Crystal A. Gadegbeku, MD, FASN

KidneyCure Board of Directors

Crystal Gadegbeku, MD, is Chair of the Department of Kidney Medicine in the Medical Specialties Institute wwithin the Cleveland Clinic Health System. She has been involved in NIH-funded clinical and translational research ranging from epidemiologic studies to clinical trials in kidney disease and hypertension including serving in leadership roles for multi-centered national research collaborations. She also has an interest in exploring research engagement of diverse populations, especially among racial and ethnic groups overburdened with kidney disease. Her clinical interests include management of hypertension and chronic kidney disease and management of cardiovascular disease in patients with kidney diseases. Dr. Gadegbeku has served two terms as Chair of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Policy and Advocacy Committee, also served on the ASN Council and as a member of the National Kidney Foundation-American Society of Nephrology Task Force on Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosis Kidney Diseases.

Current Position/Titles:

Chair, Department of Kidney Medicine, Medical Specialty Institute, Cleveland Clinic Health System

Degrees/Training:

B.A., Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 1987

M.D., University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 1991

Internal Medicine Residency: University of Virginia Hospital 1994

Nephrology Fellowship/Research Training: University of Virginia Hospital 1997

ASN Service:

Founding Member, ASN Diversity Workgroup 2013‐2014 and subsequent Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee 2014‐2016; Member, Public Policy Board 2013‐2017; Chair, Policy and Advocacy Committee 2017‐2019; ASN Councilor At-Large 2020‐2024, Member, NKF-ASN Task Force on Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Disease 2020-2021, ASN Council Liaison, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee 2020-2024 and Healthcare Justice Committee 2021-2024; Chair, ASN Diagnostic Excellence‐eGFR Toolkit Steering Committee, 2024.

Leadership positions:

Chair, National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, Community Health Initiative Advisory Board 2006‐2011, Co-Chair, Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort NIH multi-center study Recruitment and Retention Committee 2006‐2009, and Publication Executive Committee 2007‐2010, Core PI of Clinical Phenotyping and Biobank of the Michigan George M. O'Brien Renal Core Center (P30) 2010‐2018, Chair, Nephrotic Syndrome Study NIH Network Adult Protocol Committee 2009‐2011 and Co-Chair, Recruitment and Retention Committee 2011- present, Section Chief of Nephrology, Professor with tenure, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University 2011 - 2021; Chair, Department of Kidney Medicine, Cleveland Clinic 2021‐present, Co-Lead, Ending Disparities in Kidney Disease in Ohio‐NKF Leadership Summit, 2023

Honors:

Who's Who in Medical Science Education Award, University of Michigan 2004, 2006; Senior Translational Science Investigator Award, Temple University School of Medicine 2013; Distinguished Visiting Professor Metro Health of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland 2014; Annual Duke O'Brien Center for Kidney Research Symposium Invited Speaker, 2015, American Society of Hypertension/American Heart Association Symposium Invited Speaker 2019, Top Doctors, Pennsylvania 2021, 2022; New York Society of Nephrology Lecture Series Invited Speaker, 2022, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Gerald Schulman Lectureship Invited Speaker, 2022.

Board Certification:

Internal Medicine 1995, 2006

Nephrology 1996, 2007, 2017

Research Interests:

Initially, my career focused on clinical and translational research in vascular biology and chronic kidney disease. Specifically, I contributed to the current understanding of neurovascular and autonomic pathobiology in hypertensive populations and engaged in international team science to define the impact of circulating biomarkers in progression of cardiovascular disease in high risk populations. In addition, I have held leadership roles organizing diverse patient populations for landmark NIH multi-centered studies.

Personal Statement:

Fascinated by kidney physiology, like many, I was attracted to nephrology not knowing that years later, two maternal aunts would die on dialysis. I have been grounded by this personal perspective, awed by generations of scientists and clinicians, encouraged by mentors and colleagues, and most of all, inspired by patients and their families, to contribute to improving lives. ASN brings together communities, aligned in mission and vision, to advance research, policy, care delivery, and education. Collectively, we have the momentum to reach our goals and overcome challenges. I would be honored to use my talents and experiences to serve ASN?s mission in leadership.