Saint Francis Nephrologist Honored by the National Kidney Foundation

Sankar Niranjan, M.D., FASN, has been recognized with the National Kidney Foundation's Medical Advisory Board Distinguished Service Award.

Sankar Niranjan, M.D., FASN, will receive the National Kidney Foundation’s (NKF) prestigious Medical Advisory Board (MAB) Distinguished Service Award. According to a press release issued by NKF, the award was established to recognize exceptional individuals for their outstanding educational activities and community service in advancing the mission of NKF at a local level. The Distinguished Service Award is “a testament to Dr. Niranjan’s unwavering dedication to optimal kidney health locally.” Dr. Niranjan will be presented with the award at the NKF 2024 Spring Clinical Meetings in Long Beach, California in May.

“I am honored and humbled to receive NKF’s Medical Advisory Board Distinguished Service Award,” said Dr. Niranjan in the NKF announcement. “As a staunch advocate for early screening and prevention of kidney disease, I have always strived to support NKF in this herculean task of raising awareness regarding the risk factors for this disease. As the incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer continue to increase globally, I’m deeply committed and passionate about continuing this work in preventive nephrology for the rest of my life locally and globally as well as contributing to the mission of the NKF.”

Dr. Niranjan has practiced at Saint Francis since 2004. He was also an owner/partner at Greater Hartford Nephrology, LLC and served as Medical Director at DaVita Dialysis in Bloomfield until this past December. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Niranjan has played a pivotal role in mentoring numerous physicians and nephrology trainees as a community-based faculty member at the UCONN School of Medicine. He has also authored multiple posters and publications and contributed to peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.

In the local community, Dr. Niranjan has displayed his passion for the prevention and early detection of kidney disease through his active involvement in NKF’s Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) in Connecticut. He has facilitated screenings at community events and places of worship, demonstrating his commitment to reaching diverse populations. Additionally, Dr. Niranjan has conducted kidney disease screening camps across Southern India, screening over 500 patients in rural areas using the KEEP template. He has a deep focus and interest in global and preventive nephrology.

“Dr. Niranjan is a shining example of excellence in action with his deep commitment to helping everyone, particularly diverse communities, to obtain optimal kidney health through prevention and early detection,” said NKF President Sylvia Rosas, M.D., MSCE, in the NKF announcement. “It’s an honor to present this well-deserved award to him and acknowledge his exemplary service in advancing kidney health awareness.”

Each year, NKF considers the work of hundreds of specialists in the field of Nephrology and selects those who most exemplify the relentless efforts of NKF to enhance the lives of patients through action, education, and accelerating change. The National Kidney Foundation is revolutionizing the fight to save lives by eliminating preventable kidney disease, accelerating innovation for the dignity of the patient experience, and dismantling structural inequities in kidney care, dialysis, and transplantation.