Renal medicine

This page contains information on the specialty of renal medicine, one of the 16 specialties participating in RCP-SRO-coordinated ST3 recruitment.

The specialty

One of the main attractions of renal medicine (often referred to as 'nephrology') is the spectrum of renal disease and fascinating disease processes.

The speciality requires close interactions with all other medical specialities and joint patient management.

There are plenty of research opportunities, from disease processes to drug development, dialysis technology to transplant immunology.

Renal medicine - trainee characteristics

Training in renal medicine will appeal to candidates who are:

• self-directed
• inquisitive
• need variety
• able to work with a measure of independence.

Working/training in an ST3 renal medicine post

Renal medicine provides good medical training and opportunity for a wide range of research and practical procedures.

Breadth of practice

It is a tremendously varied specialty, covering areas such as vasculitis, immunology, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, acute kidney injury, fibrotic conditions; or the rare and interesting tubular or hereditary disease; as well as the dialysis technology and transplantation.

Renal physicians are uniquely placed to synthesize the diverse problems of renal patients and often do genuinely provide healthcare from 'cradle to grave'.

Renal medicine has a strong professional association basis, committed to guideline development, comparative audit, research and training needs.

Dual training

In many centres, training in general internal medicine (GIM) is being offered alongside renal medicine, leading to a dual CCT in renal medicine and GIM.

In some centres, it may be possible to undertake dual training in renal medicine and intensive care medicine.

Increasing challenge

It is currently a challenging time in nephrology. The advance in medical therapy has enabled us to treat more complex patients with renal failure.

Dialysis and transplantation are both high-cost therapies. Renal physicians have the pivotal role in leading and delivering high standard of care, ranging from prevention and education to maintenance, and finally end-of-life care.

Most renal service is based on a 'hub and spoke' model, which means a lot of consultants working together in one centre, providing services to other centres.

Some renal physicians (nephrologists) will have a part-time commitment because of demands from academia and/or the family.

A typical nephrologist will usually lead three/four clinics per week and supervise a dialysis unit, and some may have sessions for practical procedures.

Most consultants would also have a research, teaching, supervisory or organisational commitment.

2013 ST3 recruitment

Recruitment to renal medicine will be organised according to the deanery cluster recruitment model. More information on this can be found on the recruitment models page of this website.

Numbers of available vacancies will be published to the post numbers page as and when these are confirmed by deaneries/UoAs.

Details of deanery/UoA interview dates will be added to the interview dates page as we receive them.

Further information

• NHS medical careers
• JRCPTB specialty page
• RCP (London), My specialty
• 2010 curriculum (revised August 2012)
• 2013 person specification

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