Nephrology Program

Expert
kidney care
, virtually

Royal-College-certified nephrologists managing CKD, hypertension, kidney stones, and renal complications — accessible from anywhere in Ontario.

Book a Consultation How It Works

Within 1–2 weeksRoyal-College certifiedVirtual across Ontario

20+Years of nephrology experience on our team

Specialist Nephrologists

OHIP-covered specialist care

≈ 1–2 Weeks

Typical wait for first visit

CKD Slowing

Evidence-based progression delay

Pre-Dialysis Care

Plan ahead, avoid surprises

100% Virtual

No travel to Toronto required

About This Program

Specialist kidney care without the wait list

Our nephrology program provides specialist kidney care — including chronic kidney disease (CKD) management, resistant hypertension, kidney stones, electrolyte disorders, and renal complications of diabetes. Led by Royal-College-certified nephrologists with 20+ years of experience.

In Ontario, the wait time to see a nephrologist can stretch into many months. For a progressive disease like CKD, that delay matters. Our program brings nephrology expertise to your screen — fast.

Early specialist involvement in kidney disease can dramatically slow progression and prevent complications. Our virtual program makes that expertise accessible from anywhere in Ontario, without long wait lists.

Conditions Treated

Who we help

Our nephrology program covers a comprehensive range of kidney conditions, including:

Chronic kidney disease (Stages 1–5)

Resistant or new-onset hypertension

Kidney stones & recurrent stone disease

Electrolyte disorders (K, Mg, Ca, phosphate)

Diabetic nephropathy

Glomerular disease

Pre-dialysis education & planning

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

Proteinuria / haematuria workup

Acid-base disorders

Nephrotic & nephritic syndromes

Renal complications of medications

Treatment Options

Therapies that protect your kidneys

Modern nephrology offers several evidence-based therapies that slow CKD progression and reduce complications:

Game Changer

Jardiance® / Forxiga®

SGLT-2 Inhibitors

Originally diabetes drugs — now landmark evidence shows they slow CKD progression and reduce cardiovascular risk in most CKD patients (with or without diabetes).

SGLT-2 Inhibitor

Learn more →

Kerendia®

Finerenone

Newest non-steroidal MRA approved for diabetic kidney disease — reduces CKD progression and heart failure events.

Mineralocorticoid Antagonist

ACE inhibitors / ARBs

Lisinopril, Ramipril, Losartan, etc.

Foundational kidney-protective therapy — your nephrologist will optimise dose and timing for maximum benefit.

Renin-Angiotensin Blockade

Statin Therapy

Rosuvastatin, Atorvastatin

Cardiovascular risk in CKD is 2–3× the general population. Statins reduce events; your nephrologist will coordinate with your other doctors.

Lipid-Lowering

Learn more →

Our Process

How your program works

A clear pathway from inquiry to specialist follow-up.

Initial Intake & Records Review

Send recent labs (creatinine, eGFR, urine ACR), imaging if available, and a list of current medications. Our team reviews within one business day.

Lab Work if Needed

Your nephrologist may order updated kidney function, electrolytes, urine studies, or imaging (ultrasound) — at no cost via OHIP.

Specialist Consultation

A virtual consult with your DOS nephrologist to review labs, examine your case, and design a kidney-protective plan.

Treatment & Coordination

Prescriptions, BP target adjustments, medication reviews, and (if needed) referrals for vascular access planning or transplant evaluation.

Ongoing Follow-Up

Regular virtual reviews — typically every 3–6 months for stable CKD, more often if labs are evolving or therapy is being adjusted.

Eligibility

Is this program right for you?

Our nephrology program is open to:

You may be a good candidate if you:

Have CKD at any stage (1–5)

Have resistant or unexplained hypertension

Have recurrent kidney stones

Have proteinuria / haematuria flagged on labs

Need pre-dialysis planning or transplant work-up referral

Are an Ontario resident with a valid health card

This program may not be suitable if you:

Are currently on dialysis (in-centre care required)

Have an acute kidney injury requiring hospitalization

Are post-kidney-transplant (transplant clinic care)

Program Physician

Program Lead

Dr. Mitra Mahdavi-Mazdeh

Internal Medicine, Nephrology, and Women's Health specialist with 20+ years of clinical and academic experience.

Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Women's Health

View full profile →

Protect your kidneys, starting now

Specialist nephrology consultation — typically within 1–2 weeks. Slow progression, prevent complications, plan ahead.

Book as a Patient

Self-refer via our secure online booking system

Refer a Patient

Physician referral form with fax & secure intake

Frequently Asked Questions

Nephrology FAQ

Common questions about specialist kidney care.

Do I need a referral to see a nephrologist?

For OHIP coverage, yes — most specialist visits require a referral from a family physician or another specialist. Our team will guide you through getting one if you do not already have a referral in hand.

My eGFR just dropped — should I be worried?

A drop in eGFR can be due to many things — medications, dehydration, true CKD progression. The right answer depends on the trend, not a single value. Our nephrologists will review your full lab history and tell you whether you are dealing with a temporary blip or progressive disease.

Can virtual care really replace an in-person nephrology visit?

For most established CKD management, yes — labs, imaging, medication review, and counselling all work well virtually. Where hands-on examination matters (e.g. fluid status assessment in advanced CKD), we will arrange in-person follow-up.

Will you coordinate with my family doctor?

Always. Visit notes, recommendations, and prescription changes are sent to your family doctor (with your consent). Coordinated care is core to good kidney medicine.

I have diabetes — can you help me protect my kidneys?

Yes. Diabetic kidney disease is one of the most common reasons people develop CKD. Modern therapies (SGLT-2 inhibitors, finerenone, ACE/ARB optimisation) can dramatically slow progression — but they need to be the right drug, dose, and combination for your situation.

What is the wait time to be seen?

Typically 1–2 weeks for a first appointment with a nephrologist. Compare to public-system wait times in Ontario which can be 6+ months for non-urgent referrals.

Expert kidney care, virtually