BMC’s Department of Kidney Medicine takes care of approximately nine thousand adults with various types of kidney disease each year. Our kidney doctors (nephrologists) are experts in multiple types of kidney diseases, including end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis or transplantation and other diseases involving the kidneys such as glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, and acute kidney injury. ### Kidney Medicine - [Contact Us](#contact-us) - [Specialty Clinics](#specialty-clinics) - [Treatments & Services](#treatments-services) - [Our Team](#our-team) - [Patient Resources](#patient-resources) - [Department News](#department-news) - [Research Overview](#research-overview) - [Residency and Fellowship Information](#residency-and-fellowship-information) ## Contact Us ## Specialty Clinics [### Lupus Clinic A clinic within the Department of Rheumatology providing diagnosis and lupus treatment, including medications, infusion therapy, and monitoring to manage symptoms, reduce inflammation, and address organ involvement. ](/departments/rheumatology/lupus-clinic) ## Treatments & Services ### Dialysis Care Patients who need dialysis can receive it through one of many centers in the region. A list of centers is available at http://www.medicare.gov/dialysisfacilitycompare/. Some of these centers also offer a peritoneoal dialysis program which is performed by patients at home, enabling them to remain independent and continue working. The BMC team can assist patients in finding a center that meets their unique needs and can coordinate with primary care physicians and dialysis centers to meet ongoing needs. [Read more](/services/dialysis-care) ### Transplant Care Should it become necessary, Boston Medical Center provides patients with kidney transplantation. In fact, in the last decade, BMC has performed more than 450 cadaver and living-related-donor kidney transplants. Physicians provide medical support from the initial evaluation, through peri- and post-operative management and long-term transplant follow-up. [Read more](/services/transplant-care) ## Our Team ### Renal Medicine Doctors ### [Sushrut S. Waikar, MD, MPH](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/sushrut-s-waikar-md) Chief of Nephrology ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/751ab613-f326-476a-b299-8636f3232912/Sushrut-S-Waikar_651_2x3?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Rivka Ayalon, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/rivka-ayalon-md) Nephrologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/d9c71068-3657-401e-bd51-93f1334639ab/Rivka-Ayalon-2x3?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Laurence H. Beck, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/laurence-h-beck-md) Nephrologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/73117c67-fa96-485e-b547-42f886022d1e/Laurence-Beck__web?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Jasvinder S. Bhatia, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/jasvinder-s-bhatia-md) Nephrologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/1da10cfc-a2a5-4ea3-966c-2d0b9a5bf8bf/Jasvinder-Bhatia-2x3?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Ramon G. Bonegio, MD, PhD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/ramon-g-bonegio-md) Nephrologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/9933b41f-1341-47a9-bd28-22652297ad2a/Bonegio-Ramon?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Steven C. Borkan, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/steven-c-borkan-md) Nephrologist ![Placeholder image for doctor](/themes/custom/bmc_base_theme/assets/images/placeholders/headshoticon-v2.svg) ### [Vipul C Chitalia, MD, PhD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/vipul-c-chitalia-md) Renal Medicine Physician ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/1cb8f073-3d14-400b-906d-fa5ed2545dba/Chitalia-Vipul?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Herbert T. Cohen, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/herbert-t-cohen-md) Nephrologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/4dba3c79-f76a-46b1-b23c-c87f37306a6b/Cohen-Herb?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [John P Forman, MD, MSc](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/john-p-forman-md-msc) Primary Care Physician ![Placeholder image for doctor](/themes/custom/bmc_base_theme/assets/images/placeholders/headshoticon-v2.svg) ### [Jean M. Francis, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/jean-m-francis-md) Nephrologist, Medical Director, Kidney Transplant Program ![Placeholder image for doctor](/themes/custom/bmc_base_theme/assets/images/placeholders/headshoticon-v2.svg) ### [Sandeep Ghai, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/sandeep-ghai-md) Nephrologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/4c7439d1-880e-489d-a337-cdf1ea4a34ca/Ghai-Sandeep-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Andrea I. Havasi, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/andrea-i-havasi-md) Nephrologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/ad864995-2bf1-44a6-91cb-8a04ae3be55b/Andrea-Havasi2828?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Titilayo O. Ilori, MBBS](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/titilayo-o-ilori-mbbs) Renal Medicine Physician ![Placeholder image for doctor](/themes/custom/bmc_base_theme/assets/images/placeholders/headshoticon-v2.svg) ### [Aala Jaberi, MB, BCh, BAO](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/aala-jaberi-mb-bch-bao) Nephrologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/70c4f3e3-d927-49be-a347-2c4814968774/Aala-Jaberi?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Hanni Menn-Josephy, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/hanna-menn-josephy-md) Nephrologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/d6ad588b-7583-42c9-b71f-0146a1332ea1/Josephy-Hanni-Menn?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Ian R. Rifkin, MB, BCh](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/ian-r-rifkin-mb-bch) Renal Medicine Physician ![Placeholder image for doctor](/themes/custom/bmc_base_theme/assets/images/placeholders/headshoticon-v2.svg) ### [David J. Salant, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/david-j-salant-md) Nephrologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/a4dd94f6-7db5-4454-94ac-519d888515d9/Salant-David?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Lauren D. Stern, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/lauren-d-stern-md) Nephrologist, Medical Director, Home Dialysis Program ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/5e68b9c8-9816-4f76-b98f-a78654e6bf84/Stern-Lauren?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Ashish Upadhyay, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/ashish-upadhyay-md) Nephrologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/f3e47047-3b42-4f51-bb5b-e2e9a68222aa/Ashish-Upadhyay_402_2x3?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) Lindsay A. Farrer, PhD Robert J. Hamburger, MD Weining Lu, MD Michael Sherman, PhD ## Patient Resources [### Kidney Disease Frequently Asked Questions Common questions our patients have about our department. ](/renal-medicine/frequently-asked-questions) [### Kidney Disease Resources The following websites provide reliable information about kidney disease and patient support: ](/renal-medicine/resources) ## Department News ### [Recommended National Guidelines for Frequency of Hepatitis C Virus Screening in Hemodialysis Centers Not a Cost-Effective Use of Healthcare Resources](https://www.bmc.org/news/recommended-national-guidelines-frequency-hepatitis-c-virus-screening-hemodialysis-centers-not) BOSTON – New research from Boston Medical Center found that national guidelines recommending twice-yearly screening for the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with kidney disease undergoing… Dec 14 ![Rachel Epstein](/sites/default/files/styles/image_620w/public/news-images/Medium-Rachel%20Epstein%2C%20MD%20-%20Infectious%20Disease.jpg?itok=CH0k5fc3 "Dr. Rachel Epstein") ## Research Overview **Kidney Disease Research** The Renal Department at BMC is a nationally recognized research and training program in nephrology for more than five decades. Basic science research in the division focuses on the immunopathogenesis of glomerular diseases, structural biology of the glomerulus, mechanisms of autoimmunity, renal cystic disease and cancer, kidney development and mechanisms of cell injury in acute renal failure. Clinical research includes trials evaluating new interventions in end-stage renal disease, novel treatments for renal amyloidosis, immunosuppressive medications in renal transplantation, investigation of the mechanisms underlying hemodialysis vascular access failure and studies of cardiovascular disease associated with chronic kidney disease. Physicians work with patients to discuss their individual candidacy for clinical trials. ## Residency and Fellowship Information **Kidney Disease Education** The physicians and staff of the Renal Medicine Practice at Boston Medical Center are affiliated with the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. To learn about our education and fellowship programs, please visit the [Renal](http://www.bumc.bu.edu/renalsection/) Section of our Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine website.