Fellowship activities & accolades

Fellowship News AY2025-26
New Fellows Orientation Week 2025
Incoming Fellows AY2025-26
Welcome to our new cohort of Nephrology Fellows
Drs. Erin Biringen, Hanna Larson, Heba Maraei, Jessica Todsen, William Chin
Welcome to our Transplant Fellow
Dr. Gaoyuan Huang
Chief Fellow AY2025-26

Nephrology Chief Fellow
Fellowship News AY2024-25
Fellowship Graduation, June 2025
Congratulations to our 2025 Nephrology Fellow Graduates!


Fellow Breakfast Huddle
2025 Fellowship Retreat
Nephrology fellows and leadership gathered at the South Campus Center for their annual retreat.
The day included a mindfulness session with IMA staff, team-building activities, financial management training, and reflection and feedback on our training program. Following the retreat, fellows bonded over mini golf and games at Flatstick Pub (SLU).
UW Medicine Cares Award
Congratulations to Dr. Cassandra Chiao on being nominated for the UW Medicine Cares Award!
The UW Medicine Cares Award formally recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of individuals and teams who consistently exemplify the UW Medicine Service Culture Guidelines.
Nominees go above and beyond to support other members of the UW Medicine community, both patients and colleagues.

Team Building Activity
Dr. Simon Hsu organized a team-building activity at a Seattle-themed Puzzle Break Room, with participants, Drs. Anna Zemke, Kate Butler, and Sarah Haeger. They had a great time solving the puzzle and then enjoyed dinner at the Victor Tavern in South Lake Union.
Home Dialysis Academy of Excellence
Our Chief Fellow, Dr. Gaoyuan Huang, attended the Home Dialysis Academy of Excellence in CA. Besides the fantastic education at the Academy, she also enjoyed dinner with Stanford and UCLA attendees and sang karaoke with them!
Origins of Renal Physiology Course
Dr. Mahlet Assefa and Dr. Cassandra Chiao shared photos from Bar Harbor, Maine, where they attended the Origins of Renal Physiology Course at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory.
New Fellows Orientation and Tutorials 2024


POCUS training at the Harborview WISH Lab
New Fellows Welcome Party 2024

Incoming Fellows AY2024-25
Welcome to our new cohort of Nephrology Fellows
Drs. Ayodale Braimah, Josh Earl, Sarah Haeger, Lily Jeong, and Bang Zheng
Chief Fellow AY2024-25

Nephrology Chief Fellow
Fellowship News AY2023-24
Fellowship Graduation, June 2024
Congratulations to our fellow grads!

Annual South Lake Union Fellow Boat Ride, 2024
The electric boat ride is an annual event and a highlight for the fellows as they close the academic year and celebrate graduation.
Fellows' end-of-year breakfast huddle
Fellow Scholarly Project video
Interactive Learning
Hyponatremia Medical Escape Room
UW Internal Medicine residents participate in a Hyponatremia Medical "Escape Room" at Harborview Medical Center.
Thank you to Dr. Lauren Haggerty and Dr. Nayan Arora for crafting another exciting hands-on learning experience. Moderators included Dr. Justin Bullock, Dr. Cassandra Chiao, and Dr. Anna Zemke.
ITHS KL2 Multidisciplinary Clinical Research

Dr. Lidgard has joined the 2024 cohort of scholars for the ITHS KL2 Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Career Development Program.
Fellowship Retreat 2024
Fellows and program leadership gathered at the UW South Campus Center Crow’s Nest for a day of fellowship and fun, focused on improving interpersonal relationships, communication, and self-advocacy skills. Following the retreat, fellows bonded over mini golf and games at Flatstick Pub.
Docs with Disabilities Initiative

Dr. Bullock has been selected as the new co-director of Docs with Disabilities Initiative, joining the 2024-26 leadership team. Docs with Disabilities Initiative is a leader in disability inclusion in health professions training globally.
Dr. Justin Bullock discusses ableism in medical education
Career Mentorship Dinner 2024
Fellows mingled with UW Nephrology fellow alums and community doctors to learn about career paths and opportunities in the greater Seattle community.
Team Building Event 2024
Fellows and fellowship leadership gathered for a night of ceramic wheel throwing and sculpting pottery at the Seattle Artist League.
Interactive Learning
Acid-Base Escape Room
UW Internal Medicine residents put their nephrology knowledge and skills to the test in an acid-base Medical "Escape Room" at Harborview Medical Center!
Fellows visit the new Pat Fleet Dialysis Unit
Incoming Fellows AY2023-24
Welcome to our new Nephrology Fellows!

Chief Fellow 2023-24

Dr. Lauren Haggerty
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Lauren Haggerty has accepted the position of Nephrology Chief Fellow for the academic year 2023-24.
Fellowship Program Leadership
We look forward to a fantastic new academic year in AY2023-24!

Fellowship News 2022-23
Fellowship Graduation, June 2023
Congratulations to our Nephrology Fellow Graduates of 2023!

New Fellow Welcome Party 2022
Summer fun at Dr. Mehrotra's home! Our annual Fellows Welcome Party took place on a beautiful Seattle day. We are ready for the new academic year, with great things on the horizon.

2022 Ben J. Lipps Research Fellows
Award recipients, Drs. Ben Lidgard and Michael Granda.
The Ben J. Lipps Research Fellowship Program supports nephrology fellows who will advance the understanding of kidney biology and disease.
Chief Fellow 2022-23

Dr. Lauren Ring
We are pleased to announce that Lauren Ring has accepted the position of Nephrology Chief Fellow for the academic year 2022-23.
2022-23 Incoming Fellows
Welcome to the incoming cohort of nephrology fellows! We are excited to have you join our team.

2022-23 Incoming Fellows
Research News

Dr. Michelle Pengshung research in CJASN
Dr. Michelle Pengshung is lead author of "Arterial Stiffness is Independently Associated with Acute Kidney Injury in SPRINT" in CJASN, Clinical Journal of American Society of Nephrology.

Dr. Jasleen Ghuman research in the Journal of Cardiac Failure
Dr. Jasleen Ghuman is lead author of “Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 and Exercise Capacity in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction” in the Journal of Cardiac Failure.

Dr. Christine Limonte Awarded 2021-22 American Kidney Fund Clinical Scientist in Nephrology Fellow
The award, funded with generous support from Akebia Therapeutics, will begin on July 1, 2021. Congratulations! Your selection is a tribute to you, your mentorship team and your institution.
American Kidney Fund Clinical Scientist in Nephrology Fellow

Dr. Simon Hsu - 2019 UWHA Grant Award Winner
Research paper: "Impaired Vitamin D Catabolism as a Therapeutic Target in Chronic Kidney Disease"
Fellowship Graduation & Retreats
Graduation Parties

2025 Fellow Graduation
Congratulations to our class of 2025, Drs. Mahlet Assefa, Megan Griffin, Manuel Rovira, Gauyuan Huang, and Cassandra Chiao.

2024 Fellow Graduation
Congratulations to our 2024 Nephrology graduates, Dr. Justin Bullock, Dr. Amruta Nair, Dr. Anna Zemke, Dr. Lauren Haggerty, Dr. Jae Kim, and Transplant Fellow grad, Dr. Taka Yamada.

2023 Fellow Grads
Congrats to Nephrology graduates, Dr. Eric Luitweiler, Dr. Karen de Wolski, Dr. Lauren Ring, Dr. Michelle Pengshung, Dr. Neha Deval, Transplant Fellow Dr. Danyi Zheng, and Peckham Home Dialysis Fellow, Dr. Amol Patel.

2022 Fellow Grads
Congratulations to Transplant Nephrology Fellow Dr. Ben Boonpheng, and Nephrology Fellows Drs. Jasleen Ghuman, Alex Hawkins, Laura Mayeda, Amol Patel, and Frances Tian.

2021 Fellow Grads
Congratulations to our graduating fellows, Drs. Rasha Alawieh, Paris Barkan, Sandra Carias Zuniga, Mike Granda, Ben Lidgard, Roddy MacDonald, and Ryan Wong.

2020 Fellow Grads
Drs. Indhira De la cruz Alcantara, Nhi Tan, Simon Hsu, and Christine Limonte

2019 Fellow Grads
Drs. Nayan Arora, Saritha Boyapati, Mohammad Izhar, Sarah Struthers, and Muniba Javed

2018 Fellow Grads
Drs. Kate Butler, Abbal Koirala, Mallika Gupta, Natalie Freidin, and Transplant Fellow, Dr. Carrie Minnelli

2017 Fellow Grads
Drs. Anupama Nair, Annie Chen, Ke Wang, and Kelly Mazurek [not pictured: Transplant Fellow, Dr. Samuel Chakola]

2016 Fellow Grads
Drs. Andrew Brookens, Transplant Fellow Iris De Castro, Min Jung Kim, Cary Paine, Matthew Rivara, Arjun Sharma, Susan Wong, and Bairbre McNicholas
Fellowship Retreats
Our annual retreats provide fellows and core faculty with opportunities for fun and informal team-building and educational experiences.