Fellowship Training Program
For more than 40 years, the UCSF Nephrology Fellowship Program has prepared fellows to become outstanding clinical nephrologists, physician-scientists, educators, and leaders in kidney health.
Fellows train across three complementary health systems: UCSF Health, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System. Together, these sites provide experience across quaternary academic medicine, safety-net care, and the VA system while serving patients from diverse backgrounds throughout Northern California.
We offer three NRMP application tracks: Clinical, Research, and Combined Adult/Pediatric. Each provides rigorous clinical training, individualized mentorship, and opportunities tailored to fellows’ career goals.
Our fellowship mission statement:
The UCSF Nephrology Fellowship Program trains outstanding physicians who excel in clinical care, education, research, and patient advocacy. In alignment with UCSF’s PRIDE values (Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity, Excellence) and Principles of Community, our program is committed to advancing and sustaining opportunity for all. Fellows gain broad experience in delivering world-class patient care, advancing kidney health through discovery and advocacy, and working with medically, economically, or educationally disadvantaged populations. Graduates are prepared for leadership roles in medical education, clinical practice, basic and clinical research, and life sciences industry.
Why Train at UCSF?
Research Overview
Clinical Training
Comprehensive Clinical Training
Fellows receive broad exposure to acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, electrolyte and acid-base disorders, glomerular disease, dialysis, critical care nephrology, pregnancy-related kidney disease, kidney pathology, and transplantation.
Training across a university-based referral center, a public safety-net hospital, and a Veterans Affairs medical center prepares graduates to practice in a wide range of clinical environments.
The learning experience is supported by a weekly protected educational half-day, individualized faculty coaching, substantial second-year elective time, and a dedicated night-float model designed to promote sustainable overnight coverage.
Explore Clinical Training
Learn About Fellowship Didactics
Individualized Career Development
Fellows can tailor their training through institution-wide UCSF GME pathways, nephrology-specific longitudinal clinical pathways completed within the standard fellowship, and post-fellowship advanced subspecialty training. Opportunities span medical education, global health, clinical informatics, glomerular disease, polycystic and genetic kidney disease, ESKD and dialysis, kidney stone disease, transplantation, and other areas.
Explore Special Fellowship Pathways
Learn About Transplant Nephrology Fellowship
Research Training and Support
UCSF’s Research Track prepares fellows for careers as independent investigators through individualized mentorship, formal training in research methods, and substantial protected research time. Fellows may pursue basic-science or clinical-research pathways across UCSF’s broad research community.
Research-track fellows remain on the UCSF clinical PGY salary scale throughout their research years.
Division supplements external grant or training-fund support as needed to maintain PGY-level compensation. Depending on the pathway, additional support may include funded graduate education and dedicated research funding.
Explore Research Training
Basic Science Research Track
Clinical Research Track
See Fellows’ Research
Compensation, Benefits, and Fellow Support
UCSF Nephrology fellows receive a union-negotiated salary based on postgraduate year. The UCSF compensation scale includes a housing allowance. Fellows and eligible dependents receive comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, life, and disability coverage, as well as paid leave, retirement savings options, behavioral health support, and family-forming resources.
Fellows receive four weeks of paid vacation each academic year. Because salary scales, leave policies, and institutional benefits are periodically updated through collective bargaining and UCSF policy, applicants should consult the UCSF’s Prospective Residents and Fellows page for current salary, benefits and policy information.
In addition to UCSF-wide benefits, nephrology fellows receive program-specific support that includes:
- Site-specific meal allowances during rotations at UCSF Health, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and the San Francisco VA
- Support toward initial California medical licensure and eligible visa application and renewal fees
- Technology support at the start of fellowship
- Funding and protected time to attend national nephrology conferences
- Division-sponsored fellow wellness and community events
- Eligible incoming fellows may also have access to relocation assistance, interest-free transition loans, UCSF campus housing, and childcare and family resources.
Learn More
Program Leadership
Christopher Carlos, MD, MAS
Site Director, UCSF Parnassus
Fellowship Program Director
[email protected]
Adrian Whelan, MD, MAS
Transplant Fellowship Program Director
[email protected]
Dana Larsen, MD, MAEd
Associate Program Director
Site Director, SFVAHC
[email protected]
Laalasa Varanasi, MD
Faculty Wellness Champion
[email protected]
Uchenna Nwosu, MD, MHS
Site Director, ZSFG
[email protected]
Tiffany Tam
Fellowship Program Administrator
[email protected]