Read the latest news from the Nephrology Division.
WashU Nephrologist Dr. Mabel Purkerson Receives MUSC Distinguished Alumni Award
Mabel L. Purkerson, MD, Professor Emerita of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, was honored by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) as a 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. Established in 1969, the Alumni Awards celebrate graduates of all six MUSC colleges who have demonstrated significant professional accomplishments and leadership. Dr. Purkerson, a […]
Three WashU Nephrology Investigators – Matsui, Sharma, and Mahjoub – Receive 2026 KidneyCure Awards
WashU Nephrology is proud to celebrate three researchers who have been selected for the 2026 KidneyCure Awards. KidneyCure, a foundation established by the American Society of Nephrology, supports researchers across all career stages to foster innovation and breakthroughs in kidney disease treatment. It is the largest private foundation dedicated exclusively to kidney research in the […]
WashU Nephrology Welcomes our 2026 Renal Transplant Fellows
We are proud to welcome our 2026 renal transplant fellows to WashU Nephrology. Our Transplant Nephrology Fellowship offers a deeply immersive year within one of the country’s leading kidney transplant programs, where fellows gain experience across the full spectrum of transplant care. We are excited for the energy, dedication, and new ideas they will contribute […]
WashU Nephrology Welcomes our 2026-2028 Renal Fellows
We are excited to welcome the physicians joining our WashU Nephrology Fellowship Program for 2026–2028. Each fellow brings unique strengths, perspectives, and passions to our community, and we look forward to learning from them, supporting them, and celebrating their growth over the next two years.
Physician-Scientist Naoka Murakami Receives American Society of Transplantation Award
WashU Nephrology is proud to announce that Naoka Murakami, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine, has been honored by the American Society of Transplantation (AST) for her outstanding contributions to the field of transplant nephrology. The award recognizes her scientific leadership, commitment to improving long‑term transplant outcomes, and her growing national impact as a physician‑scientist. […]
Zheng Hu Joins Glomerular Center of Excellence as Clinical Research Coordinator
Please join us in welcoming Zheng Hu, MD, MSc, as the new Clinical Research Coordinator for our Glomerular Center of Excellence. The center diagnoses and treats glomerular diseases through a collaborative effort among nephrologists, pathologists, and coordinators. Originally from China, Zheng has called the St. Louis area home for the past 10 years. She brings a […]
Save the Date – WashU Nephrology 4th Annual Glomerular Diseases Symposium
WashU Nephrology will host the 4th Annual Glomerular Diseases Symposium: An Update on Disease Mechanisms and Management, on Friday and Saturday, September 11-12, 2026, at the Eric P. Newman Education Center on the WashU Medical Campus. This two‑day, in‑person program brings together leading experts to share the latest advances in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment […]
Celebrating Faculty Promotions: Monica Chang-Panesso, Massini Merzkani, Rohan Paul, and Timothy Yau
WashU Nephrology is proud to celebrate the promotions, effective July 1, 2026, of four outstanding faculty members whose achievements keep our division at the forefront of renal care, transplantation, and nephrology research. Please join us in congratulating Monica Chang‑Panesso, MD; Massini Merzkani, MD; Rohan Paul, MBBS; and Timothy Yau, MD, on their well‑deserved promotions.
Congratulations to our 2026 Milestone Award Recipients
Join us in celebrating our WashU Nephrology colleagues who have reached Length of Service milestones this year. Their hard work, loyalty, and commitment help shape our division, and we thank each of them for being such an important part of our team. Visit the Staff Milestone Awards hub and find the full list of WashU […]
WashU Nephrology Fellowship Graduate Maheen Khan Joins Faculty
Maheen Khan, MD, a recent graduate of our Nephrology Fellowship Program, will join the WashU Nephrology faculty as assistant professor on July 1, 2026. Dr. Khan earned her medical degree from Dow Medical College, Pakistan. She served as a house officer at Dr. Ruth K Pfau Civil Hospital, the country’s busiest tertiary care public hospital, before […]
Farewell and Best Wishes to Our 2026 Graduating Renal and Transplant Fellows
We wish our graduating fellows every success and personal fulfillment as they move into the next chapter of their careers. They are the future of nephrology, and we are excited to see how their talents shape the field. Renal Fellows Transplant Fellows:
Ignacio Portales-Castillo Awarded OKRA Opportunity Program Grant
Ignacio Portales‑Castillo, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Nephrology, has been selected for funding in the third round of the George M. O’Brien Kidney Resource Alliance (OKRA) Opportunity Pool Program. He will receive $50,000 in research support for his pilot grant proposal, “Reduce Creatine in Proximal Tubule to Enhance Autophagy and Protect from […]
WashU Nephrology Spring 2026 Alumni Newsletter
What’s New at WashU Nephrology? Check out our Spring 2026 Alumni Newsletter, highlighting the latest news, research, and achievements of our nephrology team!
Dr. Anuja Java Highlights Complement‑Mediated Kidney Disease at ISN’s 2026 World Congress of Nephrology in Yokohama
Transplant nephrologist Anuja Java, MD, associate professor of medicine at WashU Nephrology and Director of Kidney Transplant at the John Cochran VA Medical Center, was invited for the third consecutive year to speak at the International Society of Nephrology’s World Congress of Nephrology (WCN’26), held this year, March 28–31, 2026, in Yokohama, Japan. The World Congress […]
Celebrating Faculty Promotion for Dr. Seth Goldberg
WashU Nephrology is delighted to announce the promotion of Seth Goldberg, MD, to professor of medicine on the clinician track, effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Goldberg is a highly respected medical educator at WashU. He earned his medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa and completed both his internal […]














