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.
Annesha Ria Banerjee, MD
“I noticed that Nephrologists tend to view patients holistically, which made their advice uniquely valuable and, in my opinion, made them the best clinicians in the hospital. I realized that they were exactly the kind of physician I hoped to become.”
Annesha earned her medical degree from Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, graduating with Distinction in Research. She completed her internal medicine residency at Stony Brook University Hospital, where she built a solid foundation in clinical medicine and a growing commitment to ethics and nephrology.
With a strong interest in research, Annesha has pursued projects across nephrology, internal medicine, dermatology, and global health. Her work includes studies on nephrotoxicity associated with oncologic therapies, lysozyme‑induced nephropathy, metabolic acidosis after gastric augmentation cystoplasty, vitamin C-induced calcium oxalate nephropathy, and proteinuria in pregnancy. She has presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week, the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meeting, the American College of Preventive Medicine Conference, and multiple institutional research forums. Her publications appear in Pediatric Dermatology (first author), Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open (first author), Endocrinology, and American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
During residency, caring for patients with kidney disease deepened her appreciation for the field and the unique, long-term relationships nephrologists build with their patients – from prevention to treatment to cure and surveillance. Annesha became passionate about patient advocacy and medical education, completing a quality improvement initiative at Northport VA that increased access to renal nutrition services from 33% to 88%. She served as a Clinical Medicine Preceptor at Stony Brook Medical School, mentoring pre-clinical medical students in patient interviewing, physical exams, and clinical reasoning. Her leadership was further shaped through service on the Stony Brook Ethics Committee, community tutoring programs, and student‑run clinics.
“Just as my interest in Nephrology started with the influence of outstanding educators, I hope to give back as a mentor and educator.”
Outside of work, Annesha enjoys reading, playing tennis with her husband, learning new skills (currently chess), and spending time with friends and family (dogs included).
Dina Talha Elsayed, MBBS
Dina earned her medical degree from the University of Khartoum Faculty of Medicine in Sudan, graduating with multiple academic distinctions in biochemistry, immunology, and obstetrics/gynecology. After completing her internal medicine residency at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, she served as a nocturnist hospitalist at St. Louis Mercy Hospital South.
Irvianny Rosario Madera, MD
“Nephrology brings out the best in me. It allows me to teach, to listen, and to accompany patients through both uncertainty and hope. Being the person who helps them understand their condition and who celebrates their progress is deeply fulfilling.”
Irvianny earned her medical degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) in the Dominican Republic, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She completed her internal medicine residency at SBH Health System in the Bronx, where she served as Chief Resident for the 2025–2026 academic year.
During residency, Irvianny completed the NephSIM Nephrons & National Kidney Foundation Mentorship Program, which she describes as a formative experience that deepened her sense of belonging in the field. “Through the program, I was introduced to NephMadness and Trivia Night, interactive and educational events that became my favorite sessions due to their engaging format and content.”
Her research portfolio is exceptionally active, with numerous publications and abstracts in American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, CHEST, Kidney International Reports, and European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine. Her work spans lupus nephritis, medullary sponge kidney disease, AA amyloidosis, nephrolithiasis, dialysis outcomes, and nephrology‑related COVID‑19 studies. She has presented at national and international conferences, including ASN Kidney Week, ISN WCN, and multiple institutional research symposia.
Irvianny showed an interest in teaching and mentoring early in her medical training. She served as a physiology instructor at PUCMM and a clinical instructor for students preparing for residency. Her volunteer work includes building transitional housing with TECHO RD (a non-profit organization dedicated to combating poverty) and participating in community fundraising and outreach efforts across the Dominican Republic.
Outside of work, Dr. Madera is passionate about dance. “I fell in love with dance through Hip-Hop and breakdancing, later finding passion in choreography as a way to express emotions without words.” She also enjoys reading, especially romantic fantasy books that let her “escape into unique worlds with extraordinary characters.”
Dean J. Mellas, MD
“One aspect of nephrologists I admire is their comprehensive approach to patient care.”
Dean earned his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine, Granada, where he earned a membership in the Iota Epsilon Alpha Honor Society, and completed his internal medicine residency at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois.
His early exposure to nephrology began in high school and college while shadowing his father, a nephrologist, and volunteering at a dialysis clinic. The experiences shaped his appreciation for the emotional dimensions of kidney care and strengthened his commitment to the specialty.
“I knew I wanted to become a physician even before shadowing my father. Watching him work as a nephrologist inspired me and sparked my interest in the field, and I consider myself very lucky to have gotten this early exposure to the field of nephrology.”
Dean’s research interests culminated in several nephrology case reports and abstracts, with publications in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology on topics such as metformin‑associated lactic acidosis and rapidly progressive nephrotic‑range proteinuria in IgA vasculitis. Additional works under review include heavy chain amyloidosis and the accuracy of four‑hour urine creatinine clearance in AKI.
He has a longstanding interest in teaching, serving as a tutor for basic science courses during medical school and continuing to mentor residents and students throughout his training. His volunteer work includes giving back to the community through Habitat for Humanity.
Outside of work, Dean is an avid St. Louis Blues fan. He also enjoys playing and watching soccer, having served as captain and treasurer of the SMU Club Soccer Team. His enjoyment of trying out a variety of international cuisines is balanced by his love of weightlifting and running. He is also fascinated by Ancient Greek history and culture.
Divya Sharma, MBBS
“My belief in holistic improvement stems from years of training in the classical Indian dance form, Bharatanatyam. Performing to large audiences with attention to detail made me disciplined and resilient. In parallel, as an athlete, I learned to deliver under pressure, while aiming for team success. These lessons now shape my approach to medicine.”
Divya earned her medical degree from Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre in India, where she graduated with exceptional academic distinction. She was the top‑ranked student for all four years among a class of 150, earned gold medals for highest marks in 10 out of 14 subjects, and placed in the top 10 out of 3,500 students statewide in anatomy, biochemistry, and pharmacology. She completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
During residency, she developed a resident‑led intern night‑float curriculum that is now part of the program’s orientation bootcamp, empowering new interns to manage overnight clinical issues with confidence. Creating and implementing this curriculum deepened her passion for teaching. Her commitment to education also extended to mentoring medical students, building virtual learning communities during the COVID‑19 pandemic, and producing educational videos that reached thousands of learners worldwide.
Her research portfolio is robust and growing, with publications in American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, Current Cardiology Reports, and multiple international journals. Her work spans renal tubular acidosis, crescentic glomerulonephritis, IgA nephropathy, monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease, and CKD management. She has presented at national meetings including ASN Kidney Week, NKF Spring Clinical Meeting, and ACP.
Divya is equally committed to systems‑based practice. As principal investigator of a nephrology‑focused QI initiative, she led a multidisciplinary effort that increased SGLT2 inhibitor prescribing for CKD patients from 39% to 48% in just 10 weeks. She also contributed to workflow optimization, discharge summary redesign, and intern orientation improvements through her work on the Program Improvement Task Force.
Outside of work, Divya enjoys walks, hikes, and long drives, and is a big OKC Thunder fan. She and her husband love exploring nature and local parks, watching Korean dramas, and playing pickleball and lawn tennis. Divya is an enthusiastic devotee of BTS (K-pop) and is proud to be a new plant mom!
Daniel Zamanian, MD
“Nephrology challenges the physician to think at a molecular level while still caring holistically for the patient. It is intricate, essential, and gratifying.”
Daniel earned his medical degree from the Islamic Azad University Qeshm Branch Faculty of Medicine in Iran. He completed his internal medicine residency at Willis Knighton Health in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he served as Chief Resident.
During residency, Daniel earned multiple honors from the American College of Physicians (ACP), including two consecutive Louisiana ACP Doctors Dilemma State Championships and advancement to the national semi‑finals. “Winning the state championship at ACP Doctors’ Dilemma was an unforgettable experience. Beyond the excitement of competing and winning as a team, it was the bond we built that meant the most – two of my teammates became my closest friends in residency, which was more meaningful than the victory itself.”
A dedicated educator, he has served as a substitute teacher, mentored medical students, coordinated residency educational activities as Chief Resident, and represented trainees on the Graduate Medical Education Committee. He also initiated a residency wellness project by organizing a pickleball group that quickly became a popular community‑building activity.
His research experience includes published work on COVID‑19 (De Gruyter Open Access) and on malignant hypertension (first-author, Cureus) as well as submitted abstracts on xenotransplantation perceptions, septicemia, and diagnostic pathology. He has presented at ACP Louisiana, Willis Knighton Research Symposium, and other regional academic forums.
Daniel has a deep intellectual and emotional connection to nephrology, shaped by his multicultural upbringing and his early fascination with Greek philosophy. From reading about Hippocrates’ four humors as a teenager to witnessing the role of fluid and electrolyte balance in nearly every critically ill patient during residency, the specialty resonated with him. “Choosing nephrology brought everything full circle,” he says. “What once seemed abstract now feels like the language of medicine itself. Looking back, it all fits together.”
Outside of work, Daniel likes listening to podcasts and audiobooks while he’s out walking or running. He enjoys playing basketball, soccer, and table tennis, and values spending time with family and friends. In addition to his fondness for history, philosophy, and geography, he is a big fan of strategic computer games such as Command and Conquer: Generals and Age of Empires.
