
The Nephron Segment: A Kidney Podcast
Welcome to The Nephron Segment: A Kidney Podcast, where nephrology is always concentrated, sometimes convolute, but never dilute. Join a group of nephrons as we try to push the boundaries of kidney medicine.
Latest episodes

Mar 10, 2025 • 0sec
Episode 16: NephMadness & Obesity & Kidney Transplantation
It’s Episode 16 of The Nephron Segment and it's time for NephMadness! Join us as we chat with transplant nephrologist Dr. Swee Levea & transplant surgeon (and obesity medicine specialist!) Dr. Babak Orandi and discuss the obesity in kidney transplant recipients and kidney transplant donors! Listen to the end to hear everyone's picks (except any Blue Ribbon Panelists) for NephMadness 2025. Before you make your picks, check out the Obesity & Kidney Transplant Region here. Or flip a coin.Submit your NephMadness brackets here (just like March Madness!) by 3/31. Maximize your changes by submitting 2 brackets per email address.Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira FaroukGuests: Swee Levea, Babak Orandi

Nov 27, 2024 • 0sec
Episode 15: "Rush" of the Blood: Real Name, Real Life, Real Circumstance
It’s Episode 15 of The Nephron Segment! We sit down with David Rush: rapper, singer, songwriter, motivational speaker, kidney patient, kidney advocate, and 2022 recipient of the American Society of Nephrology President's Medal. He shares his inspiring journey with kidney disease, which began in 10th grade right before football season - and journey through which he has been able to complete a 52 city tour with Pitbull. If you don't already know, you'll learn what a battle rap is, what a home hemodialysis machine sounds like while it's warming up, and where the name Rush comes from. Check out is debut single "Shooting Star" (from 2008) hereNephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira FaroukGuests: David Rush 1:11: David Rush3:39: Alonzo Mourning4:16: Sock it to Kidney Disease9:38: Kidney Care Options10:37: Battle Rap11:42: Shady Records12:33: Nems14:22: 2009 Tour Poster25:10: American Kidney Fund 2023 Summit29:12: American Society of Nephrology President's Medal32:46: David Rush on Spotify

Jul 26, 2024 • 0sec
Episode 14: Disaster Nephrology: Kidney Care During Crises
It’s Episode 14 of The Nephron Segment! Join us as we chat with Dr. Mehmet Sukru Sever and Dr. Rasha Rashan and discuss disaster nephrology and kidney care during crises. To summarize Dr. Sever tells us "disasters are inevitable. And All countries around the globe are at risk of disasters, either natural or man made." We discuss what we might learn from prior disasters, what do expect in the future, and what we should do, as a nephrology community, to prepare for the worst.Nephrons: Matthew Sparks, Samira FaroukGuests: Mehmet Sukru Sever, Rasha Rashan1:44: Marmara earthquake (1999)2:35: Bingöl earthquake (2003)2:44: Bam earthquake (2003)2:57: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)4:07: Some of Dr. Sever's Papers4:35: "Destructive Disasters, trauma, crush injury, and beyond" 9:42: Kidney News 2024 Special Section13:10: "Disasters & Kidney Care: Pitfalls and Solutions" (Nature Reviews Nephrology 2023)16:31: "An Overlooked, Possibly Fatal Coronavirus Crisis: A Dire Need for Kidney Dialysis" (New York Times 2020)19:23: "Nephrology Care in Challenging Circumstances: A Patient's Perspective" (Kidney News 2024)19:59: Syrian refugee crisis22:08: Refugees & asylees in the United States25:49: National Kidney Foundation's "Emergency Resources" 26:35: Announcement: ASN, ISN, ERA Collective Effort (2023)29:06: "Planet Sets Record for Hottest Day Twice in a Row" (2024)29:12: A review of CKD of unknown etiology (CKDu)29:49: UEFA Euro 2024

Mar 7, 2024 • 0sec
Episode 13: NephMadness & Dual-Organ Transplantation: Is 2 Better Than One?
Dr. Roslyn Mannon & Dr. Elizabeth Aby discuss dual-organ transplantation, NephMadness 2024, and the differences between liver-kidney and kidney-pancreas transplants. They explore patient selection criteria, transplant challenges, and the effectiveness of these procedures. The podcast also touches on finding joy outside of work and encourages participation in NephMadness brackets.

Dec 29, 2023 • 0sec
Episode 12: A SPRINT Through HTN Trials
Dr. William Cushman discusses SPRINT Trial & hypertension trials history, blood pressure guidelines evolution, cognitive benefits, & adverse events, highlighting trial outcomes & future insights in managing hypertension.

Oct 24, 2023 • 0sec
Episode 11: Goosebumps & Kidney Week 2023
Guests Jordy Cohen and Samir Parikh, members of the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week Education Committee, discuss their careers as physician-scientists, their inspiration for pursuing nephrology, and share advice for trainees. They also discuss the excitement for Kidney Week 2023, upcoming sessions on environmental health and the body's pressure sensing mechanism, the connection between adiposity and obesity, and the future opportunities at Kidney Week 2023.

Apr 20, 2023 • 0sec
Episode 10: Green Nephrology
Episode 10: Green Nephrology (April 20, 2023)On Episode 10, we celebrate Earth Day with guests Dr. Katherine Barraclough & Dr. Megha Salani who share with us the startling amount of waste that both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis generate, what climate change means for kidney disease, and what we can do to protect our planet and "go green." They also share how they became interested in the burgeoning field of green nephrology, in addition to the considerable carbon footprint associated with KRT. We delved into the pathogenesis of heat induced kidney injury and how climate change is now considered a public health emergency. Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira Farouk Guests: Katherine Barraclough, Megha SalaniNephMadness 2020: Green Nephrology RegionNephMadness 2020: The Time for Nephrologists to Tackle Climate Change is NowLinks from the Show:03:57 Waste associated with hemodialysis treatments 04:31 Carbon footprint generated by plastic waste in dialysis units05:34 Pursuing environmentally conscious dialysis 09:43 Innovative solutions to recycle plastic generated from treatments10:56 Climate change and chronic kidney disease11:10-Association between high temperature and acute kidney injury12:21 Climate change: A Public Heath Emergency13:08 Climate related increase in kidney stones16:22 Solar power assisted dialysis 17:02 Incorporating training in environmental sustainability in medical education21:07 The ISN Green Nephrology Initiative

Mar 1, 2023 • 0sec
Episode 9: Transgender Health & NephMadness 2023
On Episode 9, guests Dr. Mitchell Lunn and NephMadness 2023 Transgender Health Region writer Dr. Sehrish Ali join us for a discussion of why the 2 teams in this region should win this year's NephMadness crown: Kidney Care for the Transgender Patient and Gender Affirming Care. We discuss what gender affirming care really means, challenges of glomerular filtration rate estimation in those who are transgender, 3 categories of transitioning: social, medical, & surgical - and that there is no singular transition path for transgender people. Our guests and the Nephrons also share their bracket picks for this region. Which team is your pick? Submit your brackets and try to match the Blue Ribbon Panel's bracket at nephmadness.com by the end of March 2023. Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira FaroukGuests: Mitchell Lunn, Sehrish AliLinks from the Show:02:13 Growing awareness for gender-affirming care03:15 Lack of evidence based guideline on assessing estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients receiving gender affirming hormonal therapy (GAHT)05:12 Effect of GAHT on kidney function06:42 Creating a welcoming environment for the patient09:17 Addressing patients with the correct pronoun11:50 Health surveys offering limited assessment of gender identity16:57 Lack of post graduate medical training in addressing disparities in LGBTQ+ community 22:50 Acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease in transgender individuals on GAHT25:54 The effect of gender affirming medical interventions on improving mental health 26:27 Gender affirming surgery

Jan 27, 2023 • 0sec
Episode 8: Mental Health & Kidney Disease
On Episode 8, guests Dr. L Parker Gregg and patient advocate Nichole Jefferson join us for a conversation about the importance of mental health in patients with kidney disease. Nichole shares with us the importance of attention to mental health and her journey from hemodialysis to peritoneal dialysis to 2 kidney transplants. We also discuss recent and upcoming research in this area. Links from the Show:04:05: Rates of depression among patients with kidney disease06:10: National estimates of mental health needs among adults with chronic kidney disease06:41: The overlap of uremia and depression09:28: The transition from dialysis to transplant13:48: The CAST trial: effect of sertraline in patients with chronic kidney disease14:42: The ASCEND trial: cognitive behavioral therapy vs sertraline in patients on hemodialysis17:46: Adverse effects associated with antidepressant use in patients with chronic kidney disease21:16: Resources for support for patients with kidney disease23:06 CONCORD study: Combination of Novel Therapies for CKD Comorbid Depression

Nov 29, 2022 • 0sec
Episode 7: Diet & Kidney Health
On Episode 7, guests Dr. Crystal Tyson and Dr. Annabel Biruete dive deep on diet and kidney health: why it matters for patients with kidney disease, how patients can be empowered to make dietary choices that may promote kidney health, and..what's the PLADO diet? Nephrons: Elinor Mannon, Sam Kant, Matthew Sparks, Samira FaroukGuests: Crystal Tyson, Annabel BirueteShow notes coming soon!