Pediatric Nephrology Program

Specialized Kidney Care for Newborns, Infants, Children, and Adolescents

The Pediatric Nephrology Program, located in New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, provides family-centered care for children with all forms of kidney disease.

Our dedicated team includes physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, and a renal nutritionist, who support parents and caregivers through every stage of the medical process. We work closely with doctors from other specialties to provide the best possible care for our patients.

Many kidney conditions in children are congenital, meaning they are present at birth. When your baby has been diagnosed with a kidney condition prenatally (before birth), we work with you, your doctor, and your family to create a treatment plan for when your baby is born.

Kidney Conditions We Treat

Our experts provide diagnosis and treatment for children of all ages who are experiencing issues related to the kidney and urinary tract, including:

• Acute kidney injury
• Chronic kidney disease
• End-stage renal disease (kidney failure that requires dialysis or a kidney transplant)
• Fluid and electrolyte abnormalities
• Glomerulonephritis (inflammation affecting the filters of the kidneys)
• Hematuria (blood in the urine) and proteinuria (abnormal amounts of protein in the urine)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Kidney stones
• Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)
• Enuresis (bedwetting)
• Nephrotic syndrome (large amounts of protein in the urine that causes swelling)
• Congenital urinary tract and kidney malformations
• Hereditary kidney conditions including Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
• Kidney and bladder infections

Kidney Treatment at Columbia Children’s Health

Our doctors use the most advanced techniques and therapies to diagnose and treat kidney-related disorders—with a focus on family support and long-term follow-up care. Depending on the type or severity of the disease, your child’s treatment plan may include medication, which can slow the progression of the disease. We may also refer you to one of our collaborating specialists or, if an inherited disorder is suspected, for genetic testing.

Chronic kidney disease can lead to growth issues, learning challenges, and emotional difficulties. Our program includes support from social workers, who help family and teachers learn about how best to support your child. Our dedicated renal nutritionist can help you create a diet that provides maximum nutrition while minimizing symptoms related to kidney disease.

Our doctors provide comprehensive evaluation, care, and follow-up for children with end stage kidney failure who require dialysis to perform the functions of the kidneys. We work closely to identify the best form of dialysis for your child and your family. Our patients are treated with both hemodialysis, which uses a machine to remove fluid and waste when the kidneys no longer can. We also offer peritoneal dialysis, which uses the lining of your child’s belly instead of a dialysis machine and can be done at home.  We work together with our exceptional dialysis nurses to make sure that your family is supported throughout this process.

The kidney transplant team follows patients before, during, and after transplantation. Our dedicated transplant nurse and social worker will help prepare and guide your family through the entire process. Our team includes surgeons, nephrologists, pharmacists, and nutritionists focused on the success of your child’s new kidney.

Our pediatric nephrologists see patients until the age of 21. Older teens work with a nephrologist who is board certified in both pediatric and adult nephrology and transplantation to help with the transition to adulthood with a kidney condition.

Access to the Latest Research and Clinical Trials

Our active research program is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other organizations. Our patients benefit from clinical trials of the latest therapies. We are currently studying:

• Mechanisms of Kidney Tubular Atrophy: Urinary tract obstruction during kidney development may cause kidney malformation, which is a leading cause of renal failure in children. Our active research aims to understand the mechanism of tubular atrophy, which could guide our future strategies in preventing and/or slowing down the progression of chronic kidney disease.
• Glomerulonephropathy: We are a part of the Cure Glomerulonephropathy Network (CureGN), a multicenter study of four glomerular diseases including minimal change disease (MCD), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), membranous nephropathy (MN), and IgA nephropathy (IGAN). Collaborating with the adult nephrology division at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, we follow patients longitudinally to better understand the causes of disease, response to therapy, and disease progression. The ultimate objective is to cure glomerulonephropathy.
• IgA-related Disorders: GIGA-Kids Study (Genomics of IgA-related Disorders in Kids Study) is a multicenter collaborative study based at Columbia University and sponsored by the Midwest Pediatric Nephrology Consortium (MWPNC). Together, we are studying over 1,000 children with IgA nephropathy or Henoch-Schönlein purpura (with or without nephritis) for the purpose of genetic, genomic and biomarker investigations.

Our Doctors

Our physicians are double-board-certified in pediatrics and nephrology.

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Locations

Our doctors see patients at New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, and at outpatient locations in midtown Manhattan, Riverdale, and White Plains. 

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