Fellowships

BC Renal offers a diverse array of fellowship programs to help successful applicants develop expertise in an area of clinical care, research or administrative work related to kidney disease.

These fellowships are provided in partnership with the University of British Columbia, Division of Nephrology and most are based at Providence Health Care and Vancouver Coastal Health sites.

Specific fellowships are described below, and a general overview of the programs can be found in the overview of BC Renal–funded fellowships guide.

Opening applications in January 2025 for the July 2026 start date.

Please submit your applications by September 1st 2025.

Fellowship Type	Application Status
Administrative & Research	CLOSED
Glomerulonephritis	CLOSED
Home Therapies	CLOSED
Geriatric/Palliative Care	CLOSED

BC Renal Admin and Clinical fellowships

Administrative and Research Fellowship

This two-year program offered by BC Renal aims to provide nephrologists or allied health professionals with the opportunity to learn about the administrative aspects of healthcare delivery through exposure to BC Renal operations and strategic initiatives, while completing a Master's or PhD level (if not already held). More information can be found here:

Overview of the Administrative and Research Fellowship

Glomerulonephritis Fellowship

This two-year fellowship aims to help successful applicants gain more exposure to glomerulonephritis (GN) and develop clinical and scholarly expertise to improve the ability to diagnose and treat glomerular disease. It is implemented in partnership with the University of British Columbia. More details on the fellowship and application can be found here:

BC Renal Glomerulonephritis (GN) Fellowship overview

Home Therapies

Through this one-year program, fellows gain exposure to clinical, administrative and evaluation experiences related to home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. The Home Therapies Fellowship is offered in partnership through the University of British Columbia. More details on the program and application process can be found below:

Geriatric/Palliative Care Fellowship

Geriatric/Palliative care is a critical aspect of care for patients with kidney failure, highlighting the need for more experts to be knowledgeable in this area. Over the course of one-year, this program exposes fellows to different aspects of geriatric/palliative care, in different locations across the BC Lower Mainland. More detials on the fellowship and application process can be found here:

BC Renal Geriatric/Palliative Care Fellowship overview

Testimonials

Dr. Ibrahim Alharbi - Home Therapies Fellowship

Dr. Ibrahim Alharbi

I am originally from Saudi Arabia. I pursued my training in internal medicine and nephrology in Saudi Arabia, where I developed a strong foundation in clinical practice and a particular interest in renal replacement modalities. I began my Home Therapy Fellowship in July 2024 and completed it in June 2025. My interest in ome therapy was sparked by the rising incidence and prevalence of CKD in the region, as well as the need to explore treatment modalities beyond conventional in-center hemodialysis. I was especially drawn to the potential of home therapies to enrich the patient experience, promote independence, and improve long-term outcomes.

During my fellowship, I worked in independent dialysis units at two major hospitals in Vancouver, focusing on both peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis. This hands-on experience provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the clinical and operational aspects of home therapies. I also had exposure to essential procedures, particularly peritoneal dialysis catheter insertions, which enhanced my skills. In addition to clinical responsibilities, I was actively involved in the administrative committees of BC renal for both peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis programs. This gave me valuable insight into the governance and infrastructure of independent dialysis units, including protocol development, contracts negotiation, and program implementation.

One of the highlights of my fellowship was initiating a quality improvement project aimed at enhancing patient training: the development of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for peritoneal dialysis patients. This project was designed to improve the quality of training, ensure patient competence, and reduce complications. Currently, I am working as a Nephrology/ home dialysis staff and leading the initiation of a new home dialysis program at my hospital in Saudi Arabia. I am truly grateful to UBC and BC Renal for this exceptional opportunity. The supportive environment, along with the guidance of the program director and the encouragement from the staff, created a welcoming atmosphere. Their professionalism, approachability, and willingness to share knowledge played a key role in shaping my clinical and administrative approach to home dialysis

Dr. Ibrahim Alharbi

Home Therapies Fellowship

July 2024 - June 2025

Dr. Lap Cheng - Home Therapies Fellowship

Dr. Lap Cheng

I’m a nephrologist from Sydney, Australia who did the Home Therapies Fellowship with BC Renal from January 2024 to January 2025. I was drawn to this fellowship because I felt I didn’t receive enough exposure to home dialysis during my training and wanted to gain more experience in this important area. I had also heard about the fellowship’s supportive structure and comprehensive teaching, and I knew it would be valuable preparation for a career in regional Australia. During my fellowship, I worked on developing Best Practice Guidelines for Home Hemodialysis. This project deepened my understanding of how to support patients in the community and strengthened my skills in program development, quality improvement, and interdisciplinary collaboration. One of the standout aspects of the fellowship was the excellent work-life balance, which gave me the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of British Columbia and connect with new friends from all over the world. This experience has shaped my career path significantly. I’ve been fortunate to secure a position in a major regional centre in Australia, where I plan to apply what I’ve learned to expand and improve access to home dialysis therapies.I’m grateful for the mentorship and support I received through BC Renal, and I highly recommend this fellowship to anyone looking to build expertise in home therapies and make a difference in patient-centred kidney care.

Dr. Lap Cheng

Home Therapies Fellowship

January 2024 - January 2025

Dr. Megan Borkum - Research Fellowship

Dr. Megan Borkum

The BC Renal Research Fellowship offered invaluable support through expert mentorship, dedicated research time, and access to comprehensive provincial data. I led projects that evaluated and enhanced home dialysis uptake and care quality across BC. The fellowship deepened my understanding of implementation science and equipped me with the tools to drive system-level improvements that directly benefit patients. It has been pivotal in shaping my academic and clinical leadership path.

- Dr. Megan Borkum

Research Fellowship

January 2023 - December 2024

UBC Division of Nephrology fellowships

Advanced Nephrology Training Program

This program is open to individuals who have completed core nephrology training in an accredited program, and who seek additional exposure to academic and tertiary care skill acquisition. This program is accredited by the Australian and New Zealand Royal College organizations, and thus has been highly subscribed to by individuals from those countries. Visit the UBC Division of Nephrology website for more details.

Transplant Nephrology Clinical Fellowship

UBC offers a one-year transplantation fellowship that covers all aspects of care related to kidney transplantation. This includes pre-, peri-, and post-transplant medical care, organ donation processes, and laboratory experience related to transplant immunology. Visit the UBC Division of Nephrology website for more details.

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