nephrology training
Meetings
ASN Board Review Course
This annual course 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/brcu/
ASN Kidney Week
This is the premiere nephrology meeting in the world. It is devoted to education about the latest developments in nephrology research as well as extensive updates on current issues in clinical nephrology. It is held annually in the fall.
http://www.asn-online.org/kidneyweek/
ASN Highlights
ASN Highlights, held at different locations throughout the winter, provide a comprehensive overview of the previous Kidney Week meeting. 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. A personalized Q & A session with the faculty melds these intellectual discussions with the practicing nephrologist. There is a fee for attending these meetings.
http://www.asn-online.org/highlights/
Mount Desert Island National Course for Renal Fellows
As renal research focuses increasingly on specific regulatory processes, single molecules, or on clinical outcomes, renal fellows and junior faculty researchers in nephrology are losing touch with fundamental concepts of homeostasis and the classical experiments which form the foundation of renal physiology and nephrology. This course will reinvigorate trainees' understanding of these basic concepts through hands-on experiments in a research laboratory. In this course, trainees will perform experiments involving both classical physiological models such as toad urinary bladders and shark rectal glands. For more information about the course, click here.
Other Meetings
There are numerous other meetings dealing with kidney disease, the delivery of kidney-related health care, and careers in nephrology. For information about some of these meetings, visit the following sites:
American Heart Association High Blood Pressure Research Meeting - This annual meeting, held in the fall, focuses on advances in basic and clinical research related to hypertension.
American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology (ASDIN) Annual Meeting - This annual meeting examines research and practice issues related to interventional nephrology. The goal of ASDIN is to promote the proper application of new and existing procedures to improve the care of patients with kidney disease.
American Society of Transplantation (AST) meetings - AST holds several meetings, including an annual Transplant Congress, Fellows Symposium and others.
International Podocyte Conference - The 9th International Podocyte Conference, the most respected and influential international conference in the field of podocyte study, will bring together renowned researchers from around the world on April 22-25, 2012 in Miami, FL to focus on current and future advances in the area of experimental and clinical podocyte diseases. Glomerular diseases remain the leading cause of kidney disease. The last few years have seen a surge of discoveries in podocyte cell biology demonstrating the crucial role of this cell in the glomerular filtration barrier. The goal of the 2012 conference is to share the latest clinically relevant research on kidney podocytes. For additional information about the Conference and to register, please visit: www.podocytemiami.org.
International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) University for Fellows - ISPD holds several PD University meetings for Fellows throughout the year. The courses are targeted specifically at fellows and typically last 2.5 days.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases conferences and workshops - The NIH hosts a variety of conferences and workshops, some of which are targeted at new investigators, minorities and trainees. These meetings are not scheduled on a regular basis, so it is best to check the website periodically for newly announced meetings.