Professional Bio
Ebele Mary-Anne Umeukeje, MD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).
Dr. Umeukeje completed internal medicine training, including a year as chief resident at Meharry Medical College and completed nephrology training at VUMC. She advanced her training in patient-oriented research through the Master of Public Health Program at Vanderbilt University.
Her research aims to reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with kidney disease by improving self-care in vulnerable populations, addressing psychosocial determinants. She has expertise in examining novel multi-level psychosocial factors associated with medication and dialysis treatment adherence in African Americans with end-stage kidney disease. She has developed and tested novel, culturally sensitive strategies to improve delivery of care and outcomes in advanced kidney disease.
Dr. Umeukeje played a key role in providing the first systematic-level evidence supporting the removal of race from the estimation of glomerular filtration rate in the United States. Her research promotes improved health outcomes for patients of racial, ethnic, and gender minorities as well as those with limited health literacy and resources. She has successfully built her patient-centered research program with combined expertise in motivational interviewing, provider cultural competence, community engagement, health education, and behavioral clinical trials.
Dr. Umeukeje has recognized expertise and experience in engaging the community to understand the needs and priorities for best kidney health. She conducted focus group sessions in African American churches in Nashville to determine barriers and facilitators to uptake of free kidney screening services, with findings published in a 2018 CJASN article selected as "Editor's choice." She has complementary expertise in understanding the priorities of the community regarding screening for APOL1 high risk genetic variants.
As a co-investigator in a multi-site study titled "Community-based Evaluation of APOL1 Genetic Testing in Kidney Disease," she co-facilitated community deliberative sessions with African Americans in Nashville, Seattle, and Jackson, Mississippi. Through her role as a co-investigator in the ongoing multi-site GUARDD R01 study titled "Genetic Testing to Understand Renal Disease Disparities Across The US," she has developed expertise in providing genetic counseling to patients with APOL1 high risk variants.
Dr. Umeukeje is an independent physician scientist who has been the recipient of continuous funding support through several federal grants including the NIDDK Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) individual post-doctoral fellowship (F32) award, BIRCWH K12 award, NIDDK K23 award, NIDDK R03 award, and NIDDK R01 award. She is a member of the editorial boards of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD), and the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney 360 journal.
Relevant Links
Publications
Education
MD - University of Nigeria, 2003
Residency - Internal Medicine - Meharry Medical College, 2010
Residency - Chief Resident - Meharry Medical College, 2011
Fellowship - Neph & Hypertension - Vanderbilt University, 2012
Fellowship - Nephrology - Vanderbilt University, 2014
MPH - Vanderbilt University, 2015
Contact
Email
Kimryn.Rathmell@Vumc.Org
Address
777 Preston Research Building
2220 Pierce Ave
Nashville, TN 37232-6307