I am a professor of medicine in the school of medicine, and I have a clinical practice. I am also the director of the Division of Nephrology in the department medicine. I do research on clinical nephrology, including acute and chronic kidney disease. When I started medical school, I didn’t anticipate that I would do much research, but in medical school and residency, I was exposed to a culture of research.  I got involved in research because we have so far to go to improve patient care—we must do everything we can to make even baby steps.

I also really enjoy patient care: there is so much satisfaction in healing and comforting patients. To be able to solve mysteries on the behalf of patients is incredible. Unlike a research project that takes ten years, there is also a daily sense of satisfaction associated with helping patients.

There is a unique spirit of collaboration at Stanford—there is an ease with which people support one another here. There is an attitude of wanting everyone to be successful. Mentorship and diversity are a big part of this. Mentorship was particularly important during my time as a resident and junior faculty member. I have had extraordinary teachers, mentors, and advisors. Diversity makes for more interesting, well-balanced, and successful communities. I believe it should be the goal of all educational institutions—particularly those that train students in the service professions—to cultivate diversity.

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