Robert Brown

Robert Brown serves as the Associate Chief for Academic Affairs in the Nephrology Division at BIDMC. He was formerly Clinical Chief of Nephrology for over 40 years and a former Medicine Firm Chief for 12 years. His current areas of interest are: (1) clinical research to improve vascular access and decrease bloodstream infections in hemodialysis patients, optimize blood pressure in CKD patients, and as principal investigator of three studies (assessing kidney fibrosis non-invasively with magnetic resonance elastography, assessing the natural history of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in subjects of recent African ancestry, and assessing kidney transplant hypertrophy); (2) quality improvement, serving as the Director of Regulatory Affairs for the Department of Medicine and Associate Medical Director of the DaVita Brookline Dialysis Center, and (3) educational activities now working on the second edition of his nephrology pocket textbook and innovating teaching with two electronic smartphone/iPad apps using interactive tools and algorithms for the bedside care and teaching of nephrology and of acid-base and electrolyte disorders. He has formed and leads a nonprofit tax-exempt organization (TORCH, The Organization for Renal Care in Haiti) to bring preventive and therapeutic care of kidney disease, including dialysis and transplantation, to patients in Haiti who are now dying without treatment. He has received the ACGME Parker J. Palmer “Courage to Teach” Award and the HMS 2020 Dean’s Community Service Faculty Award. He lectures regularly in national CME courses, has over 125 publications, and is a member of many professional medical societies, including Alpha Omega Alpha and the Gold Humanism Honor Society of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

Clinical Interests

• Clinical Nephrology/Renal Disease
• Electrolyte Disorder and Dialysis

Education

Medical School: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Internship: Bellevue Hospital Center

Residency: Bellevue Hospital Center

Other: National Cancer Institute

Residency: Yale-New Haven Hospital

Fellowship: Yale - New Haven Hospital