About WKKS

As Nephrologists at Western Kentucky Kidney Specialists, we specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure, kidney disease, hemodialysis, and peritoneal dialysis, as well as the preparation for and treatment of patients with kidney transplants.

We believe in using a team approach involving the patient and the patient’s primary care physician to develop an effective treatment plan that fits each patient’s individual diagnosis and lifestyle.

We also care for patients on dialysis in many dialysis facilities throughout Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois.

Our main office is conveniently located in the Marshall Nemer Pavilion connected to Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, KY, with an additional office in Hopkinsville, KY. These facilities offer full-service laboratory with efficient access to full-service diagnostics. We also have satellite offices in Murray, KY and Paris, TN for your convenience.

What is a Nephrologist?
A nephrologist is a medical doctor who specializes in kidney care and treating diseases of the kidneys. Nephrologists are also called kidney doctors. Nephrologists are educated in internal medicine and then undergo more training to specialize in treating patients with kidney diseases. They commonly treat chronic kidney disease (CKD), polycystic kidney disease (PKD), acute renal failure, high blood pressure, electrolyte disorders, lupus nephritis, glomerulonephritis, pregnancy related kidney issues and are educated on all aspects of kidney transplantation and dialysis.

Nephrology is categorized as a specialty of internal medicine. Nephrologists must graduate from an approved medical school, complete a three-year residency in internal medicine and pass the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certification exam before they can begin to study nephrology. Once they have passed the ABIM exam and have been accepted into a nephrology program, they must complete a two- to three-year fellowship in nephrology. This fellowship must be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
(ACGME).

A nephrologist generally sees patients who are referred by their primary care physicians or general physicians for problems related to the kidneys, high blood pressure or certain types of metabolic disorders. If someone feels they are having problems with their kidneys, they can seek out the care of a nephrologist through their primary care physician. Every nephrologist has received extensive training in general internal medicine, and many nephrologists will treat their patients for other things besides kidney problems. It’s important that patients tell their kidney doctors if they notice any changes in their health.