Nephrology Elective

Director: Gregory Braden, MD

Location: Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA

Goals

This clerkship offers the student an opportunity to participate in an active nephrology program.  Students will perform consultation on patients with a variety of acute renal problems including acute kidney injury, electrolyte and acid base disorders, nephrolithiasis, hypertension emergencies, hematuria and proteinuria, and chronic kidney disease.  The student will become familiar with all forms of extracorporeal therapies including intermittent hemodialysis, ultrafiltration, and continuous dialysis modalities.  Emphasis will be placed on clinical presentation of renal disease, differential diagnosis, physiologic mechanism of disease, and approaches to management.  

Objectives

The student will:

• learn how to perform and interpret urinalysis and estimates of glomerular filtration rate
• learn an approach to the diagnosis and management of chronic kidney disease
• learn an approach to the diagnosis and management of acute kidney injury
• understand the causes and treatment of electrolyte disorders, especially hyponatremia and hyperkalemia
• participate in daily noon renal conferences
• develop skills in presentation and write-up of nephrology subspecialty cases
• learn the indications for and complications of extracorporeal therapies
• improve skills in the evaluation and management of hypervolemia and hypovolemia
• enhance understanding of emergent hypertensive disorders and their treatment
• get experience in the treatment of patients with kidney transplants

If you would like to apply for this elective, please refer to Application Process.