Nephrology

Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties

  • Course Information

    Course Number: RMDN614

    Prerequisites: Completion of the Phase 2 Internal Medicine clerkship

    Length of Time: 2 or 4 weeks

    Phase Availability: Phase 2 and Phase 3

    Credit Type: Physician Assessed Patient Facing (PAPFE) or Open

    Call: No

  • Contact Information

    Program Director: Krishna Sankaran, MD

    Coordinator/Scheduling: Allison King (aking75@uic.edu)

    Location: Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital (8201 E Riverside Blvd, Rockford, IL 61114) and/or UW Health Hospital (1401 E State St, Rockford, IL, 61104)

Narrative Description: The elective will involve the evaluation and treatment of problems in the scope of nephrology. Evaluation will include history taking and chart review specifically as it relates to the renal problem in question (general history and physical will also be important). Assessment of the problem will include a discussion of renal physiology and mechanism of the disease process. Finally, physiologic principles will be discussed with respect to interventions/treatment. Discussions will be patient based and didactic to include acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, dialysis, fluid and electrolyte disorders, glomerulonephritis, hypertension as possible. The student is welcome to invite topics of discussion/lecture in Nephrology. This is a working rotation where most of the teaching will be on rounds and in discussion of cases. Students will be involved in seeing patients as new consults and as follow up, writing computer notes after discussing cases, management issues and discussion of the nephrology aspects of diagnosis and treatment with the nephrology team. Finalized notes with a discussed plan will then be done by the student. The attending will co-sign these with an addendum and put in any relevant orders. As time allows additional nephrology lectures can be done by the attending, and students are welcome to request topics to cover.

Learning Objectives: 

  1. The objective of the nephrology rotation is to learn renal physiology, pathophysiology and treatment principles in the setting of patient care.
  2. In evaluating, discussing and taking care of patients with acute kidney injury, fluid/electrolyte disorders and chronic kidney disease (including ESRD), the student will strive to integrate physiology and pathophysiology in decision making and interventions in renal disorders.

Learning Activities: In clinical electives taken through the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, registered students will participate in any combination of the following activities with the goal of positively impacting patient care and learning about patient conditions to achieve the course objectives. These activities include, but are not limited to: chart review, history elicitation of patients, physical exam, oral presentation, written documentation in the EHR, special topics presentations, procedural skills, participation in seminars/didactics/grand rounds, participation in development of assessment and plan for the care and treatment of patients, interpretation of patient findings either by exam or test results, literature review, case discussion, interprofessional care, simulations, and patient meetings. Students will engage in activities as directed and appropriately supervised by College Faculty.

Method of Assessment: Each attending will complete the UIC evaluation form for the assessment of skills, character, reliability and knowledge. Dr. Sankaran will complete composite grades for the rotation. Feedback will be given throughout and at the end of the rotation, with standard UIC evaluation completed and submitted.

Required Reading: None

General Scheduling: Students will be expected to be on rotation Monday through Friday with an occasional Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Clinic and nights (the same schedule as the attending). Students will be contacted the Sunday prior to their rotation start date with their assignments. Generally, students will see their assigned patients from 8:00-10:00am, then round with Dr. Sankaran and residents, see any new patient/consults, have a patient care discussion, then attend daily didactics. *If Dr. Sankaran is not available, students will rotate with Dr. Sankaran’s teaching partner at the UW Health Hospital.

Additional Resources: There are no specific instructional materials required by the nephrology rotation. Your own text in renal physiology and pathology will be a good base to review for the rotation. Sections on the following topics in any medicine text are suggested and students are encouraged to review the Nephrology section and questions in IM Essentials: Acute Kidney Injury, Chronic Kidney Disease, Hypernatremia, Hyponatremia, Hyperkalemia, Proteinuria/ Glomerulonephritis, and Edema/Diuretics, which are our most common reasons for consultation. Topics related to dialysis will not be expected reading but discussed by the attending.

Miscellaneous Information: Students are also encouraged to comment on their experience, constructive criticism or any problems with the rotation or their attendings directly to Dr. Sankaran via email (ksankaran@rockfordnephrology.org).