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22201 Moross RdSte 170Detroit, MI 48236
Phone+1 313-886-8787
Fax+1 313-886-4103
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Summary
- I’m a clinical nephrologist from Detroit, Michigan. I consider seeing patients my day job but my passion is medical education. I caught the bug in 1993 while writing a 200 page microbiology study guide during my third year of medical school. The proceeds of that project funded a more ambitious project, a 4 year, 500 page, fluids and electrolyte masterpiece that was a commercial flop. In 2003 I launched a pediatric application on the Palm Pilot (remember those?) called Kidometer. I started one of the first nephrology blogs in 2008. I am active on twitter and somehow today I find myself to be the public face of nephrology on Twitter. In 2013 I co-found NephMadness, a totally preposterous, social media-medical education-gamification-franken creature that rocks the nephrology medical education sphere every March. In 2014 I co-founded NephJC, a internet based journal club that has been producing doctor-to-doctor, post-publication-peer review for nephrology two times a month for over 10 years.
In addition to my work in social media I teach the second year medical students at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. I also teach residents, med students and fellows at Henry Ford St John Hospital.
In 2017, the American Society of Nephrology awarded me The Robert G. Narins Award for Innovations in Teaching.
I have been a regular guest on The Curbsiders Podcast since 2017 and I started and host both The Freely Filtered podcast, and the 2022 ASN Innovation in Education Award Winning podcast, Channel Your Enthusiasm.
Education & Training
University of ChicagoFellowship, Nephrology, 2001 - 2003
Indiana University School of MedicineResidency, Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, 1996 - 2000
Wayne State University School of MedicineInternship, Transitional Year, 1995 - 1996- Wayne State University School of MedicineClass of 1995
University of MichiganBGS, 1987 - 1991
Certifications & Licensure
MI State Medical License 1995 - 2028
IL State Medical License 2001 - 2005
American Board of Internal Medicine Nephrology
Awards, Honors, & Recognition
- Detroit’s Top Docs Hour Magazine, 2004, 2011, 2023-2024
- CMS Meaningful Use Stage 2 Certification Allscripts Professional EHR, Allscripts, 2011, 2013, 2017
- CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification Allscripts Professional EHR, Allscripts, 2011, 2013, 2017
Publications & Presentations
PubMed
- Reply to letter: outdated or underrated? the case for low-protein diets in CKD.Abdullah Bawazir, Joel M Topf, Swapnil Hiremath
Jornal Brasileiro De Nefrologia. 2025-10-17 - Things We Do for No Reason™: Avoiding intravenous iodinated contrast material in patients with acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease.Caroline Coleman, Meredith Trubitt, Joel Topf, Monee Amin
Journal of Hospital Medicine. 2025-10-01 - 4 citationsProtein restriction in CKD: an outdated strategy in the modern era.Abdullah Bawazir, Joel M Topf, Swapnil Hiremath
Jornal Brasileiro De Nefrologia. 2025-02-11
Journal Articles
- Social media, medicine and the modern journal clubTopf J, Hiremath S, Int Rev Psychiatry, 1/1/2015
- Ten Steps for Setting Up an Online Journal ClubChan TM, Thoma B, Radecki R, Topf J, Woo HH, Kao LS, Cochran A, Hiremath S, Lin M, J Contin Educ Health Prof, 1/1/2015
- NephMadness 2015: Nephrology as a Cornerstone of MedicineSparks MA, Lerma EV, Kupin W, Phelan PJ, Jhaveri KD, Topf J, Am J Kidney Dis, 1/1/2015
Books/Book Chapters
Abstracts/Posters
- NephMadness 2014, a Social Media Campaign to Promote Nephrology Education and InterestTopf J, Sparks MA, Lerma EV, Kupin WL, Jhaveri KD, ASN Kidney Week, 1/1/2014
- Correction Rate of Severe Hypernatremia and Morbidity and Mortality in Hospitalized PatientsAbdulrazzak A, El-Kateb M, Melidonian M, Henderson HL, Topf J, ASN Kidney Week, 1/1/2014
- Key Characteristics of Current Social Media Policies at U.S. Allopathic Medical SchoolsXi A, Topf J, Med 2.0’13 Conference, London, England, 1/1/2013
Authored Content
- Ascension St John Nephrology Fellowship Closing ArgumentOctober 2020
Press Mentions
Skeleton Key Group Case #40: Cosmetic CalciumSeptember 28th, 2025- Practical Issues with Implementation of New C3G TherapiesAugust 13th, 2025
- EMCrit 402 – Sea Change on Salt Water (More Rapid Sodium Normalization in Hyponatremia)? With KidneyBoyJune 20th, 2025
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