Vanguard Profiles

2026

Interprofessional Geriatric-Nephrology Supportive Care Curriculum

Project Lead 
Jasjot Bhullar, MBBS, MD, FAHA, FMCP-M

Team Member
Katalin Danji, MD
Sergio Infante, MD


Dr. Bhullar and Infante lead the nephrology fellowship program at Loma Linda University Health. Dr. Danji leads the geriatric medicine fellowship at Loma Linda University Health. 

Project Overview
This initiative implements and evaluates an innovative, six-session curriculum that brings nephrology and geriatric medicine fellows together at Loma Linda University Health for interprofessional training in kidney supportive care. Using case-based learning integrated with Coalition resources, the program addresses topics including conservative management, symptom control, and serious illness communication for older adults with advanced kidney disease.

Objectives & Impact
Supported by an approved IRB protocol, the project utilizes pre- and post-assessments to measure fellow knowledge gains and clinical confidence. The ultimate goal is to create an open-access educational model for national dissemination and adoption across other fellowship programs.

CoMP Workshop: Conversations that Matter to Patients 

Project Lead 
Jovina Bachynski, PhD, NP 

Team Members
Corinne MacNab, MSW 
Billie Hilborn, PhD, RN 
Nadia Lauzon, MSW 
Jose Medeiros, MSW
Sherri Kensall, MSN, RN

Dr. Bachynski and team are nephrology and social work leaders with the Canadian Association of Nephrology Nurses and Technologists (CANNT).

Project Overview
This project is a pilot interactive, simulation-based workshop designed for nephrology nurses. Developed by frontline nephrology nurses and social workers, the CoMP Workshop focuses on improving clinician confidence in conducting Advance Care Planning (ACP) and goals-of-care conversations.

Objectives & Impact
The workshop aims to increase comfort and confidence among nephrology nurses when discussing patients' goals of care. It will also introduce new methods for conducting critical clinical discussions. The workshop will debut at the Canadian Association of Nephrology Nurses and Technologists National Conference in October 2026.