ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

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Jeffrey S. Berns, MD, FASN, Councilor

Jeffrey S. Berns, MD, FASN is a Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Berns also serves in the University of Pennsylvania Health System as Vice-President and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education. He is the Associate Chief of the Renal, Electrolyte, and Hypertension Division at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Berns has an extensive record of accomplishment and leadership. He has devoted most of his professional career to patient care, medical education, and national service to the community. The recipient of numerous awards for teaching, Dr. Berns has been recognized annually for many years as a Philadelphia "Top Doc" in Nephrology. He has served as Deputy Editor of NephSAP and in editorial roles with CJASN, as well as on the ASN Education and Continuous Professional Development Committees. He currently serves on the ASN Home Dialysis Task Force. Dr. Berns completed medical school at Case Western Reserve University, an internal medicine residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland, and a nephrology fellowship at Yale University. His primary research interests are anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD), nephrology fellow education, and understanding how financial and other incentives and metrics affect clinical care and patient-centered outcomes for patients with kidney disease. Dr. Berns is currently an ASN Council Member-at-Large. He previously served as President of the National Kidney Foundation from 2014-16, Chair of the American Board of Internal Medicine Nephrology Specialty Board from 2014-20, and Chair of ABIM Council from 2018-20. His published work covers numerous topics, including CKD, the anemia of CKD, and economic and financial aspects of nephrology care (including newer models of payment reform). Editor for the Nephrology Section of UpToDate and former co-Deputy Editor of American Journal of Kidney Disease, Dr. Berns has also published and spoken extensively on strengthening nephrology training in the 21st century.

Current Position/Titles:

Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Associate Chief Renal, Electrolyte, and Hypertension Division

Director of Regulatory Affairs, Department of Medicine

Degrees/Training:

B.A. (Biology and Psychology) Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (1977)

M.D. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (1981)

M.L. (Master in Law) Penn Carey School of Law, Philadelphia, PA (2025)

Internal Medicine Residency: University Hospitals of Cleveland (1981-1984)

Nephrology Fellowship: Yale University (1984-1987)

Associate Research Scientist: Yale University (1985-1987)

ASN Service:

Abstract reviewer for Annual Meetings (multiple years); Reviewer for NephSAP (2002-2003; 2004-2005); ASN Dialysis Advisory Group (2004-2007); Associate Editor, NephSAP Chronic Disease and Progression (2006-2010); Editorial Board, CJASN (2006-2016); ASN Training Program Directors Executive Committee (2007-2010); Deputy Editor, NephSAP (2007-2010); ASN In-Training Examination Steering Committee (2007-2010); ASN representative to National Quality Forum ESRD Steering Committee (2010-2012); ASN Accountable Care Organization (ACO)Task Force (2011-2014); Educational Series Editor, CJASN (2011-2014); ASN Education Committee (2014-2016); ASN Continuous Professional Development Committee (2017-2019); ASN Home Dialysis Task Force (2021-present); ASN Councilor at Large (2022-2026); Council Liaison to ASN Quality Committee (2022-2024), ASN Policy and Advocacy Committee (2022-2024), ASN Workforce and Training Committee (2025-2026); ASN Continuous Professionalism Committee (2025-2026)

Leadership positions:

Co-Chair, RPA Quality, Safety, and Accountability Committee (2005-2006); Associate Chief, University of Pennsylvania Health System Renal, Electrolyte, and Hypertension Division (2006-present); Director, Penn Nephrology Fellowship Program (2006-2019); Vice President and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, University of Pennsylvania Health System (2008-2024); President, National Kidney Foundation (2014-2016); Chair, American Board of Internal Medicine Nephrology Specialty Board (2014-2020), Chair, American Board of Internal Medicine Council (2018-2020), President, National Association of Designated Institutional Officials (NADIO) (2023-present)

Honors:

Exemplar in Humanism Award, The College of Physicians of Philadelphia (2006); Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching, University of Pennsylvania (2012, multiple additional prior teaching awards); NKF Physician Honoree (2015). NKF Donald Seldin Award (2018); Philadelphia Magazine “Top Docs” (2010-2025)

Board Certification:

Internal Medicine and Nephrology

Research Interests:

I have had a variety of research and scholarly interests over the years, most recently related to graduate medical education, nephrology fellow training and assessment, anemia in CKD and ESKD, and the finances and economics of CKD and ESKD care.

Personal Statement:

My current role as ASN Councilor-at-Large has reinforced for me the critical importance of kidney care equity, clinical and scientific innovation, and professional development. With over 35 years as a clinical nephrologist in both private practice and academia, I have a deep understanding of the challenges facing nephrologists, our fellows, and our patients. I am committed to working with ASN as an Executive Councilor to advance kidney health for all, help shape the future of nephrology, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, advocate for policies that improve outcomes, and work to ensure that nephrologist’s compensation matches the complexity and importance of our work.