NKC - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board
• Professor
• University of Rochester

Professor Alison Kent in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology at the University of Rochester is a neonatologist with 16 years of clinical experience. She worked at The Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, Canberra Hospital, Australia, which is the only tertiary perinatal referral center for southeastern Australia with 750 admissions per year. She has 15 years of strong involvement with the Clinical School of the University of Sydney, Australia, and the Australian National University Medical School. She has had Membership and Leadership on numerous Australian National University Medical School committees, previously the Chair and currently the Deputy Chair of the Research Project Committee. She is also currently the Chair of the Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine Advanced Training Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Since 2008 she has supervised 12 medical/science students, 11 Neonatal/Obstetric Registrars/Neonatal Fellows and 3 MPhil/PhD/MD students. She has 66 peer reviewed publications of which 23 are focused on the neonatal kidney and blood pressure. She has had 151 abstracts accepted at national and international meetings. She has been involved in community work as a past Board Member of SIDS and Kids ACT from 2007-2012 and is a current member of the Newborn Intensive Care Foundation which raises money for the Canberra Hospital NICU for equipment, education and research support. She teaches IMPROVE courses nationally and internationally in high and middle income countries to improve management and reporting of perinatal deaths. She has been involved with teaching in Vietnam Hospitals and Burma refugee camps. Professor Kent is one of the founding members of the Neonatal Kidney Collaborative, serves on the Steering Committee and co-chairs the Manuscript Committee. She spearheaded the survey of neonatologists and pediatric nephrologists (in press in the Journal of Perinatology) and is a coauthor on at least two of the manuscripts in progress describing results of the AWAKEN study. And while not doing all of this she loves sailing, travelling and enjoying good wine and food!

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board
• University of Miami

Job Titles:

• Chairman
• President

Job Titles:

• Secretary
• Treasurer

Job Titles:

• Associate Professor
• Vice President
• Member of the NKC Steering Committee

Dr. Jennifer Charlton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics within the Division of Nephrology at the University of Virginia. She is a native Floridian, the oldest of 3 siblings. Dr. Charlton attended the University of Florida for undergraduate training and University of South Florida in Tampa for medical school. She met her husband in medical school and they couples-matched to the University of South Carolina where she completed her pediatric residency training. This is where she figured out how much she loved the kidney. The Charlton's moved to Charlottesville, VA in 2007 where she completed her nephrology fellowship and Masters in Clinical Research in 2010 while the Mr./Dr. Charlton completed a toxicology fellowship. The Drs. Charlton have 2 very active boys and enjoy living in "urban wilderness" in Charlottesville with their SPCA rescue dog, Lilypup (yes, the dog is named after a Pokemon character). Dr. Charlton loves spending time with her family, travelling, shopping, running and watching the boys swim. Jennifer devotes her effort to a mixture of research, clinical, and educational activities. She enjoys mentoring and has been involved in fellowship education since her clinical appointment began in 2010. Dr. Charlton's research focuses on the effect of preterm birth on the development and long-term function of the kidneys. She has been awarded grants from The Hartwell Foundation, Gerber Foundation, National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology. Dr. Charlton has been investigating a mouse model of prematurity to determine the mechanisms that are important in the development of chronic kidney disease in those born preterm. In 2017, Dr. Charlton and her collaborator, Dr. Kevin Bennett a biomedical engineer from the University of Hawaii, were awarded R01's from the NIH/NIDDK to investigate a non-invasive contrast-enhanced MRI method to determine nephron number. Dr. Charlton serves as a member of the NKC Steering Committee, and is actively involved in multiple NKC projects including the "Rick Factor Paper" and the Caffeine Paper.

Heidi is a neonatologist and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital and the Darby Children's Research Institute in Charleston, SC. She has particular interests in neonatal acute kidney injury (AKI) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) as well as continuous renal replacement therapy utilization (CRRT) during extracorporeal life support (ECLS). Heidi attended Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she was supported by a full Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Scholarship. At LSU, she was a member of the Honors College (as well as the Golden Band from Tigerland #GeauxTigers!!) and earned her bachelor's degree in biological sciences. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Tennessee in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee before returning to Louisiana to complete her pediatrics training at Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSUHSC) and Children's Hospital of New Orleans. During her time at LSUHSC, she was honored to receive an Outstanding Teaching Resident Award bestowed by the LSU School of Medicine third year medical school class, the Penny Scurto, M.D., Outstanding Pediatric Resident Award bestowed by the LSU Department of Pediatrics faculty, and the 7th Annual Gretchen M. Life, M.D., Award bestowed by her peers. After serving as chief resident at LSUHSC, she moved to Charleston where she completed her neonatology training at MUSC. She joined the MUSC faculty in 2018 and since then has earned a Master of Science in Clinical Research degree. Since early in her fellowship training, Heidi has studied the impacts of CRRT utilization during neonatal ECLS on nutrition provision, lung opacification, and inflammatory cascades. She joined the Kidney Intervention during Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (KIDMO) study group in 2018 and enjoys collaborating with this diverse and fun group on multiple projects examining renal disease and outcomes in pediatric and neonatal ECLS. She recently received a National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Loan Repayment Program award to support her investigations to better understand how standard medical treatment regimens for PDA management impact renal health and outcomes. In 2021, Dr. Murphy looks forward to beginning to serve on the Journal of Perinatology Editorial Board, continuing her work with Baxter to study CRRT effects on inflammatory cascades, and enjoying her time collaborating with KIDMO colleagues and the NKC. Dr. Murphy is board certified in pediatrics and neonatal perinatal medicine. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling with her fiancé, enjoying college athletic events, and spoiling her nieces and nephews.

Job Titles:

• Clinical Associate
• Member of the Board
• Medical College of Wisconsin

Dr. Jetton is a Clinical Associate Professor in the University of Iowa Stead Family Department of Pediatrics and Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Transplantation. She completed her undergraduate education at Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges in Cambridge, MA, with a degree in Psychology. After college, she worked at Massachusetts General Hospital for three years as a study coordinator for several NIH-funded studies of children with ADHD and their families. She then did a two-year tour of duty as a teacher and coach at St. Austin's School in her hometown Austin, Texas, while her husband completed business school. Between 1999 and 2010 she completed medical school, residency, and fellowship training at Baylor College of Medicine / Texas Children's Hospital, had three kids, adopted two cats and a dog, and enjoyed living in Houston, Texas. In 2010, she left her home state and moved to Iowa City, Iowa, to join the rapidly growing pediatric nephrology division at UI and has been there ever since. Her clinical and research interests include acute and chronic dialysis and neonatal acute kidney injury. She served as the Medical Director for the Pediatric Dialysis Center from 2012 until July 2018, when she stepped down to focus on her role as the Director of Pediatric Medical Student Education. She takes advantage of this role to recruit (somewhat shamelessly) every medical student into the field of pediatric nephrology. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Heartland Kidney Network as well as the National Medical Advisory Committee for Make-A-Wish America and the Board of Directors for the Make-A-Wish Iowa chapter. She has loved serving as a steering committee member for the Neonatal Kidney Collaborative and is thankful for the opportunity to work with so many neonatologists and nephrologists from other centers. Outside of work, she enjoys live music (especially Lyle Lovett), reading, and traveling with her family.

Job Titles:

• Clinical Research Coordinator Liaison

Job Titles:

• Assistant Professor

Dr. Sanderson is an assistant professor pediatric nephrologist and pediatric dialysis director at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in Chapel Hill, NC. She received her undergraduate degree at Rice University in Houston, TX where she also competed as an NCAA Track and Field student-athlete. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. She completed her pediatric residency training at the University of South Carolina and her pediatric nephrology fellowship training at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. After joining the UNC Pediatric Nephrology group, she obtained her Masters of Science in Clinical Research at the UNC Gillings School of Public Health. In her role as a clinician researcher, she is dedicated to reducing pediatric kidney disease morbidity and mortality via research on early recognition and early intervention of kidney disease in children. She has published research on neonatal dialysis outcomes, neonatal acute kidney injury and nephrotoxic medications and necrotizing enterocolitis, and adolescent kidney outcomes after extremely preterm birth. She is excited to work with NKC colleagues to support research collaboration and progress related to neonatal kidney disease. Her long-term goal, is to use precision medicine to develop individualized risk prediction models and evidenced based clinical-decision support systems to most appropriately screen, identify, and risk stratify infants and children at risk for acute and chronic kidney disease. Dr. Sanderson enjoys supporting her children's activities, attending college athletic events, traveling to find amazing food, and has become an avid cycler.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board
• the Children 's Hospital of Montefiore

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board
• Louisiana State University in Shreveport

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board
• University of Wisconsin

Job Titles:

• Program Coordinator

Job Titles:

• Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children 's Hospital Medical Center

Dr. Schuh is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in the Division of Nephrology & Hypertension with secondary appointment in the Division of Developmental Biology. She completed her undergraduate at Tufts University and received her medical degree at Tufts University School of Medicine. She completed her Pediatric Residency and Pediatric Nephrology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Her research focuses on uncovering the mechanisms of primate-specific late gestation nephrogenesis (lateral branch nephrogenesis) in order to improve nephron endowment in preterm infants. Her lab uses the latest molecular technologies including single-cell RNA sequencing, laser capture microdissection with RNA sequencing, single-nucleus RNA sequencing, and single-nucleus ATAC sequencing in order to identify mechanistic pathways active during late gestation nephrogenesis. Ultimately this work aims to improve the health of preterm infants by identifying pathways to extend this critical period postnatally. She is currently funded by the ASN Normal Siegel Research Scholar Grant.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board
• Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
• University of Indiana

Dr. Starr is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics with joint appointments in Pediatric Nephrology and Pediatric & Adolescent Comparative Effectiveness Research at Indiana University School of Medicine and Riley Children's Hospital. She completed her undergraduate education at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. She received her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine, and a Masters of Public Health from Tufts University School of Public Health. She completed Pediatric Residency and Chief Residency, as well as Pediatric Nephrology Fellowship at University of Washington/Seattle Children's Hospital. Following fellowship, she moved to Indianapolis to join the rapidly growing pediatric nephrology division at IU. Her clinical and research interests lie in improving the kidney-related outcomes of children born prematurely, with a particular focus on the impact of acute kidney injury on lung disease in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Her involvement in the NKC started during residency as part of the AWAKEN study. During her nephrology fellowship, she performed a retrospective study assessing the association between acute kidney injury and lung disease in neonates, finding that neonates with acute kidney injury were more likely to develop lung disease. She currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Communications Committee and serves on the NKC Board. She loves serving as a board member and is thankful for the opportunity to work with many talented neonatologists and nephrologists from other centers.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board
• University of Oklahoma