KSM - Key Persons
Dr. Straight obtained her undergraduate from Smith College, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine at Christiana Care Health System, and completed her Fellowship in Nephrology at the University Of Minnesota.
Board Certified in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Nephrology, Dr. Straight joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in 2008.
Dr. Andrew Esten obtained a Master of Science in Pharmacology and graduated medical school from Tulane University.
He completed his Internal Medicine residency and Nephrology fellowship at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Esten joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in 2015 and is seeing patients at our Richfield clinic.
In his free time, Dr. Esten enjoys spending time with family, hiking, camping and running.
Dr. Hipp completed his undergraduate at St. John's University earning a B.A. in Biochemistry. He completed medical school at Des Moines University, and completed his post-graduate training at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Dr. Hipp joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in July 2018.
Dr. Hipp's clinical interests include hypertension and chronic kidney disease. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, travel, and reading.
Ashley is originally from Illinois, but has lived in Minnesota for the past 10 years. Ashley earned her bachelor's degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and her master's degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Florida. Ashley has been a registered dietitian for 10 years and has spent most of her career focused on providing nutrition education and counseling to people living with End Stage Renal Disease on dialysis. Ashley is excited to join the Kidney Specialist of Minnesota team and work with people living with Chronic Kidney Disease.
Dr. Brabec graduated from University of Nebraska with a B.S. in Biochemistry. He completed medical school at University of Nebraska, and completed his post-graduate training at Mayo Clinic.
Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Dr. Brabec joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in 2016.
Dr. Brabec's clinical interests include prevention of kidney stones and chronic kidney disease in the elderly population. In his spare time, he enjoys jogging and travel.
Dr. Nyholm completed his undergraduate at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Minnesota, and completed his post-graduate training in Nephrology and Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Dr. Nyholm is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, and joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in 2007.
Dr. Carl Dean obtained his B.A. in Biology from Carleton College and graduated from Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota.
He completed his residency at Hennepin County Medical Center, and his fellowship at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Dean joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota July 1, 2015, and is seeing patients at our Brooklyn Center clinic.
Dr. Hall completed his undergraduate at the University of Maryland, and obtained his Medical Degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University. He completed his Residency in Internal Medicine at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, and his Fellowship in Nephrology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Dr. Hall is Board Certified in Nephrology and Internal Medicine, and joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in 2006.
Dr. Keys completed his B.S. in Chemistry / Polymers and Coatings from North Dakota State University and medical school from the University of Minnesota. His post graduate education was completed at the University of Colorado. He completed a UNOS certified fellowship in Transplant Nephrology while at Colorado.
Dr. Keys is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology.
His clinical interests include management of kidney transplant recipients in all phases of care and patient centered management of chronic kidney disease.
He spends his free time with his wife and two children.
Dr. Ries obtained his undergraduate degree from Carleton College and his medical degree from the University of Minnesota. He completed his Internal Medicine Internship and Residency at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. He completed a Fellowship in Nephrology at the University of Colorado Medical Center in Denver, Colorado
Experience
He has practiced with Kidney Specialists of Minnesota since 2001 and has a broad variety of clinical interests including critical care nephrology, fluid balance and electrolyte disorders, treatment of acute and chronic kidney disease, all modalities of dialysis, and clinical research. He has been voted one of Minnesota's Top Doctors for Nephrology. Dr. Ries has participated in clinical research since 1999 and has been a Principal or Subinvestigator on over 300 clinical trials spanning all phases of drug development with Twin Cities Clinical Research and Prism Research. He serves in an administrative leadership capacity for his practice and Allina Health Mercy Hospital and is actively involved in patient quality improvement and care delivery projects in this role.
Dr. Abrar Khan obtained his undergraduate degree in Microbiology and Immunology at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He completed his Internal Medicine residency training at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, New York. His Nephrology fellowship was completed at the University of Minnesota, followed by a UNOS certified fellowship in Transplant Nephrology also at the University of Minnesota.
Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Dr. Khan joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in January 2024.
Dr. Khan's clinical interests include geriatric nephrology, chronic kidney disease post-transplantation, and community-based approaches to mitigate chronic kidney disease progression. In his free time, Dr. Khan enjoys spending time with family, playing soccer, and cooking.
Dr. Ryan Mello grew up in Casper, Wyoming. He obtained an undergraduate degree in Physics at Augustana University in South Dakota. He then obtained his PhD (Biophysics) and MD from the University of MN.
Dr. Mello completed his Internal Medicine Residency at Abbott Northwestern Hospital and Nephrology Fellowship at Hennepin County Medical Center.
In his free time Dr. Mello enjoys spending time with his wife and three sons. He enjoys working out, alpine skiing, and biking.
Dr. Canas graduated from Coe College with a B.A. Summa Cum Laude in Biology. He completed medical school at the University of Iowa, and completed his post-graduate training at the University of Minnesota. Board Certified in Nephrology and Internal Medicine, Dr. Canas joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in 2004.
Dr. Canas' clinical interests include acute kidney injury, glomerulonephritis, and clinical research involving patients with severe Chronic Kidney Disease and End Stage Renal Disease. Dr. Canas has been involved in clinical research since 1998, and has worked as a Principal Investigator or Sub-Investigator on over 150 studies with Twin Cities Clinical Research and Prism Research. Dr. Canas has been named as Best Doctor on several occasions by Twin Cities Periodicals.
In his free time, Dr. Canas enjoys actively partaking in physical training and bodybuilding, and being a father.
Dr. Gitter obtained his undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency and Nephrology Fellowship at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Dr. Gitter is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, and joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in 2003.
Dr. Gitter's clinical interests include transplantation, Resistant Hypertension, and all aspects of Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis. Dr. Gitter has been voted Top Doctor by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine, and was winner of the first ever John Najarian Friends of the National Kidney Foundation for Outstanding Service to the Community 2014.
In his free time, Dr. Gitter enjoys spending time with his family. He enjoys swimming, biking, boating, and fishing, and is a sports enthusiast.
Dr. Gray graduated medical school at the University Of North Dakota School Of Medicine. He completed his post-graduate training at Hennepin County Medical Center. Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Dr. Gray has been a physician with Kidney Specialists of Minnesota since 1992.
Dr. Gray's clinical interests include Hypertension and Acute/Chronic Kidney failure prevention.
In his free time, Dr. Gray enjoys gardening, fishing, hiking, and travel.
Job Titles:
- Director of Clinical Operations and Value - Based Care
Krystal graduated from St. Olaf College with a B.A. in Psychology and from Des Moines University with a Master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies. She is a NCCPA board certified and licensed in Guam and Minnesota. She has 7 years of experience working with kidney patients on Guam including outpatient dialysis, CKD clinic and rounding in hospital. Krystal recently moved back to Minnesota after living in Guam for 12 years where she enjoyed being outdoors, diving and hiking. She looks forward to spending more time with family, traveling and pursuing winter sports with her children and husband.
Dr. Onan obtained his undergraduate degree in Biology at St. Olaf College. He graduated medical school from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, and College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Board Certified in Nephrology and Internal Medicine, Dr. Onan joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in 2010.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant & Practice Support Administrator
Dr. Weber graduated from The University of Minnesota Medical School. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and his Nephrology Fellowship at The University of Minnesota.
Dr. Weber is board certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology.
Joining Kidney Specialists of Minnesota, P.A. in March 2016, Dr. Weber has a wide variety of clinical interests which include all aspects of general nephrology, with a particular interest in glomerular diseases and cardio-renal syndromes.
Dr. Zarama graduated medical school from the University of El Rosario, Bogota. He completed his Residency and Fellowship at the University Of Minnesota, and a Fellowship in Immunology of Kidney Disease at Monash Medical Center-Australia.
Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Dr. Zarama joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in 1998.
Dr. Leither earned his undergraduate degree at Gustavus Adolphus College and completed medical school at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine.
Dr. Leither completed his nephrology fellowship and a Masters in Clinical research at the U of M and joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in 2017.
Dr. Leither's passion for medicine stems from a interest in people. His expertise is in acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, electrolyte and acid/base disturbances, dialysis and kidney transplant.
Dr. Legris received his B.A. in Biochemistry from the University of California-Berkeley. He obtained his medical degree from the University of California-Los Angeles, and completed his post-graduate training at the University of Washington.
Dr. Legris is Board Certified in Nephrology and Internal Medicine, and joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in 1999.
Dr. Visaya obtained a B.A. in Genetics at the University Of California-Berkeley and obtained his medical degree from Hahnemann University. He completed his Residency in Internal Medicine at the University Of Minnesota and his Fellowship in Nephrology at the University Of California-San Francisco.
Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Dr. Visaya joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in 1999.
Dr. Poor was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. He obtained his medical degree from The University of Minnesota. Dr. Poor completed his Residency in Internal Medicine and his Fellowship in Nephrology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Board Certified in Nephrology and Internal Medicine, and Dr. Poor joined Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in 2003.
Dr. Poor enjoys spending his free time fishing and traveling with his wife and three children.