The specialty of nephrology essentially began at NYU School of Medicine more than 80 years ago with the collaboration between the physiologist Dr. Homer W. Smith and members of the Department of Medicine.

The principles established by this pioneering work remain the cornerstone of the Division of Nephrology and its core mission: to train graduates for a career in academic nephrology, to advance knowledge of kidney disease and its treatment, and to provide outstanding patient care at NYU's main teaching hospitals.

To accomplish these goals, the Division of Nephrology has established a core group of outstanding physicians and physician scientists who work towards making basic discoveries in the lab and then translate these discoveries into new therapies for patients with kidney diseases.