The Nephrology Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale offers a highly personalized, clinically rigorous training experience within one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems, set in the highly desirable Phoenix metropolitan area. As a two-year clinical fellowship with only two fellows per year, the program provides comprehensive clinical exposure, individualized mentorship from nationally recognized faculty, and direct access to world-class expertise and facilities.

Our training model is grounded in depth, breadth, and balance, with an emphasis on mentorship, and the flexibility to tailor training to individual career goals. You will learn in a supportive environment that prioritizes wellbeing and a sustainable work-life balance throughout the training. By combining exceptional clinical experience, forward-thinking innovation, and a collaborative culture, the program prepares you to thrive across the full spectrum of nephrology careers.

Why train at Mayo Clinic Arizona Nephrology Fellowship?

• Experience general and specialty outpatient nephrology. You will gain broad exposure to the full spectrum of kidney disease through a balanced outpatient experience. In addition to managing common conditions such as chronic kidney disease and hypertension, you will rotate through dedicated subspecialty clinics and Centers of Excellence in glomerulonephritis, onconephrology, amyloidosis, polycystic kidney disease, complex hypertension, and kidney stone diseases. This experience is complemented by longitudinal exposure to all dialysis modalities, including in-center hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and home hemodialysis.
• Service-learning. Through a longstanding partnership with Valleywise Health Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center, you will participate in a community-centered training experience. You will care for a diverse patient population with a wide range of renal pathologies, including pregnancy-related kidney disease and burn-related kidney and electrolyte disorders.
• Train in one of the largest kidney transplant programs in the U.S. Mayo Clinic Arizona is consistently ranked among the top 5% of kidney and pancreas transplant centers nationwide, providing well-rounded exposure to transplant nephrology. You will gain skills in managing both living donors and kidney and pancreas transplant recipients across inpatient and outpatient settings. This clinical experience is supported by a multidisciplinary transplant team actively engaged in research and national committees across a broad range of topics.
• Look under the microscope. You will gain comprehensive, hands-on exposure to renal pathology at Mayo Clinic Arizona, where more than 1,500 native and transplant kidney biopsies are processed each year. Your training includes a dedicated four-week rotation in renal pathology, with opportunities for additional elective time based on your interests. This experience is complemented by a twice-a-month renal pathology conference throughout training and access to fully digitized slides, helping you integrate pathology into everyday clinical decision-making.
• Experience renal physiology in the renal lab. A rotation at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, offers you an in-depth experience in performing urinalysis and microscopy, urine chemistry interpretation, and iothalamate clearance testing. The rotation includes time for review of case studies in electrolytes and acid-base, GFR measurement, urine supersaturation, stone analysis, and acute kidney injury biomarkers. This experience is complemented by time dedicated to learning renal physiology during first year and access to an on-site renal studies unit, where specialized testing such as iothalamate clearance and water deprivation studies is performed.
• Design, implement, analyze, and publish. Numerous clinical research opportunities are available in the fields of general nephrology, hypertension, and transplant nephrology. Opportunities to collaborate with investigators across Mayo Clinic are available. You will have dedicated time for clinical research and access to biostatistical support. Our past and current fellows have presented their work annually at national conferences, including the National Kidney Foundation, American Society of Nephrology, American Transplant Congress, International Society of Nephrology, and the Mayo Clinic Nephrology Update Course.
• Learn to educate and lead. At Mayo Clinic, we don’t just train nephrologists—we shape future leaders and educators. You’ll have exciting opportunities to teach medical students at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, lead dynamic inpatient consult teams of residents and fourth-year students, and elevate your skills through our Clinician Educator Pathway and leadership development courses. Whether in the classroom or on the wards, you'll be empowered to inspire, mentor, and lead with confidence.
• Innovate. Our curriculum is always evolving to reflect the latest advances in clinical care and medical education. You'll dive into hands-on simulation experiences at Mayo Clinic Simulation Centers, lead flipped classrooms, and engage in a well-rounded POCUS curriculum. You’ll also explore how to leverage the power of AI in both your learning and your clinical practice.
• Thrive. Mayo Clinic is not only a place to train, it is a welcoming community. At Mayo Clinic's campus in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, you will experience a supportive culture built on teamwork and mutual respect. Your wellbeing during training is at the heart of our training program.

Accreditation

The Nephrology Fellowship fulfills the requirements for subspecialty training in nephrology as stated by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Certification

You will be eligible to take the American Board of Internal Medicine subspecialty examination in nephrology upon successful completion of the Nephrology Fellowship.

Program history

The Nephrology Fellowship at Mayo Clinic's campus in Arizona began in July 2013. The class size increased to two fellows per year effective July 2023.

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