Kidney Week 2025 Annual Meeting-Nephrology Workforce: The Future Is Now

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The recorded session focuses on key pressures and potential solutions for the U.S. nephrology workforce and training pipeline.<br /><br />Dr. Robert Hoover reviews ASN workforce data, highlighting that most nephrology fellows (including international graduates) plan to remain in the U.S., often near where they trained. Fellows increasingly prioritize quality-of-life factors (call burden, location, vacation) and compensation when choosing jobs. Encouragingly, the share of fellows who would recommend nephrology has risen to ~90%. The overall nephrologist workforce has grown faster than the population and roughly parallels growth in ESKD prevalence, but diversity gaps remain: Black and Hispanic physicians are underrepresented despite disproportionate kidney disease burden. Compensation data are inconsistent, but emerging “Verify” data suggest median total pay around $301K, higher than typical first-year post-fellowship salaries.<br /><br />Michelle Laird describes Cleveland Clinic’s expansion of advanced practice providers (APPs) to address rising consult volumes, burnout, and unfilled fellowship positions. APPs provide inpatient and outpatient coverage, improve workflow, support education and research, and help stabilize weekend/holiday staffing. She emphasizes structured onboarding, role-specific skill development, and metrics to assess quality and productivity.<br /><br />Dr. Jing Mao discusses AI and social media in nephrology education. Mayo fellows report high interest in AI but little formal training. Practical uses include article summaries, journal club prompts, curriculum development (e.g., POCUS), and decision-support augmentation—while stressing risks like hallucinations, bias, and privacy concerns. Social media and multimedia platforms are presented as major tools for dissemination, networking, and education, requiring professionalism and safeguards.<br /><br />Dr. Ursula Brewster outlines training challenges: declining match fill rates (73% of positions; only 58% of tracks filled), reduced selectivity, lower first-time board pass rates, and major visa-policy threats to IMG-dependent programs. She proposes a future tiered competency-based training framework and calls for stronger advocacy and wellness support.

Asset Subtitle

Moderator(s): Eleanor Lederer, Kim Zuber

Presentation(s):

An Overview from the Ivory Tower - Robert Hoover
Incorporating and Collaborating with Advanced Practice Providers in Nephrology Training Programs - Michelle Lard
Use of Artificial Intelligence and Social Media for Nephrology Education and Training - Jing Miao
Challenges of Nephrology Training and Fellowship - Ursula Brewster

Meta Tag

Date 11/7/2025

Pathway 1 Other

Session ID 507243

Keywords

U.S. nephrology workforce

nephrology fellowship pipeline

ASN workforce data

international medical graduates (IMG) visas

nephrology match fill rates

kidney disease workforce diversity

ESKD prevalence trends

nephrologist compensation

quality-of-life job factors

advanced practice providers (APPs) nephrology

burnout and staffing models

APP onboarding and productivity metrics

AI in nephrology education

social media medical education professionalism

competency-based nephrology training