Dialysis Fellowship Program

Opportunity to develop expertise in all aspects of dialysis

The Division of Nephrology and Hypertension offers a one-year fellowship in dialysis. In this combined Clinical Instructor/Fellow position, fellows have the opportunity to develop expertise in all aspects of dialysis, including modality education, transition of care to end-stage kidney disease, in-center dialysis with an emphasis on home dialysis, and dialysis access.

In addition to clinical responsibilities, fellows learn about administrative duties and how to develop and complete research projects to prepare them for successful careers as educators and leaders in the field of dialysis.


Personal, clinical experience

Our long-standing home dialysis program has more than 120 patients on peritoneal dialysis and more than 10 patients on home hemodialysis.

Fellows work with 10 adult nephrologists who round in the home dialysis unit and seven adult nephrologists who round in our outpatient in-center dialysis units. They also work with our transplant surgery colleagues to observe hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis access placement. 

In-center, transitional care, and the home dialysis units  

  • Rounding on patients at the in-center, transitional care and the home dialysis units. A typical week includes one to two half-days at the in-center unit, one to two half-days at the transitional care unit, and three to six half days at the home dialysis unit   
  • Observation during the training period for at least five patients starting peritoneal dialysis and two patient starting home hemodialysis  
  • Understanding water treatment for dialysis   
  • Knowledge of the management of dialysis and its complications  
  • Understanding of the CMS conditions for coverage and the ESRD network structure  
  • Knowledge of dialysis physiology, prescription variables and dialysate composition  

Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital  

  • Rounding on the nephrology consult service at Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital for eight weeks with a supervising physician over the course of the year. These consults are predominantly for dialysis but may include consults for AKI, CKD, electrolyte management and kidney transplant.  

The Vanderbilt Chronic Kidney Disease Clinic (TVC2)  

  • Attend clinic at TVC2 once a month providing dialysis modality education for patients who require it (CKD 4-5) 

Participation in at least two clinical research projects related to ESKD patients  

Development of at least one hypothesis and completion of a research project (obtaining IRB approval, analyzing data, and presentation of project findings) with the opportunity to write and publish in peer-reviewed journals  

Presentation of research at year-end at Renal Grand Rounds or Renal Research Conference  

Optional:  

Enrollment and completion of clinical research course(s) offered at Vanderbilt University Medical Center 

  • Monthly attendance of the VUMC Home Dialysis Journal Club, the North American Chapter of the International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD). Each month, a home dialysis manuscript is chosen and discussed, and presentations are prepared and delivered by Vanderbilt Nephrology and Hypertension fellows to an audience of both national and international nephrologists. Journal Club sessions are archived on YouTube here.
  • Attendance of at least two of the following conferences:   
    • American Society of Nephrology
    • Annual Dialysis Conference
    • CRRT Academy
    • Home Dialysis University
    • International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis

We are now accepting applications for our 2024-2025 Dialysis Fellowship Program. We are currently unable to accommodate candidates who require a J-1 visa. 

To apply, please submit the following to Lindsey Schindler, Program Manager, via email (lindsey.schindler@vumc.org) or mail to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dialysis Fellowship, Attn: Lindsey Schindler, 1161 21st Ave. S., MCN S-3307, Nashville, TN 37232:  

  • CV 
  • Personal statement 
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation  

Program Leadership

Megha Salani, MD​​​​​​​

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Program Director, Dialysis Fellowship