new research projects will be discussed. The conference is intended to act as a “springboard” toward involvement in research.
JOURNAL CLUB:
When: Third Tuesday of every month
Time: 8:00 -9:00 a.m.
Description:
This conference meets once monthly and will be presented by fellows and attendings on a rotational basis and will involve in depth review of pertinent articles from nephrology journals. Emphasis will also be placed on assessing the validity of the information and the clinical relevance. This conference will be attended by fellows as well as residents/students on rotation and by faculty members of the Nephrology Divisions of LLUMC and LLVAMC.
HISTOPATHOLGY CONFERENCE:
When: Fourth Tuesday of every month
Time: 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Description:
This conference meets once monthly. Renal biopsies submitted from cases at Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda VA Medical Center or from outlying referring hospitals will be presented. The case presentation will be made by the fellow regarding each case followed by a presentation of the light, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy findings presented by the faculty renal pathologist. The pathologist will make a presentation relative to each case. Fellows, nephrology attending faculty, members of the nephrology teams from both hospitals including residents, and students, and pathology residents will participate in a discussion regarding each case including clinical issues of treatment pertinent to the case. Pediatric nephrologists are often in attendance and pediatric cases are also reviewed. Biopsies of both native and transplant kidneys are presented.
CASE CONFERENCE:
When: Every Thursday (weekly)
Time: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Description:
This weekly conference will be attended by the nephrology faculty, the nephrology fellows and members of nephrology teams from LLUMC and LLVAMC. The pediatric nephrology faculty and community nephrologists also frequently attend. An interesting nephrological case is presented on a weekly basis. Presentation will rotate between a key faculty member and a fellow.
Cases will largely be from the adult nephrology services, but interesting pediatric nephrological cases will also be presented from time to time. Cases will be discussed in detail.
MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY CONFERENCE:
When: Fourth Thursday every other month (part of case conference)
Time: 4:30- 5:30 p.m.
Description:
On odd months, a morbidity/mortality conference will be held. All charts flagged for review from either LLUMC, LLVAMC pertaining to Nephrology/ Renal Transplantation because of concerns regarding untoward results/events or patient mortality will be reviewed; nephrology attending staff and the fellow will review the charts and complete a report detailing quality assessment.
NEPHROLOGY BASIC SCIENCE/PHYSIOLOGY:
When: Every 2nd & 4th Wednesday (Beginning September of each academic year.)
Time: 12:00 -1:00 p.m.
Description:
This conference meets every other week. A predetermined topic, related to basic science/renal physiology will be chosen. The renal fellow(s) will be responsible for having read/studied the topic in advance of the conference. The fellow(s) will then meet to present and discuss the assigned topic with a designated nephrology faculty member.
