Welcome to the Division of Nephrology in the University of Arizona, College of Medicine - Tucson. We are proud that U.S. News & World Report has ranked our program in the top 50 in the country (20182016, 2015) and continues to rate us as high performing for patient care. As the only academic division of nephrology in the state of Arizona, our goal is to provide high quality clinical nephrology care to our patients, to develop innovative and topical research programs that will impact upon the care that we deliver to our patients, and to be a teaching and training resource to our community...

Bekir Tanriover, MD, MPH, MBA, FAST
Chief, Division of Nephrology

Nephrology

The Division of Nephrology in the University of Arizona Department of Medicine and Banner University Medical Center – Tucson has active programs in clinical nephrology, teaching and training of fellows and residents, and a range of research opportunities. An important focus of the division is to emphasize translational and multi-disciplinary programs that truly go from bedside to bench to bedside in advancing patient care solutions.

At the clinical level, U.S. News & World Report has ranked nephrology care here among the top 50 programs in the country. Division faculty members care for patients with acute kidney injury, glomerulonephritis, complex hypertension, bladder and kidney stones, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). We are one of only four kidney transplant programs in the state of Arizona and have had a recent surge in kidney transplant activity, which has greatly benefitted our community. We also care for an increasing number of patients on hemodialysis, and have a growing home dialysis program (both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis) as well. An important and unique strength has been our partnership with Dialysis Clinics Inc. (DCI) to create a nocturnal hemodialysis program.

Faculty members from the Division of Nephrology are also involved in multiple clinical trials (more than 10 trials at present) targeting diverse kidney problems such as chronic kidney disease, kidney transplantation, vascular access dysfunction and glomerulonephritis.

The Division of Nephrology also has vibrant research programs in CKD progression, organ transplantation, renal genomics, dialysis vascular access, device development and tissue engineering.

Last but not least, an important focus of the division is on mentorship. We recognize that our greatest strength is our faculty and fellows. And, while we are committed to growing our clinical and research portfolios, the most important thing that we want to grow and nurture is people—our staff, faculty and fellows!

News & Announcements

[Images of Department of Medicine faculty who won 2025 College of Medicine - Tucson  Faculty Awards presented Feb. 27 at the HSIB Forum on the U of A Health Sciences Tucson campus.]
Fanfare at 2025 College of Medicine – Tucson Faculty Teaching Awards Rewarding for All

The Department of Medicine took 19 of 68 total awards presented Feb. 27 at the HSIB Forum. Eight divisions were represented by faculty winners, with three each to Inpatient Medicine and General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, two to Hem-Onc, PACCS and Nephrology, and one for Cardiology, Endocrinology and Infectious Diseases. See who won and a mini-photo gallery.


[A collage of images of Department of Medicine staff preparing for Thank A Resident Day, a celebration of physicians training in residency programs and all the work they do teaching students and treating patients as hospital housestaff]
Thank A Resident Day, Feb. 28, offers chance to show ‘housestaff’ our appreciation

The Vice Chair of Education Office and Internal Medicine Residency Program at the Department of Medicine are uniting to promote “Thank a Resident Day,”  by collecting thank you messages. Add your note of gratitude for their work with students and patients here and nationwide.


[A collage of images from 2024 IMSA Internal Medicine Speed Dating event]
Signups sought for faculty-student networking at Internal Medicine Speed Dating event

Capitalizing on high interest from medical students, organizers for the March 11 showcase of internal medicine specialties and subspecialties are looking for faculty to double down in sharing varied experiences in their path to primary care.