Division of Nephrology and Hypertenson

Commitment to Diversity

The Division of Nephrology and Hypertension is committed to fostering best practices to implement and sustain diversity, inclusivity and civility. We have convened a group of faculty and fellows, chaired by our department’s diversity liaison Dr. Ebele Umeukeje, who are dedicated to these efforts. In alignment with department and Medical Center initiatives to make diversity and inclusion intentional, we are committed to championing anti-racism and creating safe spaces for conversations regarding discrimination or harassment of any kind.  

Division Diversity Committee:

  • Khaled Abdel-Kader, MD, MS
  • Elvis Akwo, MD, PhD
  • Juan Pablo Arroyo, MD, PhD
  • Kelly Birdwell, MD, MSCI
  • Anna Burgner, MD, MEHP 
  • Mark de Caestecker, MD, PhD 
  • Osama El-Shamy, MD
  • Leslie Gewin, MD 
  • Raymond Harris, MD 
  • Adriana Hung, MD, MPH 
  • T. Alp Ikizler, MD 
  • Julia Lewis, MD 
  • Victoria Locke, MSM 
  • Devika Nair, MD, MSCI 
  • Sagar Patel, MD
  • Cassianne Robinson-Cohen, PhD
  • Megha Salani, MD 
  • Bonnie Ann Sarell, MD 
  • Mary Rogers Sorey, ACNP-BC
  • Crystal Spencer, BS 
  • Ebele Umeukeje, MD, MPH 

Featured Activities/Projects  

  • Division-wide training in Unconscious Bias, facilitated by Arie L. Nettles, PhD, NCSP, HSP, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Director VUMC Office of Inclusion and Health Equity  
  • Diversity Renal Grand Rounds 
  • Jason Cobb, MD, Associate Prof of Medicine, Department of Medicine Renal Division, Emory University School of Medicine 
    • Pipeline programs to increase diversity in medical Education (KDSAP, Kidney MAPS) 
    • Diversity Efforts in Nephrology Fellowship recruitment
  • Kimberly Evans, MD, Associate Prof of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Duke University School of Medicine 
    • Civility Champions - trainees, faculty & institutional leadership formal training to tackle post-incident incivility, bias, racism 
    • "Stepping in" Program Training - training for real time intervention in situations of incivility, bias, racism 
  • Nimrit Goraya, MD, Associate Prof of Medicine, Division of Nephrology Baylor Scott & White Health 
    • Emphasis on Equity, Inclusion & Diversity 
    • ASN Diversity Initiatives - Increasing women in Nephrology, FMG training, Immigrant care in kidney disease, URM loan repayment 

Vanderbilt DEI Resources:


Diversity Liaison

Ebele Umeukeje, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor of Medicine