John B. Stokes, M.D., Professor and Director
The Nephrology Division of the Department of Internal Medicine at The University of Iowa is dedicated to providing outstanding clinical, teaching, and research programs within the Midwest as well as nationally and internationally. The division prides itself in participating in a program that is vigorous, friendly, and open to those who wish to seek answers to important clinical and biological problems.
- An inpatient renal/medicine unit at UIHC devoted to caring for patients with special kidney problems and patients with end-stage renal disease as well as patients with general medical problems.
- A dialysis unit that serves patients with acute renal problems as well as stable patients requiring dialysis. The dialysis unit at UIHC has one of the largest home dialysis populations in the country.
- A transplantation service that provides expertise in transplantation medicine to patients who receive a kidney transplant as well as those who receive heart, lung, pancreas, and liver transplants.
- A consultation and teaching service both at the UIHC and the VAMC designed to provide responsive and up-to-date information regarding appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients with problems related to the kidney including fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base disturbances, and hypertension.
- Nephrology Clinical Services
Nearly all of the members of the Nephrology Division participate in the instruction of second-, third,- and fourth-year medical students who are in various aspects of their training. The renal consultation services provide the opportunity for the majority of our clinical teaching. On any given month, there are usually five staff attendings, three renal fellows, five or six internal medicine residents, and five to eight third- and fourth-year medical students who are involved in the teaching program as it relates to the diagnosis and management of patients with disorders of the kidney and hypertension.
There are three major areas of investigation represented within the division:
- membrane transport and cell biology
- neural control of renal function
- clinical trials [view current trials]
The University of Iowa was awarded a renewal of its O'Brien Kidney Research Center in 2003. Investigators in this program are investigating the regulation of the epithelial Na channel (ENaC). This center also sponsors pilot and feasibility studies for promising ideas.
In addition to these primary programs, members of the division participate heavily in principal programmatic themes within The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Major research programs exist in the Hypertension Specialized Center of Research (SCOR), the Pulmonary Disease SCOR, the Cardiovascular Program Project, and the Cystic Fibrosis Research Center. The activities of the division echo strongly the national recognition of exciting progress in molecular medicine and society's challenge to provide care equitably and at an affordable cost. We are pleased to be a major contributor to the development of future generations of practicing and academic nephrologists.