Description

Ochsner is a tertiary care referral facility with over 1000 physicians, 8 hospitals, and the largest transplant center in the region. In 2020 despite the struggles and uncertainty caused by the pandemic we performed 149 single kidneys 17 simultaneous kidney/pancreas, 11 Combined Liver/Kidney and 3 Combined Heart Kidney transplants. We also have a very active Heart, Bone marrow and Liver alone transplant programs. Currently we have 4 full time Transplant Nephrologists , 9 Transplant Surgeons, 20 Transplant Coordinators, and 10 advanced practice providers,  a tissue typing laboratory, and a world class Renal Pathologist. We have the structure necessary to provide excellent care to our transplant patients and education to our trainees. Ochsner kidney transplant program was ranked # 2 in the nation by Carechex in 2012, and our liver transplant program has been ranked #1 from 2012 to 2016. In 2018 our heart transplant program performed the 1000th heart transplant since his creation in the 1970’s. Two graduates from our ACGME approved Nephrology Fellowship program have joined 3 well recognized Transplant Nephrology Fellowship training programs, which speaks of our commitment to the education of our Nephrology Fellows. We have 4 graduates from our transplant nephrology fellowship that joined academic institutions. Program is on an academic year calendar and applications are accepted throughout the year.

Program Description in detail:

The Transplant Nephrology Fellow has a crucial role in the assessment and management of our allograft recipients during the evaluation process, transplant, and postoperative management phase. The Transplant Fellow (with supervision provided by the Staff Transplant Nephrologist) will be responsible for the evaluation of transplant recipients, discussion during transplant selection meeting, perioperative care, performance of allograft biopsies, and follow up in our outpatient clinic. The fellow will provide co-management responsibility with the Transplant Surgeon from the perioperative through the outpatient period for all kidney and pancreas transplant recipients. The fellow (as an integral part of the transplant team) will be responsible for the selection and administration of induction and maintenance immunosuppression according with accepted protocols in our institution. By the completion of training, the fellow with be well versed in all the indications, contraindications and the potential side effects of using various immunosuppressive agents. Our multidisciplinary approach will provide an unparalleled experience according with the new trends in the practice of evidence-based medicine. The program has access to a wide range of resources to support the educational mission. A diverse and committed faculty is a key resource of the program and essential for the orchestration of daily educational activities. Which include: Daily teaching rounds, core curriculum lectures; longitudinal outpatient clinics, pre transplant and donor clinic, patient safety conference (morbidity and Mortality); transplant selection meeting, QAPI, patient care meeting as well as renal pathology conference twice a week with Vanderbilt Department of Pathology. The curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive review of the core topics in transplant nephrology. In addition, daily mentorship, review papers and input from all members from the transplant clinic will create the fund of knowledge for our trainee. (Please see below other educational resources) The supervising faculty member bears medical and legal responsibility for all final decisions relating to the management of potential transplant candidates, transplant recipient and complications related with patient care. Supervising faculty will be committed to the educational goals and objectives of the Transplant Nephrology training program. Accordingly, the schedule of the supervising faculty member will be adjusted to allow for protected time during teaching rotations for the supervision of the fellow in both the in-patient and out-patient settings. Teaching rounds will be approximately 3 hours per day. If a conflict between service duties and educational activities occurs, the supervising faculty will be responsible for patient care activities and the fellow will be instructed to attend the educational conferences.

Outpatient rotation includes daily clinic form 8 am to 5pm. Continuity clinic Wednesday from 1 to 5 pm. We see new referrals, new donor evaluations, patients referred for combined transplants and follow ups in the waiting list. During a typical day a fellow may see from 8 to 10 patients. (40 patients a week).

1 to 2 donors daily, 3 new referrals for kidney transplant per day and 5 follow ups after kidney transplantation.