Transplant Nephrology Fellowship

Program Overview

Welcome to the Transplant Nephrology Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute (STI). Established in 2013, our program is dedicated to training the next generation of transplant nephrologists. We provide fellows with the clinical expertise, research experience, and leadership skills needed to make meaningful contributions to the fields of kidney and pancreas transplantation.

With the growing number of kidney transplants performed annually and the expanding population of transplant recipients, there is a pressing need for well-trained specialists in transplant nephrology. At UPMC, we are fully committed to fostering a supportive learning environment that maximizes the diverse training opportunities available within our world-renowned institution. UPMC performs approximately 150-200 kidney transplants each year, including multi-organ transplants (kidney–pancreas, heart–kidney, liver–kidney, and lung–kidney). Of these, 30-40% are from living donors, through both direct donation and paired donor exchange programs.

Our fellowship ensures that trainees meet all educational standards set by the American Society of Transplantation while benefiting from a wide range of unique clinical experiences:

• Collaborative inpatient care: Fellows co-manage fresh transplant recipients alongside surgical teams through a structured inpatient rounding system that promotes coordinated, multidisciplinary care. In the outpatient setting, patients are primarily managed by nephrology faculty in collaboration with surgical colleagues.
• Comprehensive outpatient experience: Fellows rotate through busy clinics encompassing all aspects of kidney transplantation, including evaluation, waitlist management, living donor care, and post-transplant follow-up.
• Streamlined waitlist management program: A multidisciplinary team of nephrologists, surgeons, coordinators, social workers, and donor coordinators meets weekly to discuss complex patient cases and optimize transplant readiness.
• Transplant kidney biopsy and pathology: Approximately 400–500 transplant kidney biopsies are performed at UPMC. While biopsies are usually performed by the interventional radiology team, the transplant nephrology fellows will be trained in performing ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsies under the supervision of the fellowship program director. Fellows will review results with pathologists in real time and participate in treatment planning. Weekly pathology conferences reinforce skills in biopsy interpretation and histopathology.
• Dedicated Transplant Intensive Care Unit (TICU): Fellows train in a specialized TICU for abdominal organ transplant recipients, learning from a multidisciplinary team that manages complex liver, intestinal, and multiorgan transplant patients. Consultative experience in renal issues within the TICU broadens exposure to non-renal transplant complications.
• Collaborative APP team: Our experienced Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) support clinical operations and facilitate a smooth transition into the UPMC system, allowing fellows to focus on learning and patient care.
• Educational and research engagement: Fellows participate in a wide range of clinical and research conferences and collaborate with leading basic, translational, and clinical researchers at STI.

While these program elements highlight the depth and breadth of our training, our greatest strength lies in the culture we have built: a collegial, nurturing environment that encourages curiosity, professional growth, and clinical excellence. We believe that your dedication, hard work, and ambition, paired with our mentorship and support, will help you become a confident and well-rounded transplant nephrologist.

We take pride in the achievements of our fellows and the supportive community that defines our program. We hope that, when you look back on your year of transplant nephrology training at UPMC-STI, you will do so with a sense of pride, accomplishment, and fulfillment.

Thank you for your interest in our program. We wish you the very best in your career as a transplant physician and invite you to reach out with any questions.