Latest news on the IPNA educational activities and projects
IPNA Education Newsletter #1/2022
Dear IPNA Members and Friends,
We are pleased to present this next issue of the IPNA Education Newsletter. IPNA continues to deliver on its mission to be the premier education resource for professionals and patients concerned about pediatric kidney disease. This work of IPNA involves a village, and several of the articles herein highlight the outstanding work of our members. The IPNA website continues to expand its trove of enduring educational materials and a link to that site is included in the newsletter.
The extent of our Teaching Courses, IPNA Webinars, and Junior Master Classes is described in the first column – these teams deserve plaudits for continuing to deliver well-received activities through all the challenges of 2021. A brief exposition on tips for designing and delivering an effective IPNA Teaching Course is also included.
Short columns from IPNA Fellows Dr. Andreea Rogozea (from , training at Necker Hospital in Paris) and Dr. Eduardo Churqui (from Bolivia, training at the Hospital Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte in Brazil) detail the experiences they are acquiring, and will be able to bring back to their home countries, through these IPNA-sponsored programs.
Finally, we are pleased to recognize the Sister Renal Centers Program 2022 Winners, (National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippines supported by Children's Hospital at Westmead, Australia and Cornwall Regional Hospital, Jamaica supported by Children's National Hospital, Washington/USA) and the terrific accomplishments of Prof. Rezan Topaloglu, our 2021 IPNA Educational Award honoree, in particular for her groundbreaking work with the IPNA Junior Master Class series.
We hope you will enjoy these short pieces and the work of our talented IPNA members!
Thank you,
John D. Mahan, PEC Chair
Don Batisky, Communication Committee Chair
IPNA Educational Programs in 2021
In 2021 we continued with our IPNA Clinical Practice webinars, which attracted a total of 1718 attendees from 115 countries. We organized 9 IPNA webinars with 2 new pilot sessions - A webinar on Alport Syndrome in March that was conducted in collaboration with the Alport Foundation and the first joint webinar of IPNA and ISPD in November. There were also three regular joint ISN-IPNA Webinars.
In a line with IPNA´s global mission, the webinar recordings are available with free access to everyone. Browse the archive here.
Compared to 2020, we were pleased to see the increased number of the IPNA Teaching Courses. Following the Covid restrictions, 48 % were organized in virtual set-up, while 40 % were as hybrid courses and 12 % as physical courses. IPNA provided financial support to each course for 4,072 USD on average.
There were also two IPNA Junior Master Classes (JMC). IPNA-ESPN JMC took place virtually in September, while IPNA-AsPNA JMC was organized at the turn of August and September including the first virtual dialysis hands on workshop.
Here are few tips from the other IPNA Teaching Courses organizers:
It is great to circulate the information letter about your upcoming Teaching Course sufficiently in advance, not only for pediatric nephrologists, but among adult nephrologists, urologists, general practitioners, fellows, residents, and allied health professionals. IPNA is also happy to circulate the invitation to all IPNA members.
Including poll questions into the program of a virtual Teaching Course can increase your participants’ learning and retention of new knowledge.
In case of the virtual TC, it is better when the presentations are pre-recorded to avoid any technical/connection problems when streaming to your participants.
Will you be providing CME credits? Keep in mind that these can take time to obtain so make it one of the first things you do as you prepare your TC.
Organizing an IPNA Teaching Course is not a one man show. Having a team of supporters is a great way to ensure a well-run TC, and the aspects of the course – website management, registration, advertisement, communication with speakers, certificates issuing and others.
Halfway through my IPNA Fellowship Training
Until now, in the middle of my training at Necker Hospital in Paris, I have done clinical examination in outpatient (+ follow-up) and inpatient clinic, learning how to manage acute cases of nephrotic and nephritic syndromes, hypertension, rare diseases, renal malformations, renal transplant and follow-up. I have assisted renal transplant interventions (2) and renal biopsies (10) of transplanted kidney and native kidney. I have gained knowledge of renal imaging techniques for UTI, renal malformations, urological diseases (ultrasound, doppler ultrasound, x-ray, cystographies,
IRM, Uro-IRM, Scintigraphies) by participating in urology and radiology meetings and also knowledge of renal histology and histopathology by attending histology meetings. I have sent two abstracts to IPNA Congress (clinical research and a case report) and I have one more research in progress.
All the best,
Andreea Rogozea
IPNA Fellow
Dr. Eduardo Churqui is starting his fellowship training
In 2022 April round of applications for the IPNA Fellowship Program, we accepted a total of 13 applicants who will soon start their training. Dr. Churqui from Bolivia is one of them, and will conduct the training at the Hospital Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte in Brazil.
"Starting in the pediatrics area was a dream come true, learning to listen to them without them knowing how to speak or not knowing how to express themselves and understanding what they feel was the most wonderful thing, accompanying patients with chronic kidney disease with only palliative treatment led me to find a way to be able to help them directly or indirectly, today I feel grateful and immensely happy because IPNA gives me the opportunity to expand my knowledge,
explore new forms of treatment in the area of pediatric nephrology and even be able to say good morning that Bolivian children can now have the opportunity to enter a kidney transplant program."
Dr. Eduardo Churqui
Prof. Rezan Topaloglu receives the IPNA Educational Award
Rezan has served in IPNA and ESPN for many years as a council member and president of the ESPN. She is dedicated to the education of young colleagues to become state-of-the-art pediatric nephrologists.
Prof. Topaloglu made tremendous efforts to establish and promote the IPNA Junior Master Classes program and served as the first chair of this committee since 2013. She organized all IPNA-ESPN Junior Master Classes since 2014 (n=9). Together with other colleagues she established a three year curriculum.
The IPNA ESPN Junior Master Classes are especially dedicated to pediatric residents, pediatricians with special interest in pediatric nephrology, fellows in pediatric nephrology and young pediatric nephrologists. In addition, prof. Topaloglu facilitates other regional societies to organize Junior Master Classes, for example the Asian and African societies.
Prof. Topaloglu expressed that she is very pleased and honored by receiving the award.
The IPNA Sister Center Committee is delighted to announce that in 2022 we have been able to award again 2 successful applications. Congratulations go to National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippines supported by Children's Hospital at Westmead, Australia and Cornwall Regional Hospital, Jamaica supported by Children's National Hospital, Washington/USA. We look forward to hearing about their joint activities!
Above a photo of some of the Nephrology Team at Children's National, Washington.
Appreciation of the IPNA Sister Renal Centers Program - Letter from Dr. Syed Saimul Huque
With due respect, I would like to express my whole-hearted gratitude to you for our one year Sister Renal Center training program with NUH-Children’s Kidney Center, Singapore and I cannot thank enough the IPNA council for making it possible for us. We have learned countless things about Pediatric Nephrology under the mentorship of Professor Yap Hui Kim and Dr. NG Kar Hui. This professional collaborative training will be a huge opportunity and privilege for our center. I appreciate Dr. NG Kar Hui, for her professional commitment, spirit, sense of responsibilities and feelings for our patients as well as our doctors. Her way of disseminating knowledge among the junior doctors is truly appreciatable.
Through this training, we have got the opportunity to develop our clinical skills. I strongly trust that this training, on basic clinical practice in pediatric nephrology, chronic pediatric peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis, pediatric renal transplantation and critical care nephrology will not only ensure our considerable professional development but also will be able to contribute our organization and my country to much a higher degree.
Dr. Syed Saimul Huque
Coordinator, Emerging Centre
This award is made possible through the generous support of the Rea Family. The fellowship is a competitive award intended to provide salary support to eligible trainees who wish to pursue
research training in the area of childhood inflammatory diseases, with preferred focus on vasculitis. To apply, please visit ACHRI’s Trainee Funding page and select “Fellowship Support”.
Assistant/Associate Professor - Pediatric Nephrology
The Department of Pediatrics at Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University seeks a BC/BE full-time pediatric nephrologist to expand its outpatient and inpatient clinical services at Niswonger Children’s Hospital. The position will be as the primary nephrologist to serve a four-state region of underserved central Appalachia that covers Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Southeast Kentucky and Western North Carolina. The ETSU Quillen College of Medicine is part of a vibrant Academic Health Science Center that includes colleges of nursing, public health, pharmacy and allied health.
This clinical track position is open to a rank of assistant/associate/full professor depending upon qualifications. Academic rank and salary will commensurate with prior experience. Pediatric nephrology board certification or eligibility is required at time of hire. The position is available immediately and will be open until filled.
The position is contingent upon outside funding. Candidate must have the ability to teach medical students and residents and perform routine and customary care of the inpatient and outpatient Pediatric Nephrology patients. Eligible J1 waiver candidates will be considered. For consideration, candidates must apply and submit all required documents to the university’s hiring system and follow any special instructions listed in the posting. https://jobs.etsu.edu/postings/20651
ETSU is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, an area that is family friendly, has great schools, and is rich in history, musical traditions, and outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and biking.
ETSU is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce by ensuring all of our students, faculty, and staff work in an environment of openness and acceptance. Successful candidates should have a demonstrated commitment and contribution to fostering and advancing equity, diversity and inclusion. East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.
