Overview
As a board-certified nephrologist and a certified clinical hypertension specialist (ASH-SCH), I take care of patients with kidney disorders and/or high blood pressure. Patients with chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure have an increased risk for developing complications of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks, congestive heart failure, strokes, kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant, and a shortened lifespan. My clinical focus is to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease and reduce complications from cardiovascular disease with lifestyle modification. I particularly enjoy treating patients with severe or difficult to control high blood pressure by focusing on finding an effective medication regimen that provides the least side effects, eliminating ineffective medications, simplifying medication schedules, and promoting healthy lifestyle behavior. I see patients 2 days per week in the Duke Nephrology Clinic and the Duke Nephrology Hypertension Clinic.
My research interests are to reduce racial and health disparities among patients with hypertension and chronic kidney disease using lifestyle modifications. My past and current research investigates the effects of diet (i.e., the DASH diet, sodium reduction), exercise, and weight loss on blood pressure and kidney function, as well as the effect of bilateral renal artery denervation on blood pressure.
Office Hours
Duke Health Center at North Duke Street: Wednesdays 8:30a - 12:30p
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Effects of a Digital Intervention to Improve DASH and Blood Pressure Among US Adults.
Journal Article Hypertension · February 2025 BACKGROUND: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) is a recommended first-line treatment for adults with hypertension, yet adherence to DASH is low. To evaluate the efficacy of a digital health intervention (DHI), compared with attention control, o ... Full text Link to item CiteLongitudinal Pilot Evaluation of the Gut Microbiota Comparing Patients With and Without Chronic Kidney Disease.
Journal Article J Ren Nutr · July 2024 OBJECTIVE: The gut microbiota contributes to metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, but is poorly characterized in chronic kidney disease (CKD). DESIGN AND METHODS: We enrolled 24 adults within household pairs, in which at least one member ... Full text Link to item CiteEffects of Lifestyle Modification on Psychosocial Function in Patients With Resistant Hypertension: SECONDARY OUTCOMES FROM THE TRIUMPH RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL.
Journal Article J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev · January 1, 2024 PURPOSE: In a secondary analysis of the TRIUMPH clinical trial, psychological outcomes in patients with resistant hypertension (RH) receiving a diet and exercise intervention delivered in a cardiac rehabilitation setting were compared with those receiving ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Planning grant for clinical trial of implicit bias mitigation training for clinicians
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2027Cardiorenal Genomics for Risk Prediction in African American Descent Populations
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by University of Alabama at Birmingham · 2023 - 2026Diet and Hypertension Management in Chronic Kidney Disease
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2025View All Grants