WashU Nephrology is pleased to announce that Massini Merzkani, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, has been named the recipient of our 2025 Transplant Teaching Award.
“This is the highest level of appreciation for teaching in the Transplant Nephrology Section and reflects Dr. Merzkani‘s strong dedication to education,” says Tarek Alhamad, MD, MS, FACP, FASN, Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of the Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Programs at WashU/Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Nephrology fellows and transplant attendings participated in the voting for this honor.
Dr. Merzkani shares his perspective on the importance of education in transplant nephrology:
“Training transplant nephrology fellows is essential, as advanced patient care hinges on specialized knowledge in transplant immunology and post-transplant management. In our transplant center, our fellows encounter a diverse group of patients with various kidney diseases and challenges, which exposes them to rare cases and broadens their learning.
“The important thing we tell our fellows is to always have curiosity, to read, and to engage in discussion. Didactic education is vital, but in a way that is open to discussion, allowing fellows to reinforce the knowledge through participation.”
Merzkani joined the WashU Nephrology Transplant faculty in 2020. His clinical interests include long-term renal allograft survival, recurrence of glomerulonephritis after transplantation, and complications related to kidney transplantation.
This marks his second time he has received the Transplant Teaching Award. He was the inaugural recipient in 2023, followed by Rohan Paul, MBBS, in 2024.
