Nephrology Los Angeles Medical Center / Cedars-Sinai

Message from the Program Director

View LAMC Nephrology Overview (power point file)

Welcome!  I am delighted to introduce you to our combined Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center (LAMC)/Cedars-Sinai Nephrology Training Program. Our fellows have the opportunity to work in both a vertically integrated health care system and a private practice hospital setting and to become proficient in both systems Our program is designed to provide a balanced exposure to both hospital and outpatient nephrology in an ethnically and economically diverse community and academic setting. Our fellows have robust exposure to:

• Multi-disciplinary CKD care
• Ambulatory patient care, with each fellow having his/her own nephrology continuity clinic
• All aspects of renal replacement therapy—hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, CRRT, nocturnal hemodialysis, home hemodialysis, and apheresis.
• Inpatient consultive service, evaluating diverse cases such as acute and chronic kidney disease, electrolyte and acid base disorders, glomerulonephritis, hypertension, and others.
•  Kidney transplantation in both the outpatient and inpatient setting
• Intensive care nephrology: clinical, cardiac/post-cardiac surgery, and surgical care settings.
• Management of kidney dysfunction in advanced liver disease
• Diverse specialized clinic outpatient experience, including :nephrolithiasis, renal genetics clinic (interaction with geneticist and pediatric nephrologist), and tertiary care glomerulonephritis clinic

Structured didactics are important aspects of our clinical training. Fellows play an active role in the departmental conferences that are typically held four days a week, including Journal Clubs, lively clinical case conferences, grand rounds, board review with questions and answers based on KSAP, physician wellness, quality improvement conferences, and once a week pathology slide review. To accelerate the on boarding process, we provide a comprehensive series of intensive lectures during the first two months, specifically designed to rapidly build foundational knowledge for new fellows. If desired, fellows have the option of doing rotations in other specialties as radiology to gain additional experience in interventional nephrology. Flexibility and the ability to customize training to meet each individual fellow’s needs are important aspects of our program.

Fellows well–being is a core priority. We implemented a dedicated night-float rotation to reduce burnout, mitigate work-related stress , and ensure quality rest.

Our program is part of a vibrant GME community, and our fellows work alongside trainees from a broad range of specialties and sub-specialties, including Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Cardiology, Intensive Care, and Gastroenterology. Additionally, there are teaching opportunities with medical students from the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine that opened in Pasadena in 2020, as well as from other local medical schools, including UCLA.

Our fellowship has unique research opportunities with access to the large diverse Kaiser Permanente South California (KPSC) membership and the world’s largest electronic health records with over 30 years of follow-up. Fellows have opportunities to collaborate or participate as primary investigators on epidemiology, comparative outcomes, prospective patient centered, and quality improvement research projects. They also have an opportunity to participate in many clinical trials in areas such as glomerulonephritis, , polycystic kidney disease, and transplantation. They have access to mentors from the nephrology faculty as well as other researchers within KPSC including research scientists from the department of Research and Evaluations. Fellows participate in monthly research meetings with the Area Research Chair to enhance their knowledge in research methodology and receive direct feedback and guidance on their projects. Many of our faculty actively conduct research, giving the fellows ample opportunity to participate in research and publish in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, we have a vigorous Quality Management program, and our fellows have an opportunity to participate in evidence-based Quality Improvement initiatives.

The partnership with Cedars Sinai Medical Center significantly enhances the depth and quality of our fellowship. As home to one of the largest and most prestigious kidney transplant programs in the United States, Cedars-Sinai completed a record 324 kidney transplants in 2025, consistently ranking among the top centers nationally by volume and outcomes. At Cedars, fellows rotate in the clinical nephrology and transplant services, with the opportunity to interact with a highly experienced team, including renowned leaders in transplant immunology and desensitization and participate in care of complex patients. Cedars rotation will give the fellow a robust education in renal transplant that perfectly complements the training received at Kaiser Permanente. Moreover, it gives the opportunity to have diverse educational experiences and a patient population. Moreover, Cedars-Sinai hosts a dedicated Renal-Pancreas Transplant Fellowship. Depending on their specific career interests, our fellows have the opportunity to engage in additional specialized training and academic conferences within this program, further diversifying their educational experience.

In summary, our program offers a robust clinical, educational, and research experience in a supportive and inclusive environment. We are a balanced program and while we all share a passion for nephrology, there are marathon runners, golfers, gamers, martial artists, and musicians amongst us. We are committed to preparing our fellows for life beyond training and are proud to watch them make the transition from our fellows to our colleagues and embark on careers in clinical or academic nephrology. Our graduates are playing leading roles in the communities they serve, providing excellent care to their patients, as well as contributing to the science of Nephrology in their publications and teaching. I am convinced that training in our program will prepare our fellows for whatever the future of Medicine may hold.

Sincerely,

Marcelo Santos Sampaio, M.D.
Program Director