Lurie Children's is home to the region’s largest pediatric kidney diseases (pediatric nephrology) team, caring for more than 4,000 infants, children and adolescents each year.
Our Division of Nephrology (Kidney Disease) offers a full scope of care, including dialysis and kidney transplantation for children with kidney failure. Children can also receive multi-organ transplantation, such as liver-kidney transplantation for oxalosis or polycystic kidney disease. We are a world-renowned program, and our outcomes rank among the top centers in the U.S. for both transplant and dialysis. Our Pediatric Kidney Transplantation Program continues to rank among the nation’s ten best pediatric programs and is the largest of its kind in Illinois.
Our Approach
We believe in family-centered care, which means that we involve the whole family along with the patient to promote the best health outcomes. Our many family support services include:
- A school services program
- Family education
- Teen groups
- Coordination of home healthcare, as needed
- Prenatal counseling for disorders involving the kidney
Kidney disease can cause other health problems, such as failure to thrive, heart disease, physical limitations and, sometimes, unique behavioral problems. Therefore, it is important that children with kidney disease receive care from many types of healthcare providers who jointly create a care plan. Our multidisciplinary team approach makes it easier for you to see every specialist your child needs, often in the same visit.
The division provides a complete patient evaluation in the outpatient setting at our main hospital, as well as on the kidney diseases inpatient service as needed. We offer specialized tests and kidney biopsy procedures (percutaneously [through the skin] removing a small piece of kidney tissue for inspection under a microscope) when needed. We have pioneered a new method for accurately measuring kidney function called measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR), rather than using estimates.
Our full range of medical and surgical treatments includes kidney replacement therapies such as dialysis and kidney transplants as well as plasma exchange (plasmapheresis) and removal of dangerously elevated cholesterol levels (lipopheresis).
Our team also takes a coordinated specialty care approach for children with multisystem diseases, including tuberous sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, congenital abnormalities of the kidney/urinary tract, primary hyperoxaluria, kidney stones, hypertension and nephropathic cystinosis.
Our physician-researchers actively conduct research in patients and the laboratory. Our studies are improving kidney disease treatments for children, as well as our knowledge about the genetic basis of kidney diseases.
Nationally-Ranked Care
Lurie Children's is ranked 11th in the nation for pediatric nephrology by U.S.News & World Report.
Pediatric Nephrology Programs
Our specialists participate in multidisciplinary programs that care for children with kidney diseases, including:
Kidney Diseases in Children We Treat
Our pediatric specialists treat children for all types of kidney diseases and their complications, including:
Pediatric Nephrology Specialists
Our entire staff is dedicated to evaluating and treating pediatric patients from infancy through adolescence. Our team has many years of experience and a great depth of knowledge about kidney diseases affecting children and adolescents. Our specialists include:
- Board-certified pediatric nephrologists
- Kidney transplant surgeons
- Pediatric nurse practitioners
- Pediatric dietitians
- Imaging specialists
- Social workers
- Psychologists
- Dedicated pediatric dialysis staff
Our team also works closely with all other Lurie Children’s specialists as needed, including close affiliations with the divisions of Urology, Cardiology, Gastroenterology and Rheumatology.
For physicians who want to specialize in pediatric nephrology, the division has the only comprehensive fellowship training program in Illinois, which exposes fellows to a wide array of kidney diseases. Our graduates are leaders in the field around the world.
Priya Verghese, MD, MPH
Division Head, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases); Medical Director, Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program; Isaac A. Abt, MD Professorship in Kidney Diseases
Deirdre M. Bartlett, MD, MS
Attending Physician, Nephrology
Vidhi Dalal, MD
Attending Physician, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Gal Finer, MD, PhD
Attending Physician, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Jeanne M. Frisby-Zedan, MD
Attending Physician, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
H. Rhodes Hambrick, MD, MS
Attending Physician, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Meredith Harris, MD
Attending Physician, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Kavita S. Hodgkins, MD
Attending Physician, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases), Urology
Mahima Keswani, MD
Attending Physician, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Stella R. Kilduff, MD
Attending Physician, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Jill Krissberg, MD, MS
Attending Physician, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Alexander J. Kula, MD
Attending Physician, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Jerome C. Lane, MD
Attending Physician, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases) and Fetal Nephrology, The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health
Debora Matossian, MD, MS
Attending Physician, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Carlos C. Romero, MD, MS
Attending Physician, Nephrology
Darleen Diaz, APRN, MSN, FNP-C
Advanced Practice Nurse, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Laura K. Duffy, APRN-NP, CPNP-PC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Lisa Genualdi, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC/AC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Lauren Gregory, APRN-NP, CPNP-PC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Kalyn D. Mahoney, MSN, APRN-NP, CPNP-AC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Theresa Mottes, APRN-NP, CPNP-AC, CDN
Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Kyleen D. Schilling, APRN-NP, CPNP-PC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Candace Strauss, APRN-NP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Ashley Voit, APRN-NP, CPNP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Jessica Whittington, APRN-NP, CPNP-AC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Sofya Zak, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases)
Ronald J. Kallen, MD
Member, Children's Community Physicians Association
Make an Appointment
We offer easy online scheduling for your child's nephrology needs.
Our Locations
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
225 E. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312.227.4000
Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Pediatric Outpatient Center
25 N. Winfield Road
East Entrance
Winfield, Illinois 60190
630.933.6631
Lurie Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center in Skokie
3722 W. Touhy Avenue
Skokie, Illinois 60076
312.227.5600
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Westchester
Surgical Treatment Center
2301 Enterprise Drive
Westchester, Illinois 60154
312.227.7900
Resources & Support
Visit the following physician-recommended websites to learn more about nephrology:
- American Association of Kidney Patients
- American Kidney Fund
- Life Options
- Medicare Dialysis Facility Compare
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- National Kidney Foundation of Illinois
- HelpHOPELive (formerly the National Transplant Assistance Fund)
- Gift of Hope
- United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
Training & Education
For physicians who want to specialize in pediatric nephrology, the division has the only comprehensive fellowship training program in Illinois, which exposes fellows to a wide array of kidney diseases. Our graduates are leaders in the field around the world.
Kidney Diseases News & Stories
Arlo’s Story: From Groundbreaking Dialysis in the NICU to a Thankful Holiday at Home
Arlo's journey is a beacon of hope for families with similar challenges. Lurie Children's Division of Nephrology is committed to providing exceptional care for and children with kidney disease.
Lurie Children’s Transplant Expertise Shines in Record-Breaking Year
Lurie Children’s surpassed a hospital record in its recent fiscal year by performing a record 140 pediatric transplants, including, heart, kidney, liver and stem cell.
Lurie Children’s Is Again Ranked #1 Pediatric Hospital in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago continues to be recognized as #1 in Illinois in the U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals annual rankings.
The Falasz Family Finds Comfort in Their Care Team After Turner Syndrome Diagnosis
At 18 months, Rose was diagnosed with a genetic condition that she'd have to manage the rest of her life - Mosaic Turner Syndrome. Thankfully, her parents found immense comfort in the experts at Lurie Children's.
First Person with Dr. Debora Matossian: Hispanic Heritage Month Reflections
Learn from Argentinian Nephrology physician Dr. Debora Matossian about her passion for Hispanic representation in medicine.
‘Fighter’ Grace marks 10 years since her kidney transplant
Grace was only 19 months old when she had a kidney transplant at Lurie Children’s. Ten years later, the scars are virtually the only evidence of her health challenges.
Philanthropy
Private contributions help support our training program for fellows and their research, as well as our school services program. Gifts also let us hire talented healthcare professionals.
Your support is vital in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children’s relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please e-mail the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.7500.