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Current Fellows
Amma Boakye, DO
PGY 5
Medical School: Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: MetroHealth Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University
Hobbies: Bad reality television, going to concerts, Xtreme Hip Hop step aerobics, photography and reading
Research Interests: Our communities and lives outside the doctor's office often inform our health, so I am particularly interested in how these factors drive disparities in health outcomes. I'm also med-peds trained, so evaluating and improving the transition from the pediatric to adult medical home is always a point of interest near and dear to my heart.
Why Pediatric Nephrology? The pathology is varied and fascinating, and there are many points for intervention to improve health outcomes in pediatric nephrology.
Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital? Academically, I was excited to see Riley Hospital's range of pathology and complexity, so I knew I would receive excellent training. The "secret sauce" is the culture here — community, teamwork and collaboration are the rule, not the exception, and everyone's opinions and contributions are valued and sought after. It's been a supportive place to cultivate my professional (and personal) identity.
Evan Rajadhyaksha, MD
PGY 5
Medical School: University of Virginia
Residency: University of Virginia
Hobbies: squishing my tiny pup, reading/audiobooks, cooking, yoga and rec sports
Research Interests: I’m interested in basic science research focused on nephro-immunology. Riley and our program have amazing resources and supports for basic science research! My main fellowship project is focused on the relationship between vitamin D status and the production of antimicrobial peptides/immune response in the kidney tubules.
Why Pediatric Nephrology?: I love the variety of nephrology — it makes it feel like you get to be everywhere and do everything, so every day is exciting. The ranges of complexity and illness severity in our patients are enormous.
Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital?: The environment at Riley Hospital is so special, which makes it hard to describe! There is a spirit of collaboration and teamwork that is unique to this group and veritably fun. The opportunities for basic science and translational research are outstanding, and with phenomenal mentors. In the end, I chose Riley Hospital and IU School of Medicine because it is where I felt like I was home.
Keith Pierce, MD
PGY 4
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Residency: University of Indiana
Hobbies: Live music, sports, game collecting, 3D printing, cooking, gardening, restoring vintage electronics and cars, and spending time with my family and pets
Research Interest: My research up to now has been centered around the complex relationship between the kidneys and the immune system. Specifically, my focus has been on antimicrobial peptides and how they can be used to diagnose and treat infections in the kidneys and urinary tract. I hope to continue this research while in fellowship and explore other interesting avenues during my research time.
Why Pediatric Nephrology: Nephrology is one of the few specialties that gets to do and see it all - inpatient wards, intensive care, outpatient, research, advocacy, and community outreach. In addition to the medical complexity and variability we see, all our patients and their families have their own unique stories to tell, and I am thrilled at every opportunity to learn from them.
Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital: From residency onward, Riley and Indiana have felt like a second home to me. We have a highly diverse patient population from all over the Midwest and have an equally diverse nephrology department here. Riley has a deep well of experts in every pediatric specialty. I am very blessed to be a part of the care team here.
Residency: University of Indiana
Hobbies: Live music, sports, game collecting, 3D printing, cooking, gardening, restoring vintage electronics and cars, and spending time with my family and pets
Research Interest: My research up to now has been centered around the complex relationship between the kidneys and the immune system. Specifically, my focus has been on antimicrobial peptides and how they can be used to diagnose and treat infections in the kidneys and urinary tract. I hope to continue this research while in fellowship and explore other interesting avenues during my research time.
Why Pediatric Nephrology: Nephrology is one of the few specialties that gets to do and see it all - inpatient wards, intensive care, outpatient, research, advocacy, and community outreach. In addition to the medical complexity and variability we see, all our patients and their families have their own unique stories to tell, and I am thrilled at every opportunity to learn from them.
Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital: From residency onward, Riley and Indiana have felt like a second home to me. We have a highly diverse patient population from all over the Midwest and have an equally diverse nephrology department here. Riley has a deep well of experts in every pediatric specialty. I am very blessed to be a part of the care team here.
Abbie M. Whitman, MD
PGY 5
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Medical School: Southern Illinois University SOM
Residency: University of Wisconsin in Madison
Hobbies: Taking my toddler to new places to explore, cuddling my dogs, crafting with my Cricut, reading
Research Interests: I am still figuring that out! I really enjoy CAKUT so will be using my first year to look into projects involving these anomalies, but I am really keeping my mind open to see what I love the most the more I am exposed to!
Why Pediatric Nephrology? I love physiology. Nephrology allows you to critically think about labs and patient presentations and reason your way to where the pathology likely is. It is a subspecialty but with such broad pathology that is all so interesting. You also get the privilege of developing longitudinal relationships with amazing kids and their families.
Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital? To put it simply, it felt like home. It was clear the people in the division truly enjoyed working with each other and at Riley. They all support each other as colleagues but also as friends. Despite having that small, warm feel it is actually large in terms of having ample research opportunities and exposure to a wide variety of pathology.
Residency: University of Wisconsin in Madison
Hobbies: Taking my toddler to new places to explore, cuddling my dogs, crafting with my Cricut, reading
Research Interests: I am still figuring that out! I really enjoy CAKUT so will be using my first year to look into projects involving these anomalies, but I am really keeping my mind open to see what I love the most the more I am exposed to!
Why Pediatric Nephrology? I love physiology. Nephrology allows you to critically think about labs and patient presentations and reason your way to where the pathology likely is. It is a subspecialty but with such broad pathology that is all so interesting. You also get the privilege of developing longitudinal relationships with amazing kids and their families.
Why IU School of Medicine/Riley Hospital? To put it simply, it felt like home. It was clear the people in the division truly enjoyed working with each other and at Riley. They all support each other as colleagues but also as friends. Despite having that small, warm feel it is actually large in terms of having ample research opportunities and exposure to a wide variety of pathology.