Patients with kidney disease present a unique set of concerns regarding CAM usage. After a brief overview of kidney function, Dr. Markell will review the CAM literature relevant to nephrology, outline the special considerations involved, and identify the symptoms for which CAM can be useful. She will then share how she approaches CAM on an individual basis, and illustrate her approach with cases.

A nephrologist for over 20 years, Dr. Markell ran the Office of Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the North Shore-LIJ Health System until it closed in late 2006. She is currently an Associate Professor in Medicine at SUNY Downstate, where she is responsible for CAM education for the Medical School and practices integrative nephrology.