Submit your picks! | NephMadness 2018 | #NephMadness | @NephMadness

The torch has been lit, and the NephMadness 2018 games has begun!

For the 6th year in a row, AJKDBlog is transforming into the headquarters of NephMadness.

If you’re asking, “What is this madness we call NephMadness?”

Our first reply, “Where have you been?!?!”

Our actual reply: NephMadness is an online, CME-granting, evidenced-based, noncommercial learning initiative that leverages the tools of social media to teach about the latest and greatest breakthroughs in the field of nephrology!

How to participate?

On March 15, we will release the official 2018 bracket and 8 region posts. There are 4 teams in each region. Playing and learning with NephMadness is easy:

1. Read these 8 region posts.
2. Submit your own bracket.
3. Take to Twitter. Hit up Facebook. Go to Instagram. Participate in the conversations and controversies happening on social media.

Watch @KidneyCathy break down NephMadness in this short video:

Need a visual abstract? We’ve got that covered:

Still confused? Check out these previous explainer posts: NephMadness – What’s Up With That? or NephMadness for Dummies.

Additional details you might be interested in…

NephMadness 101…

The tournament has 32 nephrology concepts divided across 8 different topic areas, called regions. Each region has 4 concepts which compete against each other in a single elimination tournament. We have selected content experts from each topic to help us determine the best concepts and vet the information we provide to make sure it is accurate, unbiased, and interesting. The selection committee includes:

1. Animal House: Mark Zeidel
2. Contrast: Paul M. Palevsky | @PaulPalevsky‏
3. Hyponatremia: Richard H. Sterns
4. Pediatric Nephrology: Michelle N. Rheault | @rheault_m
5. Peritoneal Dialysis: Thomas A. Golper 
6. Transplantation: Dorry Segev | @Dorry_Segev
7. Trial Outcomes: Jamie P. Dwyer | @jamie_dwyer
8. Women’s Health: Michelle A. Hladunewich 

The Official NephMadness 2018 Bracket:

Click the image to download PDF bracket

Why NephMadness?

NephMadness is an unconventional educational initiative, but ultimately we want people to learn, have fun, AND connect with each other along the way! If you’re interested in learning more about the genesis of NephMadness, read these Editorials (freely available):

• NephMadness 2015: Nephrology as a Cornerstone of Medicine
• NephMadness After 5 Years: A Recap and Game Plan for the Future

Who determines the outcome of NephMadness?

A Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP) will determine the winners of each matchup by the Friday deadline (March 30, 2018 at 11:59pm EDT) for entering the contest. The highly esteemed group includes the following members:

– Michael Choi @Mike_J_Choi
– Melanie Hoenig @melhoenig
– Sarah Faubel @doc_faubel
– Roger Rodby @NephRodby
– Fiona Loud @FionaCLoud
– Eleanor Lederer @EleanorLederer
– Tazeen Jafar (need to convince her to join #NephTwitter)
– Mark Reid @medicalaxioms
– Deidra Crews @DrDeidraCrews

Read their bios here.

New this year: CME!

By reading the region posts, US-based physicians can earn 1.0 CME credit per region, up to 8.0 CME credits total. At the end of each post, there will be a link and instructions to register and log in to the NKF PERC in order to complete your evaluation and print your certificate. You will be required to evaluate each region individually, so our best advice for you is to do the evaluation after reading each region. In plain language: Read Region A, then complete the form for Region A. Read Region B, then complete the form for Region B. The CME activity will expire on June 15th, 2018, so don’t procrastinate if you need to claim the credits!

What’s the Schedule?

• March 15: Bracket entry opens
• March 30 (11:59 pm EDT): Deadline for entering contest
• March 31: First round results | Saturated 16 named
• April 2: Saturated 16 results | Effluent 8 named
• April 3: Effluent 8 results | Filtered 4 named
• April 4: Filtered Four results | Finalists named
• April 6: NephMadness 2018 Champion crowned

What are the Prizes?

Check out last year’s winners and make it your mission to dethrone them! The following prizes are up for grabs:

• Top Overall score: Brenner and Rector’s The Kidney
• Top Medical Student, Top Resident, Top Fellow, and Top Attending score: NKF Primer on Kidney Diseases: Expert Consult
• Best Tweeter, Best Blogger, and Group* Prizes: NephMadness hat

*A note about the Group Prizes
There are 2 categories: Highest Score and Most Entries. When you submit your bracket, there is a question asking whether you are part of a group or whether you are submitting a group entry. For both Group Prizes, the maximum number of hats awarded will be 25 per group (meaning more than 25 individuals can be affiliated with a group, but we will only award 25 hats per group).

Let’s use the example of the Puppy Fellowship program at the University of Cute Puppies (UCP). The fellows got together, filled out a group bracket, and submitted it under “Puppy Fellowship OFFICIAL” (yes, please add “OFFICIAL” so we know it’s an official group bracket). That’s ONE bracket that will be considered for the “Highest Score” Group Prize.

However, each fellow can also submit their own individual bracket. Maybe they weren’t there when the group bracket was discussed or maybe they disagreed with the final group bracket. When they submit their own bracket, they should say they are part of  the “Puppy Fellowship of UCP” group (please try to use a standard group name so it’s easier for us). The “Most Entries” Group Prize will have multiple brackets that have affiliated themselves with the same group.

Each individual can submit up to two brackets.

What’s next?

In years past, we’ve had a lot of healthy and friendly debate on #NephTwitter. Make sure to follow these organizers and be engaged throughout #NephMadness 2018!

• AJKD @AJKDonline
• NephMadness @NephMadness
• Joel Topf @kidney_boy
• Matt Sparks @Nephro_Sparks
• Tim Yau @Maximal_Change
  
• Anna Burgner @anna_burgner

Updated March 15th to include NephMadness 2018 information such as regions and brackets.