After 18 years of service to the Division of Nephrology at Tufts Medical Center, Andrew Levey, MD will be stepping down as Chief on April 1, 2017 and passing on the reins to Mark Sarnak, MD, MS.
Dr. Levey is one of the most influential nephrologists of our time and is internationally renowned for his contributions to clinical research in kidney disease. He has developed equations to estimate GFR (glomerular filtration rate), which are recommended by clinical practice guidelines and used by nearly all clinical laboratories in the US and abroad to report estimated GFR. Dr. Levey also led the guideline work groups that proposed the definition and classification of CKD (chronic kidney disease), which are now accepted internationally and have enabled understanding of the US and global burden of CKD. We are very pleased to report that Dr. Levey will continue to take care of patients and conduct research in the Division.
Meet Dr. Sarnak
Dr. Sarnak has been a member of the Division of Nephrology for more than 20 years and is currently the Director of Research for the Division. He is an internationally recognized authority in clinical research in kidney disease, a respected teacher, an outstanding and beloved clinician, and an individual of the highest integrity.
Dr. Sarnak’s research interests include cardiovascular disease (CVD) in chronic kidney disease (CKD). He was one of the earliest contributors to this field and has led many of the seminal papers on CKD as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, traditional and non-traditional risk factors for CVD, cerebrovascular disease and cognitive impairment in CKD, and more recently novel prognostic markers in CKD. His work has provided the basis for our current definition of CKD and led to a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of CVD in CKD.
Dr. Sarnak has continually been funded by the NIH since 2000 and is a prolific author with almost 300 publications. He is a sought after speaker at major nephrology meetings in the US and abroad. In 2014 he received the National Kidney Foundation Shaul G. Massry Distinguished Lecture Award. As a recognized leader in clinical research in nephrology in both the US and abroad he has been asked to lead or be a member of several Guideline Work Groups or Controversy Conferences that are developed by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), the international organization for development of guidelines in nephrology.
He is committed to teaching all levels of medical education. For the last 20 years he has taught medical students, medical residents, renal fellows, as well as nephrologists not only at Tufts, but also throughout the US and abroad, and has received numerous commendations for excellence in teaching. In addition, he has mentored a steady stream of trainees at all levels in clinical research projects. Several of his mentees are now funded by the NIH and many are faculty members of the Division of Nephrology at Tufts Medical Center or other institutions.
Dr. Sarnak also has an outstanding reputation as a clinician. He is a core member of the Division of Nephrology in patient care, including care of dialysis patients, transplant recipients and patients during the earlier stages of CKD. His clinical practice is very active and he is asked by others in the medical field to consult on family and friends, and receives international referrals for his guidance and expertise.
