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 stoneshypertension 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

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:

Our team also works closely with all other Lurie Children’s specialists as needed, including close affiliations with the divisions of UrologyCardiologyGastroenterology 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

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

Kavita S. Hodgkins, MD

Attending Physician, Nephrology (Kidney Diseases), Urology

Mahima Keswani, MD

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

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

Get Directions

Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Pediatric Outpatient Center

25 N. Winfield Road
East Entrance
Winfield, Illinois 60190
630.933.6631

Get Directions

Lurie Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center in Skokie

3722 W. Touhy Avenue
Skokie, Illinois 60076
312.227.5600

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Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Westchester

Surgical Treatment Center
2301 Enterprise Drive
Westchester, Illinois 60154
312.227.7900

Get Directions

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.

Learn More

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.

Read more

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.  

Read more

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.  

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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. 

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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.

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‘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. 

Read more

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.