South Middlesex Times

Vikas Dharnidharka, a board-certified pediatric nephrologist and transplant specialist recognized for his clinical expertise and research, will join Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School as the Henry Rutgers Professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics.

Dharnidharka will also serve as physician-in-chief of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital (BMSCH) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, an RWJBarnabas Health facility.

He joins Rutgers University from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and St. Louis Children’s Hospital, where he was the Alexis F. Hartmann Sr., MD Endowed Professor of Pediatrics, vice chair for clinical investigation in the Department of Pediatrics, and professor and chief of its division of pediatric nephrology, hypertension, and apheresis. For the past two years, he has co-led the National Institutes of Health-funded Washington University Pediatric Center of Excellence in Nephrology.

“Dr. Dharnidharka is a nationally recognized leader in nephrology, pediatrics and transplantation, and we are thrilled to welcome him as our new chair of the Department of Pediatrics,” said Amy P. Murtha, dean of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “His dedication to advancing healthcare through seminal research and superior clinical care will be invaluable to our community and the broader field.”

“Rutgers Health, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and RWJBarnabas Health have been in the midst of an amazing transformation to create a powerhouse academic health system for the state of New Jersey and beyond. With the visionary system leadership already in place, the potential to make a difference is so great,” said Dharnidharka.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to direct the RWJMS Pediatrics Department to be the academic flagship; we want to be among the very best nationally,” he added. “I also look forward to working with the team at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital and RWJBarnabas Health leadership to help advance children’s healthcare throughout all our health system locations across the state.”

“The Children’s Health network of RWJBarnabas Health looks forward to building upon strong partnerships that exist with Rutgers and collaborating with Dr. Dharnidharka to advance pediatric care and access at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital,” said Fernando Ferrer, chief pediatric officer at RWJBarnabas Health. “As physician-in-chief at BMSCH, Dr. Dharnidharka’s world-renowned expertise in research and pediatric nephrology will help lead physicians, nurses, and other care providers at BMSCH further develop research opportunities addressing complex medical conditions.”

“If you look at all areas pediatrics touches – Rutgers Cancer Institute, Child Health Institute of New Jersey, BMSCH – these are exciting partners providing great opportunities,” Dharnidharka said. “I’m looking forward to working with leaders across these institutions.”

At his previous institutions, Dharnidharka played a role in transforming divisions’ clinical services from expanded programs to increased research funding while earning strong educational ratings from residents.

In his clinical practice focusing on end-stage renal disease and kidney transplantation complications such as post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD), Epstein-Barr or BK virus infections are frequent consultation subjects internationally.

A noted researcher consistently funded by NIH for two decades, Dharnidharka led studies resulting in novel observations on risk factors for BK polyoma virus nephropathy biomarkers after transplantation complications over-immunosuppression PTLD incidence outcomes knowledge advances understanding.

Current research focuses on infections cancers following organ transplants metagenomic sequencing DNA viruses PTLD-related tissues blood samples post-transplant immune response patient likelihood PTLD large database integration AI models immunosuppressive medications post-transplant impact clinical outcomes personalized choice patients important outcomes.

Author hundreds peer-reviewed articles 21 book chapters lead editor editions only book post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders awards recognition American Society Transplantation National Kidney Foundation Eastern Missouri Arkansas Southern Illinois Award Excellence American Nephrologists Indian Origin Academic Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award Washington University Dean Impact Award sponsorship mentorship serves Governing Council International Pediatric Transplant Association past chair Section Nephrology American Academy Pediatrics completed term Governing Council American Society Pediatric Nephrology

Medical degree Topiwala National Medical College Bombay University India master public health concentration biostatistics University Florida College Public Health Advanced Postgraduate Program Clinical Investigation University Florida completed pediatric residency BYL Nair Hospital Topiwala National Medical College subsequently Children's Hospital Michigan Wayne State University fellowship training pediatric nephrology Children's Hospital Boston Harvard Medical School

Dharnidharka joins Rutgers RWJUH October.