Kanika Aggarwal, MD
Medical School: Saba University School of Medicine
Residency: UPMC Medical Education Program (Internal Medicine - General)
I chose Temple University because the program offers exceptional training in managing complex medical cases in an underserved population. I am interested in transplant nephrology. Temple University has an outstanding transplant program that allows fellows to take a leadership role in managing patients through the entirety of the transplant process. The program fosters a sense of responsibility for one's patients, confidence in one's abilities and readiness to practice independently.
Derek Cheng, MD
Medical School: Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
Residency: Jefferson Health Medical Education/Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital Program (Internal Medicine - General)
Small things like having a fellowship webpage, a recruiting video, "second look" in person visit and interview days that showcase didactic sessions suggested to me that the nephrology department program is dedicated to its fellowship program and ensuring the training for its fellows. Nephrology services are busy at most hospitals and of course there will be a lot patients to see and notes to write but I could tell that the program made protected time for teaching because daily conferences were in person and were interactive and involving cognitive exercises in a group discussion format with the utmost mutual respect. The program is very warm and welcoming, I felt very comfortable asking questions and giving my thoughts. To me it was important not only to know the right diagnosis or plan but also understand how we come to that answer because eventually, I will want to know how to teach and explain my rationale to my future trainees and patients. There is a good mix of didactic and bedside teaching. Nephrology is a shorter fellowship so I wanted a program that would maximize the amount of learning in that limited time.
I wanted to stay in Philadelphia for personal reasons, but I also felt it was important to train at a hospital other than my the one I did my residency in order to learn a new system (EMR and cvvhd vs cvvhdf) and get more exposure to certain kinds of cases as they bring additional complexity. Temple is a multiorgan transplant center, a burn unit, a level one trauma center, facility offer advanced therapies such as VADs and ECMO. The underserved population also brings a lot of complexity as well from social issues to advanced pathology. Learning to take care of the sickest patients will give me the confidence to treat patients of all different levels.
Drew Graydon, DO
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Georgia Campus
Residency: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (Internal Medicine-General)
There is a lot to consider when applying to fellowship programs. I was lucky enough to know former and current fellows at temple and many other training programs while going through the application process. I knew from first-hand account that Temple would provide access and training to all pathologies and subspecialties in the world of nephrology. Everyone I spoke to who was training or trained at temple had nothing but great things to say. What really drew me in was how much praise was given to the culture at Temple. Temple seemed like a big family with support from faculty, staff, attendings, and there were good relations between other specialists.
I was able to experience the support of the Temple family in my first week. My wife and I had our first child the day before the start of fellowship. Although the timing was less than ideal, the team at temple was nothing short of fantastic. They guided me through every step of the process to ensure I was able to take leave. The combination of training excellence, culture and support are not easily found. Temple offers all three and was an easy first choice.
Vraj Patel, MD
Medical School: Smt. N.H.L. Municipal Medical College
Residency: Canton Medical Education Foundation (Internal Medicine - General)
The program offers strong clinical training with a diverse patient population and complex pathology, which aligns perfectly with my goals as a future nephrologist. I deeply appreciated the supportive and collaborative working environment, where faculty were approachable, invested in teaching, and genuinely interested in fellows’ growth. The team culture fostered both confidence and curiosity, and I felt a strong sense of belonging. That experience reaffirmed that Temple is the right place for me to continue my training and grow into a confident, well-rounded nephrologist.
Kavitha Singaravel, M.B.B.S.,MD
Medical School: Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bangalore
Residency: Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Program (Internal Medicine - General)
I chose Temple Nephrology because of its people, its mission, and the extraordinary breadth of pathology. The opportunity to care for some of the sickest and most medically complex patients in Philadelphia, while serving an underserved population, resonated deeply with the kind of physician I have always aspired to be. What truly sets Temple apart, however, is its exceptional nephrology faculty. They are outstanding clinicians, dedicated educators, and compassionate mentors who are genuinely invested in their fellows’ growth. Their commitment to teaching and patient care has created an environment that is both challenging and incredibly supportive, making Temple the ideal place for me to train.
Oyinlola Fasehun, M.B.B.S.
Medical School: University of Ibadan College of Medicine
Residency: University of Texas RGV (Knapp) Program (Internal Medicine - General)
What drew me to Temple was the people. During my interview, the faculty were warm and genuinely interested in the success of their fellows. Combined with the opportunity to care for an underserved patient population and gain broad clinical exposure, I felt Temple would provide the rigorous training and mentorship I was looking for. It was the kind of environment where I knew I would be challenged, supported, and prepared to become a thoughtful, well-rounded nephrologist.
Omar Ali, M.B.B.S.
Medical School: Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine
Residency: Albany Medical Center Program (Internal Medicine - General)
I chose Temple because it just felt like the right fit. The program offers incredible clinical diversity, with exposure to patients across the entire spectrum of nephrology, from routine consults to some of the sickest patients in the ICU. I knew that kind of experience would challenge me and help me become a well-rounded nephrologist.
What really made the decision, though, was the people. Every faculty member and fellow I spoke with came across as genuinely invested in the trainees, not just as physicians, but as people. That warmth and sense of support felt authentic and was something I didn’t experience everywhere.
Since starting, one thing that has pleasantly surprised me is how intentional the program is about easing new fellows into the role. Even though the workload is busy and the pathology is complex, there’s a thoughtful transition that lets you build confidence instead of feeling like you’re simply being thrown into the deep end. That combination of outstanding clinical training and a supportive culture is exactly what I was looking for.
Vaishnavi Gurumurthy, MD
Medical School: Padmashri Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation's Medical College
Residency: Rutgers Health/Trinitas Regional Medical Center Program (Internal Medicine - General)
I chose Temple for my nephrology fellowship because of the breadth and complexity of pathology you get exposed to here — it's the kind of program where you see everything, which really shapes you into a well-rounded nephrologist. I also liked the culture — the attendings are genuinely invested in teaching, and it never felt like fellows were just there to run services. Temple's patient population is diverse and often medically complex, so I knew I'd walk away with strong clinical judgment and be comfortable managing pretty much anything that comes through the door.