Returning for its 14th year, the March NephMadness “tournament” brings together the kidney community for a month‑long exploration of the field’s most compelling topics.
Organized by the NephMadness Executive Team and presented on the AJKD Blog, the event is a free, online, interactive educational activity modeled on the NCAA’s March Madness, except that nephrology topics fill in for basketball teams.
Each year’s competition features 16 “teams” grouped into themed regions, with expert contributors developing evidence‑based summaries for each matchup. The winners are selected by the NephMadness Blue Ribbon Panel, a group of nationally recognized leaders in nephrology education and research.
This year, the panel includes WashU Nephrology’s own Timothy Yau, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine. Dr. Yau is a highly respected educator known for his dedication to teaching and mentorship. He also serves as AJKD Social Media Editor.
Brackets opened March 1 on the official Tourneytopia platform, where participants submit their picks and follow the competition throughout the month. Social engagement remains a hallmark of NephMadness, with conversations unfolding across X, Instagram, and Bluesky under the #NephMadness hashtag.
Read more about this engaging educational experience – one that sparks discussion among clinicians, trainees, researchers, and kidney‑health advocates worldwide – and check out the short video “explainer” on NephMadness 2026:
The eight main nephrology topics (REGIONS) with 2 subtopics (TEAMS) for 2026 are listed in the bracket below. Follow this link for a thorough explanation of each topic.
