The AJKD editors are excited to continue the Editorial Internship Program for a sixth year, and thank all the applicants who responded to the recent call for applications.

Please join us in welcoming the AJKD Editorial Internship Class of 2024: Emmanuel Adomako, Michael Granda, George Vasquez Rios, Rachel Shulman, and Megan Urbanski.

Emmanuel Adomako

Emmanuel A. Adomako is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, where he was the editor of the medical students’ journal. He completed his internal medicine residency at the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Englewood, NJ. He moved to Dallas for his clinical/research nephrology fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. His research interests include kidney stones and mineral metabolism. Follow him @EAAdomako.

Michael Granda

Dr. Michael Granda is a Clinician-Researcher in the Division of Nephrology at the University of Washington. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Miami in 2019, and continued his path in nephrology to the University of Washington where he completed his clinical nephrology fellowship in 2021 and has remained ever since. Dr. Granda’s research focuses include proximal tubule secretory clearance and the use of imaging to investigate kidney physiology, and he is currently funded by the American Society of Nephrology. When he’s not pontificating about salt water at work, you can find Dr. Granda at the lake or in the kitchen. 

George Vasquez Rios

Dr. George Vasquez Rios is a graduate of the clinician-scientist track in Nephrology and Glomerular Disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He earned his medical degree from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, followed by his Internal Medicine training at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Additionally, he obtained his Master of Science in Clinical Research, graduating with distinction. His research focuses on novel biomarkers, prognostic models of kidney disease, and subphenotype discovery, which has garnered recognition from the NIH/NIDDK, ASN, the NYSN, and the AFMR. He is dedicated to advancing his career as a nephrologist at the intersection of community care and academia, with a specific emphasis on glomerular diseases, precision medicine, and inclusive clinical trials. Beyond his professional endeavors, he enjoys sports, art, and jazz, frequently sharing these passions with his wife. Follow him @GeorgeVasquezR2. 

Rachel Shulman

Dr. Rachel Shulman obtained her medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania where she is currently a clinical and research fellow pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology. Her published research has focused on the epidemiology of essential hypertension, with particular reference to its complex relation to sleep patterns and obesity. Currently she is pursuing her interest in the pathophysiology and pharmacoepidemiology of non-proteinuric CKD with the hope of identifying targeted treatment strategies to prevent its progression. She has been a tutor and lecturer for medical students and residents and hopes to contribute to educational programs for both professionals and the public on vital issues of public health. When she is not enjoying specimens spinning in a centrifuge she can be found with her Puerto Rican cousins enjoying salsa–either on the dance floor or on arroz con gandules. Follow her @shulman_rachel.

Megan Urbanski

Dr. Megan Urbanski is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, in the Emory University School of Medicine. She received a master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of Pennsylvania and worked for several years as a nephrology and transplant social worker prior to obtaining a PhD in Public Health with a concentration in the Social and Behavioral Sciences from Temple University. She also completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in Health Services Research at Emory University. She has experience conducting qualitative, mixed methods, community engaged, and implementation research. Her specific research interests include the kidney failure transition experience, psychosocial evaluation criteria for transplant, and nephrology workforce issues. She is grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the editorial process!