Renal-Electrolyte Division

Transplant Nephrology Fellowship

Clinical Training

Working in close collaboration with Transplant Surgeons, Advanced Practice Providers, and Transplant Coordinators, fellows receive comprehensive training in the short- and long-term management of kidney and pancreas transplant patients. The UPMC Transplant Center offers a full spectrum of transplant options, including deceased donor, living donor, paired donor exchange, and altruistic donor programs for both kidney and liver transplantation, as well as combined kidney–pancreas, kidney–liver, and kidney–heart transplants.

The Transplant Nephrology team provides both direct and consultative care across inpatient and outpatient settings. Fellows gain experience in every phase of the transplant continuum—from pre-transplant evaluation and waitlist management to immediate post-transplant care and long-term follow-up.

Comprehensive clinical training includes:

  • Immunosuppressive therapy management
  • General medical management of transplant recipients
  • Prevention and management of acute and chronic rejection
  • Prevention and management of opportunistic infections
  • Prevention and management of post-transplant malignancies
  • Renal biopsy performance and histopathologic interpretation

Didactic Conferences

Fellows participate in a rich array of educational conferences that span the full breadth of transplantation, immunology, and nephrology. These conferences provide opportunities to engage with leading experts, review complex cases, and stay current with evolving research and clinical practices.

Starzl Transplantation Institute (STI) Grand Rounds (weekly): Features internal and external speakers presenting cutting-edge topics across all areas of transplantation.

Transplant Pathology Kidney Biopsy Conference (weekly): Interactive review of kidney transplant biopsies performed during the week, emphasizing histopathologic interpretation and clinicopathologic correlation. 

Transplant Morbidity & Mortality (M&M) Conference (weekly): Multidisciplinary discussion of challenging or instructive cases to promote quality improvement and shared learning.

Educational Lecture Series: Joint sessions for Transplant Surgery and Transplant Nephrology fellows covering essential topics in transplantation medicine and surgery.

Research and Invited Seminars at the Starzl Transplantation Institute: Presentations highlighting current research, innovations, and translational advances in transplantation science.

Annual Starzl Transplantation Institute Research Retreat: A full-day event showcasing ongoing research, collaborations, and emerging directions in transplantation.

Transplant Journal Club: Regular review and discussion of recent and landmark publications in transplantation and immunology. (Weekly)

General Nephrology Educational Series: A weekly core didactic program covering key topics in nephrology relevant to both general and transplant practice.

Department of Medicine Grand Rounds: Weekly presentations on advances in internal medicine and related specialties.

 

For additional information about STI seminars, visit stiresearch.health.pitt.edu/seminars.

For more information, please contact:

Jane Wuenschel
Senior GME Department Manager
412-647-8394
wuenschelj@upmc.edu