Learn what a recent trainee has to say about the program.

Elena-Bianca Barbir, M.D.

Why did you choose Mayo Clinic? As a Canadian trainee with a very limited knowledge of American institutions, I relied on the recommendations of my mentors to determine what programs may be best suited for me. I knew I was interested in renal transplant and onco-nephrology, and there are very few institutions that offer both. I also knew I wanted to pursue my training in an institution that was well resourced, so that I would have access to novel therapies during my training. Dr. Nelson Leung, my current program director, came up in conversations with multiple mentors, and it was ultimately a bone marrow transplant physician who convinced me that I needed to take the opportunity to work with Dr. Leung if it was available. I am thankful for his advice; working with Dr. Leung has allowed me to approach problems in onco-nephrology with a multidisciplinary perspective that I am not certain I would have otherwise acquired. Moreover, choosing Mayo Clinic allowed me to get high volume kidney transplant exposure with a focus on onco-nephrology throughout my transplant training year, which is a unique opportunity. I also knew I had an interest in immune checkpoint inhibitor toxicity specifically, and was excited to work with Dr. Sandra Herrmann, who has already taught me so much in the first half of my fellowship. Similarly, I have been able to work with Dr. Aleksandra Kukla in a longitudinal fashion, following kidney transplant recipients on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy throughout my 2 years here. I am grateful for the supportive learning environment created by Mayo faculty, and for the opportunity to learn from the best with unrestricted access to the tools needed to deliver excellent care.

What are your hobbies? I am a runner and have been delighted to discover the well-established running culture in Rochester, and more widely, in Minnesota, with a mix of trail runs and city runs. There are multiple races throughout the year in Rochester and in neighboring cities that help maintain motivation to keep running. I am also a foodie, and I have had some of my best meals in Minneapolis, which is a short drive away from Rochester. More recently, I’ve been enjoying spending my free time with our young son, and we have been happy to discover that Rochester has what seems like an endless supply of parks; some of which come pre-stocked with children’s toys!

Medical school: Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Residency: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Nephrology fellowship: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada