Nephrology
Our nationally ranked pediatric nephrology team handles everything from common kidney diseases such as kidney infections, to kidney transplants and rare organ abnormalities. Our team will be with you every step of the way. We offer everything from dialysis and transplant care - to the management of kidney disease with life-changing procedures and medications.
We aim to keep your child's kidneys functioning at their best and have the proven expertise to help a child facing the complexities of renal failure.
CHoR kidney (renal) care
- We offer same-day or next-day appointments
- On-site laboratories, imaging tools and other diagnostic resources allow us to share results and start treatments during the same visit
- We treat those with long-term kidney care from infancy through their college years
- Nationally ranked pediatric nephrologists can treat your child close to home
Meet our team and find a location near you
A team of pediatric nephrology experts to help you care for your child
We focus on integrated care because children who suffer from kidney issues often have other conditions too. We know navigating a new diagnosis can be a lot for families, so our team will work with you to manage your child's care all under one roof, bringing in pediatric specialists from urology, rheumatology, cardiology, neurology and other areas as needed. Your child can see their entire team during one visit - this might include doctors, social workers, dietitians, nurses and nurse educators. We're trained in the art and science of working with toddlers and young adults (and every age in between), and we include them in discussions about their health. We're confident in our talented team, but we know that no one cares more for your child than you.
Our nurses are your primary point of contact between visits. Our dietitians help develop tailored meal plans and share eating strategies for kids with poor appetites, as kidney disease can hinder growth. To help you navigate your child's care, our social workers connect you with the right educational tools and other resources so you can be the strongest advocate possible for your child. We focus on using the least-invasive tests and procedures when possible, because we know kids want to quickly get back to being kids.
Our approach to developing a personalized treatment plan for your child could include:
- Blood work
- Kidney biopsy Imaging (ultrasound, CT, MRI, fluoroscopic X-ray and nuclear medicine)
- Urinalysis
- Collaboration with other pediatric experts at CHoR
The nephrology team is available to us anytime we need them. I sometimes message them and I often have a response within minutes. I feel like they genuinely care about Audrey and our whole family. I couldn't imagine going through this without the team we have at CHoR
Tiffany Costa, Audrey's mom
Kidney diseases and conditions we treat
- Acute or chronic kidney (renal) failure (sudden or long-term failure)
- Pediatric kidney disease
- Kidney infections in kids
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
- Kidney stones in kids
- Spina bifida (kidney evaluation)
Comprehensive kidney programs for kids
The specialized programs include:
- Hypertension: Treating high blood pressure
- Dialysis program: In our outpatient dialysis unit or at home
- Kidney transplant program: Care before, during and after transplant
Jacob's story
A trip to the emergency room with flu like symptoms in December 2019 revealed 16-year-old Jacob Jones had been living with a serious kidney condition.
That's when they met Dr. Timothy Bunchman, chief of nephrology at CHoR, and Jacob was officially diagnosed with renal dysplasia, meaning his kidneys had never properly developed and at just 16 years old, they were failing. He was going to need a transplant.