WashU Nephrology is excited to welcome Mahmoud M. Musa, MD, as our 2025 renal transplant fellow. Our comprehensive, one-year Transplant Nephrology Program, which is dually accredited by American Society of Transplantation (ATS) and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), offers trainees the opportunity to be part of one of the largest and most experienced kidney transplant centers in the United States.
Mahmoud earned his medical degree from Jordan University of Science & Technology (JUST), Faculty of Medicine, Jordan. He then completed an internship at King Abdullah University Hospital, Irbid, Jordan, and his internal medicine residency at JUST/King Abdullah University Hospital Irbid (KAUH). He joins WashU Nephrology after completing a nephrology fellowship and an internal medicine residency at Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI.
During his tenure as Chief Medical Resident at JUST/KAUH, Mahmoud is proud to have achieved two major leadership objectives that have shaped and honed his academic and administrative skills. First, he prioritized creating a supportive and welcoming work environment by fostering collaboration and camaraderie among residents. He established the “Resident Wellness Committee,” which organized a variety of outdoor activities aimed at enhancing well-being and teamwork.
Second, Mahmoud improved clinical education within their program by initiating the “Resident Core-Curriculum Committee.” This committee developed a comprehensive curriculum focusing on high-yield topics across various subspecialties of internal medicine. These topics were thoroughly reviewed by esteemed specialists before being presented to residents each academic year. Furthermore, he played a pivotal role in coordinating the board review series and was instrumental in maintaining and moderating a unique educational opportunity, the “Radiology-Medicine Meeting.” This weekly meeting provided residents with the opportunity to present clinical cases and gain hands-on experience interpreting imaging studies, including X-rays, CTs, and MRIs.
“Throughout my training journey in both Jordan and the United States, I have dedicated over a decade to medical education, mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows. It has been immensely rewarding to witness the growth of junior trainees as they develop confidence and expertise through firsthand clinical experiences.”
His teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking, pathophysiology, and a thorough approach to evaluating presenting symptoms, especially in complex or atypical cases. “I encourage myself and my trainees to think creatively and challenge diagnoses when clinical findings deviate from expectations.”
Mahmoud’s passion for nephrology began when he admitted a high school student to the medical ICU who initially presented with epistaxis at a community hospital. She was later referred to their university hospital with severe anemia (hemoglobin of 6 g/dL) and was found to have platelet dysfunction and anemia from long-standing CKD.
“During her workup, I discovered bilateral tortuous dilated ureters and shrunken kidneys, going through the broad differential diagnoses of that specific age deepened my interest in nephrology. My fascination with transplant nephrology grew during my nephrology training when I realized that dialysis, while life-sustaining, is neither the optimal nor the desired treatment for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).”
He found transplant nephrology to be far more rewarding, offering patients improved quality of life and long-term outcomes. “I am deeply committed to advancing this field and contributing to better care for ESKD patients.”
With an interest in research, Mahmoud co-authored several publications including “Antiphospholipid Syndrome in a Patient With Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: The Surface of the Moon,” a 2022 publication in Cureus, and “Peritoneal Dialysis Related Pleural Effusion, A Diagnostic Dilemma…? A Case Report and Review of Literature,” which was recently submitted to the Journal of Radiology Case Reports. Additionally, his poster “Barriers to Care in a Patient with Fibrosarcomatous Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans” was accepted at the Society of General Internal Medicine Midwest Meeting 2024.
In his free time, Mahmoud enjoys jet-skiing, kayaking, hiking, and road trips. He also has a particular fondness for Mansaf, a traditional Jordanian dish, especially when prepared with Karaki Jameed (dried yogurt, specifically made from ewe’s milk) and organic ghee.
Follow Dr. Mahmoud Musa @MMMMusa24 on X.
