nephrology training
ASN Distance Learning
Board Review Course & Update (fee charged)
This is the online version of the annual ASN Board Review Course that is patterned after the ABIM Nephrology Board and Maintenance of Certification Examination. For fellows, it is the primary preparatory course for the ABIM's initial certification.
http://www.asn-online.org/education_and_meetings/distancelearning/brcu.aspx
Core Knowledge Questions (requires log-in)
Core knowledge questions help prepare fellows for Board Certification in addition to being a general learning tool. A set of questions on different topics in nephrology, along with detailed answers, are published on the website on a bimonthly basis.
http://www.asn-online.org/education_and_meetings/nephsap/core/
Geriatric nephrology curriculum
This curriculum, developed by ASN members, consists of a comprehensive course in geriatric nephrology. It entails over 30 chapters, each of which is followed by several questions to assist in self-evaluation. It is an excellent resource to help fellows learn about an area in nephrology which is generally not widely covered in textbooks.
http://www.asn-online.org/education_and_meetings/geriatrics/
Nephrology Self-Assessment Program (requires log-in)
The mission of the Nephrology Self-Assessment Program (NephSAP) is to regularly and continually provide a vehicle that is useful for clinical nephrologists who seek to renew and refresh their clinical knowledge and diagnostic and therapeutic skills. This journal consists of a series of challenging, clinically oriented questions based on case vignettes and a detailed syllabus that reviews recent publications. Taken together, these two parts should assist the individual clinicians in the self-assessment of their strengths and weaknesses in the broad domain of nephrology.
NephSAP is also available in hard copy; it is mailed to all recipients of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. The website provides access to current and archived NephSAP editions.
http://www.asn-online.org/nephsap/
Renal Weekends Online
Renal WeekEnds, held at different locations throughout the winter, provide a comprehensive overview of the previous Renal Week meeting. This site provides the opportunity to access the material presented at Renal Weekend on-line. The fundamental aspects of the basic sciences that have potential for future integration into clinical medicine are presented alongside translational research and novel clinical breakthroughs in renal medicine. Six disciplines of nephrology are presented by respective experts in this format: acute kidney injury, kidney transplantation, hypertension, end-stage renal disease, glomerular disorders, and clinical nephrology. State-of-the-art information is cogently gauged against the prevailing body of knowledge, in evidence-based fashion, and summarized succinctly.
http://www.asn-online.org/education_and_meetings/distancelearning/rwe.aspx
Other Learning
These sources provide learning opportunities for fellows. ASN is providing links to them as a service to fellows, however ASN does not necessarily endorse these programs.
Business Practice
Renal Physicians Association Business Practice Curriculum for Fellows - This site contains PowerPoint presentations with accompanying audio that review the major issues related to nephrology business practice, including related health care policy, funding, billing, and other topics.
Dialysis Vascular Access
Atlas of Dialysis Vascular Access (Tushar Vachharajani, MD, Wake Forest University). This site contains an atlas of dialysis vascular access that deals with tunneled catheters, arteriovenous fistulas, and arteriovenous grafts.
Vascular Access Bruit Sounds (Tushar Vachharajani, MD, Wake Forest University) - This site contains vascular access sounds that are characteristic of normal and pathologic conditions. You can also directly download the files below:
Epidemiology
Epidemiology ABCs – Kidney International (requires membership) - This site provides access to a series of articles that cover the basics of epidemiology.
General Nephrology and Dialysis
American Journal of Kidney Disease Core Curriculum in Nephrology - This site provides, in outline format, instruction in the core curricular areas in nephrology.
American Society of Hypertension Reference List in Clinical Hypertension - This site provides an updated reading list of key articles dealing with clinical hypertension.
Atlas of Diseases of the Kidney - This is an illustration-based resource covering renal physiology and diseases.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital Nephrology Rounds - This site contains nephrology case presentations and discussion.
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapies information - This site provides information on best practices, technical aspects, and other issues related to CRRT.
Henry Ford Chronic Kidney Disease Clinical Practice Recommendations for Primary Care Physicians and Healthcare Providers - This excellent guide provides clinical practice guidelines for CKD care to primary care and other healthcare providers. It contains information that is also of great value to fellows and other trainees.
Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Clinical Practice Guidelines - KDIGO was established in 2003 as an independently incorporated non-profit foundation governed by an international Board. KDIGO is managed by the National Kidney Foundation. Its goals are to improve the care and outcomes of kidney disease patients worldwide through promoting coordination, collaboration and integration of initiatives to develop and implement clinical practice guidelines.
Kidney Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative Clinical Practice Guidelines - The National Kidney Foundation Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (NKF KDOQI) has provided evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for all stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and related complications since 1997.
Peritoneal Dialysis Guidelines - This site provides updated guidelines on the care of peritoneal dialysis patients. It is provided through the International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis.
Peritoneal Dialysis Curriculum (NAC) - This peritoneal dialysis curriculum was developed by the North American Chapter of the International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis. It contains 19 chapters, each of which has a downloadable slide deck, either with or without speaker's notes. Topics include PD anatomy and physiology, PD prescription, assessment of PD adequacy, management and prevention of PD complications, patient education, organization and financing of a PD program, and other areas.
Pathology
AJKD Atlas of Renal Pathology - This site contains renal pathology images along with description of the pathologic appearance.
Renal Pathology Tutorial (University of North Carolina) - This site contains renal pathology images along with relatively detailed description of the pathologic appearance.
Renal Pathology (University of Iowa) - This site has virtual microscopy so the viewer can move the slide like on a real microscope.
Renal Pathology (Brigham and Women’s Hospital) - This site allows viewers to search diagnoses, view a differential and then compare and contrast the entities. If the link does not work directly, search under "renal digest".
Physiology
American Physiological Society Archive of Teaching Resources - This site allows you to search learning and teaching archives related to physiology and anatomy. Once at the site, click on search the archives and enter your topic of interest into the search engine.
Radiology
Renal imaging (Dr. Gillian Lieberman, Beth Israel) - This site contains a library of renal imaging along with indications for doing the radiologic procedures.
Renal images – NephSAP (require log-in) - This portion of the ASN site contains a library of renal images along with descriptions of the images.
Urinalysis
Urinalysis (University of Utah) - This site contains photographs, cartoons and explanations of urinalysis.
Urinalysis (ERA-EDTA) - This 6-part series contains photographs, cartoons and descirptions of urinalysis.