2025 Award Recipients
Barbara T. Murphy Award
Michelle A. Josephson, MD, FASN
ASN will present the Barbara T. Murphy Award to Michelle A. Josephson, MD, FASN, on Saturday, November 8. This award is named for the distinguished nephrologist and late ASN president-elect. It honors leaders who strengthen the foundation of nephrology while advancing the field through innovation, creativity, inspiration, and tenacity.
Dr. Josephson is professor of medicine and surgery at The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, IL. She is director of education for The University of Chicago Medicine Transplant Institute and program director for the Training Program in Transplant Nephrology, the first kidney transplant fellowship in Illinois, which she founded. She also launched The University of Chicago's kidney and pancreas transplantation program in 1992 and served as its medical director until 2023. She built a robust clinical and academic program from the ground up, carefully integrating patient care, research, and education in transplantation.
She has devoted her career to strengthening transplant nephrology care, education, research, and policy, both at her institution and at the national and international levels. That began during her early career, when she worked to address unmet needs in kidney transplant care. Her research has also advanced the understanding of post-transplant bone disease, pregnancy after kidney transplant, and BK virus nephropathy.
Dr. Josephson has held multiple roles at ASN, including president, using her tenure to improve transplant policy and training nationwide. She has also served as ASN secretary, chair of the Policy and Advocacy Committee, and member of the CJASN editorial board. She has held leadership roles in many other organizations, including serving as president of Women in Nephrology, councilor-at-large for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) board of directors, and member of the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) board of directors and executive committee, among others. She is currently a member of the steering committee for ASN's Humanitarian Kidney Support Program and a representative for The Transplantation Society on the International Society of Nephrology–The Transplantation Society Sister Transplant Centers program committee.
Dr. Josephson has received a number of awards for her contributions, including the Michael Reese Lectureship Distinguished Faculty Award from the Biological Sciences Division at The University of Chicago. In 2019, she received the AST Mentoring Award, and in 2022, she received the Richard Yu Endowment Fund Award from the Hong Kong Society of Nephrology. She is a fellow of both AST and ASN.
She earned her medical degree from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. At The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, she completed her residency, as well as fellowships in both clinical and research nephrology and the MERITS (Medical Education Research, Innovation, Teaching, and Scholarship) Fellowship.
Robert G. Narins Award
Biff F. Palmer, MD, FASN
Biff F. Palmer, MD, FACP, FASN, will receive the Robert G. Narins Award on Saturday, November 8, for his extensive contributions in educating and training the next generation of nephrologists.
Dr. Palmer is a professor of education and internal medicine at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. He maintains an adjunct professorship at The University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center, where he was professor of internal medicine for 35 years. He also continues to lead medical student education at The UT Southwestern Medical Center, focusing on renal and genitourinary systems.
Throughout his career, Dr. Palmer has dedicated himself to training nephrologists at every level, including medical students, residents, fellows, and practicing physicians. He mentors medical students on professionalism, ethics, and other topics and aids in the development of medical school curricula. He was recruited in 2024 by the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, which is part of the Texas Tech University System that predominantly serves students from underrepresented populations. In his new position, he mentors students and shapes medical education programs, continuing his lifelong commitment to medical training and expanding his impact in a new institutional setting.
In addition to his work as an educator, Dr. Palmer has authored more than 310 peer-reviewed articles and chapters focused on nephrology, metabolism, and endocrinology. At The UT Southwestern Medical Center, he held a number of leadership positions, including director of clinical nephrology, acting chief of the Division of Nephrology, program director for the Nephrology Fellowship Program, and associate training program director for internal medicine. He is associate editor of the American Journal of Nephrology and serves on the editorial boards of Clinical Nephrology and the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
Dr. Palmer has earned several outstanding teaching awards at The UT Southwestern Medical Center, including the Regents Outstanding Teaching Award and the title of distinguished teaching professor. He is an elected member of the Kenneth I. Shine, MD, Academy of Health Science Education and The UT Southwestern Academy of Teachers. He has also received the Piper Professor Award from the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation and the Distinguished Biomedical Science Educator Award from The UT Southwestern Academy of Teachers, among other honors. He is a fellow of ASN and the American College of Physicians.
Dr. Palmer earned his medical degree from The UT Southwestern Medical Center and then completed a residency in internal medicine and a research fellowship in nephrology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, now Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He also completed a clinical fellowship in nephrology at The UT Southwestern Medical Center-Parkland Memorial Hospital.
Belding H. Scribner Award
Michael Allon, MD
The Belding H. Scribner Award will be tendered on Saturday, November 8, to Michael Allon, MD, for his career-long contributions to the practice of nephrology.
Dr. Allon is a professor of medicine in the Division of Nephrology at the Heersink School of Medicine at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he also serves as the associate director for clinical affairs and the medical director of dialysis operations.
Established in 1995, the Belding H. Scribner Award is presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the care of people with kidney disorders or have substantially influenced the clinical practice of nephrology. Dr. Allon is receiving the award because of his critical impact on kidney disease care, particularly for people receiving hemodialysis.
Throughout his career, Dr. Allon has been the principal investigator for a number of key clinical dialysis trials funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His work has focused on dialysis vascular access, about which he has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, as well as a number of reviews and editorials, which have significantly enhanced the field's understanding. His landmark studies have spurred major advances in vascular access for dialysis, including pioneering the use of preoperative ultrasound vascular mapping and leading the shift toward patient-specific decisions about whether to use arteriovenous fistulas or arteriovenous grafts.
Dr. Allon has served as a member of multiple major scientific advisory boards and guideline committees focused on vascular access, including for ASN; the National Kidney Foundation; the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH; and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. He was chair of the Planning Committee for the NIDDK Hemodialysis Vascular Access Roundtable and for the Vascular Access Project Committee of Nephrologists Transforming Dialysis Safety. He is the inaugural editor-in-chief of Kidney360, for which he will conclude his term at the end of this year, and previously served as associate editor of CJASN.
Dr. Allon received his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. He completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in nephrology at the Emory University School of Medicine.
John P. Peters Award
Harold I. Feldman, MD, MS, MSc, FASN
ASN will recognize the wide-ranging contributions of Harold (Harv) I. Feldman, MD, MS, MSc, FASN, with the presentation of the John P. Peters Award on Friday, November 7. This award is given for outstanding contributions to improving the lives of patients and furthering the understanding of the kidney in health and disease.
Dr. Feldman is deputy executive director for Patient-Centered Research Programs at the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. He is also professor emeritus of medicine and epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Feldman is internationally recognized for his contributions to nephrology research. He led the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study, a large-scale observational study of chronic kidney disease funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, for more than 20 years. The Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study produced a number of highly impactful findings, including the progression and comorbidity burden of chronic kidney disease, as well as its impact on quality of life. To broaden the study's research, Dr. Feldman also established the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Ancillary Studies, resulting in more than 140 independently funded studies, and the International Network of Chronic Kidney Disease, a global network of chronic kidney disease cohorts. He has published more than 350 peer-reviewed articles on topics related to kidney health and disease.
During his tenure at the Perelman School of Medicine, Dr. Feldman chaired the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, the university's largest basic science department. He also led the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program and the Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology program. He is past president of the American College of Epidemiology and has served as scientific adviser for multiple institutions, including the National Kidney Foundation, the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, and the US Renal Data System.
Dr. Feldman has received numerous awards and honors from the University of Pennsylvania, including the Arthur K. Asbury Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award. He is a member of the Association of American Physicians, the American Epidemiological Society, and The American Society for Clinical Investigation. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and ASN.
He received his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine, now Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. He then completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. After residency, he joined the Perelman School of Medicine, where he completed an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation fellowship in clinical epidemiology and general medicine, a fellowship in the Division of Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension in the Department of Medicine, and a master's degree in clinical epidemiology. He completed the Chief Learning Officer program at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. He studied advanced biostatistics and epidemiology at the New England Epidemiology Institute at Tufts University.
Homer W. Smith Award
Katalin Susztak, MD, PhD
Prominent physician-scientist Katalin Susztak, MD, PhD, will be presented the Homer W. Smith Award on Friday, November 7. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to understanding how kidneys function in normal and diseased states.
Dr. Susztak is professor of medicine and nephrology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. She holds secondary appointments in the Department of Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine and in the Department of Pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She directs the University of Pennsylvania Diabetic Nephropathy Program and codirects the Penn-CHOP Kidney Innovation Center. Previously, she was associate professor of medicine and genetics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
She and her research group have made critical contributions toward understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms that underlie chronic kidney disease (CKD). After developing a large human kidney tissue bank, she identified several novel risk genes for CKD, including DAB2, DPEP1, LACTB, and MANBA, highlighting the importance of proximal tubules in regulating kidney function. Her large-scale epigenomic studies have shown the key role of cytosine methylation and other epigenetic changes in CKD. In addition, Dr. Susztak's laboratory was the first to create a single-cell RNA sequencing atlas of the mammalian kidney, revealing the role of certain cell types in CKD. She also launched the Transformative Research in Diabetic Nephropathy consortium, a public–private partnership to understand and treat diabetic kidney disease.
Dr. Susztak has published more than 250 peer-reviewed papers in high-impact journals. She is on the editorial boards of several journals, including JASN, The Journal of Clinical Investigation, Kidney International, and Diabetes.
Dr. Susztak's groundbreaking research has earned her a number of honors, including the ASN Barry M. Brenner, MD, Endowed Lectureship; the Alfred Newton Richards Award from the International Society of Nephrology; and the William Osler Patient Oriented Research Award from the Perelman School of Medicine. She is an elected member of The American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians.
She received her medical and doctoral degrees from Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary. She then completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in nephrology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she also earned a master's degree in clinical research.
Donald W. Seldin Young Investigator Award
Rafael Kramann, MD, PhD, FASN
The ASN-American Heart Association Donald W. Seldin Young Investigator Award will be presented to Rafael Kramann, MD, PhD, FASN, who will speak on “Cell by Cell, Space by Space: Unraveling Fibrosis in the Kidney and Heart” on Friday, November 7.
Dr. Kramann is a professor of medicine and chair of the Department of Medicine's Nephrology, Rheumatology, Immunology, and Hypertension specialties at Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University in Aachen, Germany, where he also founded and directs the Center of Phase Transition in Chronic Disease.
He holds adjunct professorships at Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and at the MDI (formerly Mount Desert Island) Biological Laboratory and The Jackson Laboratory, both located in Bar Harbor, ME. He also holds an honorary professorship at The University of Edinburgh, where he is principal investigator of the British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence.
Dr. Kramann conducts research on chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and organ fibrosis (with a particular interest in kidney fibrosis), with the goal of understanding the mechanisms of disease and developing targeted therapies. He combines a range of research approaches, including multiomics, single-cell analysis, gene editing, genetic fate tracing, and ex vivo disease modeling. He has received numerous major research grants, including funding for a new facility in Aachen dedicated to fibrosis research, and has authored more than 200 scientific publications. He also holds several scientific leadership roles, including chair of the Kidney-Heart-Vasculature Board of the German Society of Nephrology and vice chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the European Renal Association (ERA).
Dr. Kramann has cofounded two biotechnology companies focused on developing treatments for fibrosis. In 2023, he helped launch Sequantrix, which uses single-cell genomics and artificial intelligence to identify drug candidates for treating fibrosis. He also cofounded MatriTarg Laboratories, which won the Harvard University Innovation Lab Deans' Health and Life Sciences Challenge in 2013.
In recognition of his work, Dr. Kramann has received the Stanley Shaldon Award from ERA, the Theodor Frerichs Award from the German Society for Internal Medicine, and the Wilhelm Vaillant Award from the Wilhelm Vaillant Foundation. He is a member of The American Society for Clinical Investigation, an ERA distinguished fellow, and an ASN fellow.
Dr. Kramann completed his medical degree, followed by a residency and renal fellowship, at RWTH Aachen University. He then completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. He also earned a PhD from Erasmus University, where he studied the cellular and molecular basis of organ fibrosis.
President's Medal
Robert M. Califf, MD
Former head of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and distinguished cardiovascular medicine researcher Robert M. Califf, MD, will receive the ASN President's Medal on Saturday, November 8, in recognition of his contributions to clinical research and evidence-based health policy at the national level.
ASN presents this medal to individuals who have advanced the society's mission to fight against kidney diseases by educating health professionals, sharing new knowledge, advancing research, and advocating for patients.
Dr. Califf served as commissioner of food and drugs from 2016 to 2017 and from 2022 to 2025. He stepped down in March 2025. As FDA's top official, he worked to improve the efficiency and inclusivity of clinical trials, advance tobacco regulation, strengthen drug approval and oversight, and prepare the agency to respond to health emergencies. He was the agency's deputy commissioner for medical products and tobacco from 2015 to 2016.
Dr. Califf is also adjunct professor of medicine at the Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, where he previously held the roles of professor of medicine, vice chancellor for clinical and translational research, director of the Duke Clinical & Translational Science Institute, and founding director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute. Between his terms as FDA commissioner, he was head of medical strategy and senior adviser at Alphabet Inc., where he provided strategic leadership for Verily Life Sciences (now called Verily) and Google Health (now called Google for Health).
He has published more than 1300 peer-reviewed articles, including many seminal clinical trials, and is one of the most cited authors in biomedical science. His research has focused on cardiovascular health, such as enhancing acute care for people having a heart attack, as well as improving health outcomes and quality of care for diverse populations. Dr. Califf has also led several efforts to improve the quality and efficiency of clinical trials. He cofounded the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative, a public-private partnership between FDA and Duke that unites regulators, academics, industry leaders, and patient advocates to find practical solutions to pressing challenges in clinical research.
In 2016, Dr. Califf was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine. He has served on numerous advisory committees for institutes and centers at the National Institutes of Health, including for the National Cancer Institute; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; and the National Library of Medicine.
He received his medical degree from the Duke University School of Medicine, where he later completed fellowship training in cardiology. He completed his residency in internal medicine at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Health, affiliated with the UCSF School of Medicine.
Distinguished Educator Award
Benjamin S. Ko, MD
Dr. Ko is associate professor of medicine and associate program director of the Nephrology Fellowship Program in the Section of Nephrology at The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, IL. He also serves as director of the renal biopsy service and is a principal preceptor in the nephrology fellows' clinic at UChicago Medicine. In addition to these roles, he attends on both the general internal medicine and nephrology consultative services.
Dr. Ko's career has focused on medical education at both the institutional and national levels, with particular emphasis on making renal physiology accessible and engaging to learners. He is the lead faculty for ASN's Kidney TREKS (Tutored Research and Education for Kidney Scholars) course in Chicago, which fosters early interest in nephrology among medical and graduate students. He has served on ASN's Workforce and Training and Kidney Week Education committees, as well as the National Board of Medical Examiners Test Development and Materials Committee.
At the Pritzker School of Medicine, Dr. Ko directs the physiology course and has led a significant overhaul of its curriculum to better reflect the needs of modern learners. His excellence in education has been recognized with multiple teaching and mentorship awards. He is a fellow of the Academy of Distinguished Medical Educators.
Dr. Ko has authored several book chapters and society-sponsored guidelines and serves on the editorial boards of Frontiers in Renal and Epithelial Physiology and the American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology. He is a frequently invited speaker on topics related to workforce development and medical education.
Dr. Ko received his MD from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He completed his residency in internal medicine through the Yale School of Medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital and his nephrology fellowship through the Pritzker School of Medicine at UChicago Medicine.
Hitesh H. Shah, MD, FASN
Dr. Shah is a professor of medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in Hempstead, NY, and is senior director of nephrology education in the Division of Kidney Diseases and Hypertension at Northwell Health. He has served as director of the Nephrology Fellowship Program for 18 years and currently leads educational initiatives that have had a significant impact locally and nationally.
Dr. Shah is known for pioneering innovative nephrology educational programs, including Northwell's nephrology tracks within the general fellowship and novel elective experiences for medical students and residents that reflect clinical nephrology practice. His educational leadership and scholarship have been recognized through publications in high-impact journals such as the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, CJASN, and JASN.
Nationally, Dr. Shah has played an integral role in ASN's education efforts. He has served on numerous ASN committees, including the Workforce and Training Committee, Kidney STARS (Students and Residents), and Kidney TREKS (Tutored Research and Education for Kidney Scholars), and has helped create and moderate the Fellows-in-Training Bowl, a flagship ASN Kidney Week event. He is past president of The New York Society of Nephrology.
Dr. Shah has authored more than 85 peer-reviewed articles and 18 book chapters. He was recognized for his dedication to nephrology education with the 2021 Candee Award for Excellence in Education from the Northwell Health Department of Medicine.
Dr. Shah earned his medical degree from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Belgaum, India. He completed an internal medicine residency at Flushing Hospital Medical Center in Queens, NY, and his nephrology fellowship at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, a part of Northwell Health, before joining the faculty.
Distinguished Leader Award
Reem Adel Mustafa, MD, PhD, MPH, FASN
Dr. Mustafa is a professor of medicine in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, where she also serves as director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-designated Evidence-Based Practice and Impact Center. A specialist in evidence-based medicine, she is known for her international leadership in developing and evaluating clinical practice guidelines that improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Mustafa's work integrates internal medicine, nephrology, and public health with a research focus on diagnostic decision-making and the application of evidence-based methods to both clinical and population health. She has led guideline development for the World Health Organization, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Society of Hematology, and the Canadian Society of Nephrology, among others. She chairs the methods committee and serves on the executive committee for Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) and is cofounder of both the US GRADE [Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation] Network and the Evidence Foundation.
A recognized leader in medical research, Dr. Mustafa has authored more than 350 peer-reviewed publications and serves as a member of the GRADE guidance group's executive committee. From 2021 to 2023, she was named a top 1% most-cited researcher by Clarivate for her high-impact work across disciplines.
Her leadership is matched by her commitment to education and mentorship. She received the Outstanding Research Mentorship Award from The University of Kansas Health System and has been honored multiple times for excellence in teaching and clinical instruction.
Dr. Mustafa earned her medical degree from The University of Jordan School of Medicine. She completed residency in internal medicine and preventive medicine, a fellowship in nephrology, and a Master of Public Health degree at the University of Buffalo, The State University of New York. She also holds a PhD in health research methodology from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Laura H. Mariani, MD, MS, FASN
Dr. Mariani is an associate professor of internal medicine in the Division of Nephrology at the University of Michigan Medical School and attending physician at University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor. She is also assistant clerkship director for the internal medicine clerkship and assistant program director for the nephrology fellowship training program at the University of Michigan Medical School.
Her research and clinical work focus on glomerular diseases, as well as the application of statistical methods to identify therapeutic targets, search for novel biomarkers, and predict the progression of kidney diseases. Throughout her career, she has led numerous national and international translational efforts to improve care for kidney diseases, including the Proteinuria and GFR [Glomerular Filtration Rate] as Clinical Trial Endpoints in Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis project, which aims to accelerate trials for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. She is principal investigator of the Cure Glomerulonephropathy consortium data coordinating center and an investigator in both the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network and the Kidney Precision Medicine Project Central Hub.
Dr. Mariani is also dedicated to mentoring the next generation of nephrologists. She co-leads the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network-Cure Glomerulonephropathy career enhancement program and is principal investigator for the Kidney, Urology, and Hematology Training Network at the University of Michigan.
She is a fellow of ASN and a member of the editorial boards of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases and Kidney360.
Dr. Mariani received her medical degree from the University of Michigan. At the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, she completed a residency in internal medicine, served as chief medical resident, and earned a master's degree in clinical epidemiology. She also completed fellowship training in nephrology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Distinguished Researcher Award
Aminu K. Bello, MD, PhD, FASN
Dr. Bello is a professor of medicine at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. He is also medical director for the dialysis unit at the Peace River Community Health Centre and attending physician at the University of Alberta Hospital, both part of Alberta Health Services. In addition, he is adjunct professor of medicine at the Alberta Diabetes Institute of the University of Alberta and an honorary professor of medicine in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
Dr. Bello is dedicated to improving nephrology education and practice through global health initiatives. He is cochair for the Global Kidney Health Atlas of the International Society of Nephrology, which evaluates the capacity for kidney care worldwide. His leadership of the project has led to collaborations across 164 countries and a series of policy briefs, which have been widely adopted by international nephrology societies to guide the prevention and treatment of chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury. In Canada, his research has helped build capacity to treat chronic kidney disease and monitor its risk factors in remote, rural, and Indigenous communities.
In 2023, he was inducted into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. He is also a fellow of The African Academy of Sciences and ASN and is a Killam Laureate.
In Nigeria, Dr. Bello received his medical degree from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and underwent residency training in general internal medicine at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. He then completed specialty training and earned his PhD in nephrology and epidemiology at The University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. He also completed a clinical fellowship in nephrology and transplantation, as well as a nephrology research fellowship, at the University of Alberta.
Simone Sanna-Cherchi, MD
Dr. Sanna-Cherchi is associate professor of medicine in the Division of Nephrology at Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. A leader in genetic kidney disease research, he is internationally recognized for his work in uncovering the molecular basis of disorders such as congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract and nephrotic syndrome.
Dr. Sanna-Cherchi's research brings together investigators across disciplines and continents to study complex, understudied kidney conditions. He has led large-scale collaborative projects supported by the National Institutes of Health, the US Department of Defense, ASN, and other major funders. His studies have appeared in high-impact journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, Science, Nature Genetics, Nature Communications, and The Journal of Clinical Investigation. He currently serves as associate editor for both Glomerular Diseases and JASN.
He has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and serves as an organizer of the Division of Nephrology Grand Rounds in basic research at Columbia University.
In recognition of his scientific contributions and collaborative leadership, Dr. Sanna-Cherchi was elected a member of The American Society for Clinical Investigation in 2018 and was a founding elected member of the International Society of Glomerular Disease in 2023. He has delivered keynote and invited lectures around the world, including the David Cornfeld Lecture in Nephrology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Henry Shavelle Visiting Professorship in Nephrology in Los Angeles.
Dr. Sanna-Cherchi received his medical degree and completed a residency and fellowship in internal medicine and nephrology at the University of Parma Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in Italy. He also finished a postdoctoral fellowship in nephrology and genetics at Columbia University. In addition, he achieved an internal medicine residency at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center (now Mount Sinai Morningside–Mount Sinai West), through the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Sanna-Cherchi later completed a nephrology fellowship at Columbia University, before joining the faculty in 2015.
Elaine Ku, MD, FASN
Dr. Ku is an associate professor in residence in the Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. In her role, she directs the Advanced Training in Clinical Research certificate program, the Master's Degree in Clinical and Epidemiologic Research, and the MATCH (Multi-Disciplinary Advancement of Transplant-Centered Health) Outcomes Research Center. In addition, she leads the Nephrology Transition Clinic at UCSF Health.
Dr. Ku's research focuses on understanding differences in the epidemiology, clinical management, and outcomes of children and adults with kidney diseases, particularly in the context of care transitions, from adolescence to young adulthood and from advanced chronic kidney disease to kidney failure. Her National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded work explores barriers to kidney transplantation and strategies to optimize management of cardiovascular comorbidities, such as hypertension and obesity, in people with kidney diseases.
She has served on NIH study sections and ASN's Grant Review Committee, and she is currently an associate editor for the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. Dr. Ku is also actively engaged in leadership roles within national organizations, including serving as a section lead for the National Kidney Foundation's Working Group on Mental and Behavioral Health and as a member of Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) work groups.
Dr. Ku has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and contributed to nine book chapters. She is a fellow of ASN and was elected to The American Society for Clinical Investigation in 2023. Her recent honors include the Distinguished Visiting Professorship at Baylor College of Medicine and the David Cornfeld Lectureship at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Dr. Ku earned her MD from the UC San Diego School of Medicine and completed residency training at the Los Angeles County Medical Center (now Los Angeles General Medical Center) through the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. She completed adult and pediatric nephrology fellowships at the UCSF School of Medicine, where she has been a faculty member since 2015.
Distinguished Mentor Award
Julia J. Scialla, MD, FASN
Dr. Scialla is an associate professor of medicine and public health sciences at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine, Charlottesville. She serves as director of the Nephrology Clinical Research Center and director of outcomes research in the Departments of Medicine and Public Health Sciences. She is also an Executive Committee member for the UVA Physician Scientist Training Program and holds leadership roles in multiple National Institutes of Health-funded training networks.
A dedicated mentor and educator, Dr. Scialla has played a central role in shaping the next generation of kidney researchers. She directs clinical integration efforts for the Integrated Virginia Research Training Centers in Kidney, Urology and Hematology training network and serves on the internal advisory board for the Virginia Kidney Technology Development Research Education Program. She has been recognized for her contributions with UVA's Department of Medicine Excellence in Mentoring Award and Teaching Excellence Award from the Division of Nephrology.
Additionally, Dr. Scialla is deputy editor of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases and has served on the editorial board for CJASN. She is an active member of the National Kidney Foundation, currently serving on its scientific advisory board and as program cochair for the 2025 and 2026 Spring Clinical Meetings. In 2023, she was an invited participant at the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference on chronic kidney disease–mineral and bone disorder.
Dr. Scialla's research focuses on chronic kidney disease epidemiology, with an emphasis on secondary prevention, mineral and bone complications, and data science. She has authored nearly 100 peer-reviewed publications, as well as numerous invited reviews and editorials.
Dr. Scialla earned her MD from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. She completed her internal medicine residency and nephrology fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, affiliated with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She also earned a Master of Health Science degree in clinical epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Distinguished Clinical Service Award
Daniel Y. Lam, MD
Dr. Lam is a clinical professor of medicine in the Division of Nephrology at the University of Washington in Seattle. He is also an attending physician at Harborview Medical Center, where he previously served as medical director for palliative care, director of the Harborview Medical Center's Palliative Care Outpatient Clinic, as well as palliative care medical advisor for Northwest Kidney Centers.
His leadership has helped improve access to palliative care for people receiving dialysis, which can include supporting management of symptoms, navigating multiple chronic conditions, making complex medical decisions, and planning for end-of-life care. In 2017, he helped establish the first palliative care program within a dialysis facility in the United States at Northwest Kidney Centers. The program grew to serve six dialysis facilities across the organization. His advocacy efforts have been instrumental in allowing patients in Washington to remain on dialysis after entering hospice care.
Through his work with the Nonprofit Kidney Care Alliance, Dr. Lam continues to pursue legislative and regulatory changes that enhance palliative care for people on dialysis. He also serves on the Coalition for Supportive Care of Kidney Patients Executive Committee and ASN's Policy and Advocacy Committee.
Dr. Lam received a Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program award from the Cambia Health Foundation in 2015 and was named an Emerging Leader in Hospice and Palliative Care by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine in 2019.
He received his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. He then completed an internal medicine residency, as well as fellowships in nephrology and palliative medicine, at the University of Washington.
Shina Menon, MD, FASN
Dr. Menon is associate professor of pediatrics in the Division of Nephrology at Stanford Medicine, where she is also the director for research in Pediatric Nephrology. In addition, she serves as medical director of Pediatric Acute Dialysis Therapy at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, CA. Before joining Stanford Medicine, Dr. Menon held faculty positions at the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital.
Her research and clinical work focus on critical care nephrology and pediatric acute kidney injury (AKI). She is dedicated to improving outcomes after AKI, creating clinical decision support systems for treating AKI, and refining how continuous kidney replacement therapy is administered to infants and young children.
Dr. Menon served on the ASN AKINow Artificial Intelligence Workgroup, as well as the ASN Kidney Health Guidance Workgroup on Outpatient Dialysis for AKI. She is cochair of the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology's Acute Care Nephrology Interest Group, which provides resources on AKI and kidney replacement therapy to support the development of new treatment programs.
She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and 12 book chapters and serves on the editorial board of Pediatric Nephrology. She is a fellow of ASN.
Dr. Menon received her medical degree from Maulana Azad Medical College at the University of Delhi in India, where she also completed her residency. She then completed a pediatric residency and a fellowship in pediatric nephrology at Children's Hospital of Michigan. In addition, she trained in acute care nephrology through a fellowship at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.