Specialty: Nephrology

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MD2B Connect Physician ID # 208

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Where will this rotation take place: This outpatient US clinical experience will take place in St. Louis, Missouri. 

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Hours: Monday - Wednesday 7 AM to 1 PM; Thursday 7 AM to 3 PM. The day will typically begin with hospital rounds at 1-2 hospitals, usually starting at 7 AM. At approximately 9 AM, you will report to the outpatient clinic. The hospitals and clinics are within 3-5 miles of one another so transportation will be needed to manage these relatively short distances. You will be responsible for arranging your own transportation, either by car or Uber/Lyft. 

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Hours have been provided by the preceptor. Hours are subject to change at the preceptor’s discretion, but the minimum total hours will remain approximately the same.

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What you will do: You will be under the supervision of a physician who is board-certified in Nephrology. He is on staff at multiple hospitals including Mercy Hospital and Missouri Baptist Medical Center. As a former faculty member at the Washington University School of Medicine, he was actively involved in resident education. Because of his dedication to teaching, he received multiple awards for teaching excellence. In the past, he has also delivered lectures to the internal medicine residents at Mercy Hospital. 

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In this experience, you will be exposed to a wide range of patients with kidney disorders. These will include primary kidney disorders as well as systemic conditions affecting the kidney. You will learn how to evaluate and treat patients with AKI, CKD, ESRD, electrolyte abnormalities, and acid-base disturbances. There will be opportunities to take part in the care of dialysis patients. As this preceptor also practices hospital medicine, you will see how nephrologists provide in-hospital consultations. 

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After a few days of observation, you will take on an increasing role in patient encounters and learn the following under the preceptor’s supervision:​

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• Taking patient histories.

• Examining patients under supervision.

• Presenting patients.

• Researching the literature to answer clinical questions at the point of care.

• Giving topic presentations.

• Spending time with other healthcare professionals in the office to understand their roles and responsibilities.

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The activities above will mostly take place in the outpatient setting. As a result of hospital policies, inpatient activities will be more observational.

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You will receive regular feedback on your performance. 

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There may be opportunities to attend the following conferences:

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• Renal Grand Rounds at Barnes Jewish Hospital

• Grand rounds at Mercy Hospital

• Grand rounds at Missouri Baptist Medical Center

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During the pandemic, these conferences have been virtual. Students interested in gaining access to these conferences should let the preceptor know early in the rotation. The preceptor and his colleagues hold a Journal Club once a month. Rotators may have the opportunity to present at Journal Club. 

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Who should consider this rotation: International medical graduates (IMGs) and students seeking US clinical experience. IMGs seeking careers in family medicine or internal medicine will find this rotation useful.

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​How to obtain a letter of recommendation: The rotator should ask the preceptor for a LOR near the conclusion of the rotation. Dr. Desai has provided the physician with guidelines about best practices in letter writing that meet residency program requirements. In some cases, the preceptor may ask the rotator to write a letter of recommendation draft. 

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​During the rotation: Our team will be checking in periodically with you to ensure that you are having an optimal experience. We encourage you to contact us if you have any questions during the rotation.

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See Where Our Students Applying to Internal Medicine Have Received Interviews or Matched

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Read Dr. Desai's Interview with Dr. Roy Ziegelstein (Vice Dean for Education at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Former Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center) about How to Match Successfully in Internal Medicine