Why start a kidney-pancreas transplant program? | Yasir Qazi, MD (Transplant Nephrologist)

Summary

In this episode, Dr. Yasir Qazi, a clinical associate professor of medicine at USC and medical director of the Kidney Pancreas Transplant Program at Providence St. Joseph Hospital, shares his inspiring journey in nephrology and transplantation. Dr. Qazi recounts how his admiration for nephrologists' expertise and composure drew him to the field, and his desire to make a broader impact led him to pursue a transplant fellowship under renowned mentors. He also discusses the challenges and rewards of becoming certified in pancreas transplantation and highlights his role in establishing a pancreas transplant program in Orange County. The conversation emphasizes the significance of kidney and pancreas transplantation in advancing patient care, especially during National Diabetes Awareness Month (recorded in November).

Guest Bio

After serving as an assistant professor of medicine at Erie County Medical Center at the State University of New York in Buffalo, Dr. Qazi came to southern California to head the Kidney-Pancreas Transplant Program at Keck School of Medicine at USC. Dr. Qazi has received nearly $2 million in research grants and has several other studies recently submitted for approval. While in Buffalo, Dr. Qazi was invited to lecture on pancreas transplantation at a number of area medical centers and continues to author numerous peer reviewed articles and abstracts for medical journals. Educated in India, Dr. Qazi was consistently one of the academic leaders among his medical school classmates and he continues to demonstrate his talents and devotion to medicine as an educator, researcher and practitioner. Find Dr. Qazi’s awards and publications here.

---

This edition of Signals was made free for all readers thanks to Roivios, the team developing the world’s first renal assist device. Check out JuxtaFlow, a clinical-stage solution for renal insufficiency. Thanks team!

---

Keywords

Nephrology, Transplantation, Kidney, Pancreas, Mentor, Swag

Chapters

• (00:20) Why nephrology and transplant?

• (02:55) Why pancreas?

• (06:07) Milestone T1D transplant

---

Takeaways

• Passion = Admiration + Expertise + Need: Dr. Qazi was inspired by the expertise, swag, and calm demeanor of nephrologists during his medical training. Their ability to manage critically ill patients with confidence led him to pursue a career in nephrology.

• A Unique Opportunity to Save Lives: Dr. Qazi’s transition from general nephrology to transplantation was driven by his desire to have a broader impact on patients. He believes transplantation is one of the most rewarding areas in medicine, combining technical expertise with life-changing outcomes.

• Pancreas Challenges & Opportunities: Becoming certified in pancreas transplantation required overcoming significant hurdles, but it opened the door to providing cutting-edge care. Establishing a pancreas transplant program in Orange County was a milestone that improved access to life-saving treatments. Creating a successful transplant program requires a multidisciplinary approach. Dr. Qazi’s efforts in Orange County highlight the importance of teamwork and community engagement in getting something like a K/P program off the ground.

• National Diabetes Awareness Month: Dr. Qazi emphasized the importance of raising awareness about kidney and pancreas transplantation during National Diabetes Awareness Month. These procedures offer hope and improved quality of life for patients with diabetes-related kidney disease.

• How Mentorship Shapes Careers: Dr. Qazi credits his mentors for guiding him through the complexities of transplant medicine. Their influence reinforced the importance of collaboration, innovation, and dedication to patient outcomes.

---

Discussion Topics

• Why did you choose to work in the field of solid organ transplantation? Did you have mentors or colleagues who played a role in that decision?

• Have you been involved in starting and/or growing a transplant program? What challenges did you face, and how can these be overcome if you were to do it over again?

• What questions do you have for Dr. Qazi, and other transplant nephrologists? What areas of his research are you most familiar with, or curious about?

---

Signals is made possible with the generous support of our sponsors. We are grateful to partner with organizations committed to advancing kidney care and innovation: Roivios, 3iveLabs, Dialysis Education Services, and IKONA.