Dr. Michelle A. Josephson specializes in transplant nephrology. Her career has focused on improving access to kidney transplantation and addressing medical complications of kidney transplant.
Dr. Josephson serves as Director of Education for the Transplant Institute and Program Director of the Transplant Nephrology Fellowship. After receiving her MD from University of Pennsylvania she completed a medical internship, residency and nephrology fellowship at University of Chicago. She acquired additional training in medical education, completing the University of Chicago MERITS fellowship
In 1992 she founded the Transplant Nephrology Program serving as Medical Director till 2023 and in 2001 established the Transplant Nephrology Fellowship at University of Chicago, the first Transplant Nephrology Fellowship in Illinois.
Dr, Josephson’s scholarship focuses on the live kidney donor, post-transplant bone disease, BK virus, women’s health in chronic kidney diseases, and pregnancy in the transplant recipient. She has over 140 publications and has given over 200 invited talks nationally and internationally.
Dr. Josephson has been recognized with awards from the University of Chicago Department of Medicine for Excellence in Medical Education and Clinical Care as well as the Distinguished Service Award, National Kidney Foundation of Illinois for Community Leadership, American Society of Transplantation for Mentorship, Hong Kong Society of Nephrology, the Biological Science Division at University of Chicago with the Michael Reese Lectureship Distinguished Faculty Award, and American Society of Nephrology with the Barbara T Murphy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Over the past three decades Dr. Josephson has been a leading figure in transplant nephrology. She co-organized and co-chaired a multidisciplinary American Society of Transplantation consensus conference that developed clinical practice guidelines on the management of the pregnant transplant recipient. She was a member of the Kidney Diseases Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) international work group that wrote “Care of the Transplant Recipient Guidelines.” She co-chaired KDIGO’s Controversies Conference on “Challenges in Management of the Kidney Allograft: From Decline to Failure.” She served on the KDIGO Board of Councilors, was a Councilor on the American Society of Transplantation (AST) Board, President of Women in Nephrology and President of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN). She currently serves on the Executive Committee of KDIGO.
Interventions to Improve Life Participation in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review.
Interventions to Improve Life Participation in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review. Kidney Med. 2025 Apr; 7(4):100980.
PMID: 40212318
In Reply to "ACGME Accreditation for Transplant Nephrology Training: Clarifying Why This Is a Step in the Right Direction".
In Reply to "ACGME Accreditation for Transplant Nephrology Training: Clarifying Why This Is a Step in the Right Direction". Am J Kidney Dis. 2025 Apr; 85(4):527-528.
PMID: 39580067
ACGME Accreditation for Transplant Nephrology Training: Clarifying Why This Is a Step in the Right Direction.
ACGME Accreditation for Transplant Nephrology Training: Clarifying Why This Is a Step in the Right Direction. Am J Kidney Dis. 2025 Apr; 85(4):527.
PMID: 39571927
Prostate cancer and solid organ transplantation: patient management and outcomes.
Prostate cancer and solid organ transplantation: patient management and outcomes. BJU Int. 2025 Feb; 135(2):339-345.
PMID: 39385314
Evaluation of a Ureteral Stent Removal Protocol in Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients.
Evaluation of a Ureteral Stent Removal Protocol in Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2024 Sep; 11(9):ofae510.
PMID: 39310271
A randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation phase I/II multicenter trial of low-dose cidofovir for BK polyomavirus nephropathy.
A randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation phase I/II multicenter trial of low-dose cidofovir for BK polyomavirus nephropathy. Transpl Infect Dis. 2024 Dec; 26(6):e14367.
PMID: 39226143
Working Together to Promote Kidney Health.
Working Together to Promote Kidney Health. Nephrol Nurs J. 2024 Jul-Aug; 51(4):333-368.
PMID: 39230463
The Seattle Heart Failure Model in Kidney Transplant Recipients.
The Seattle Heart Failure Model in Kidney Transplant Recipients. J Clin Med. 2023 Dec 11; 12(24).
PMID: 38137683
The authors reply.
The authors reply. Kidney Int. 2023 12; 104(6):1227.
PMID: 37981433
Validation of a Core Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Life Participation in Kidney Transplant Recipients: the SONG Life Participation Instrument.
Validation of a Core Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Life Participation in Kidney Transplant Recipients: the SONG Life Participation Instrument. Kidney Int Rep. 2024 Jan; 9(1):87-95.
PMID: 38312789