Meet Our Fellows

Azamat Abdyraimov, MD

 

Hamza Ali, DO

I was born in Pakistan. I grew up in Saudi Arabia and Canada. I completed my undergraduate education in Psychology at York University in Toronto, ON. I came to the US for my medical education and graduated from Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis, IN. I completed my Internal Medicine Residency at the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY. I chose the Nephrology Fellowship program at UMass Chan Medical School because of the exceptional faculty, supportive learning environment, and broad clinical exposure to all aspects of Nephrology.

Nivedha Balaji, DO

 

I earned my Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where I thoroughly embraced the holistic, patient-centered philosophy inherent in osteopathic training. My internal medicine residency at Northeast Georgia Medical Center further honed my clinical acumen, equipping me with robust skills in diagnosing and managing a comprehensive range of adult medical conditions.

Nephrology stands out as a highly complex and intellectually stimulating subspecialty. It encompasses a vast array of conditions, from acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease to intricate cases of glomerulonephritis, autoimmune disorders, electrolyte imbalances, and the nuanced management of transplant patients. Its inherently multidisciplinary nature—demanding close collaboration with cardiologists, endocrinologists, and rheumatologists—underscores the kidney’s indispensable role in systemic health. Given the escalating global burden of kidney disease, fueled by rising rates of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, nephrology offers profound clinical relevance and significant opportunities to meaningfully improve patient outcomes.

My strong interest in the UMass Nephrology Fellowship stems from its distinguished reputation for exceptional clinical training, dedicated mentorship, and extensive procedural experience, particularly in critical areas like kidney biopsies and dialysis catheter placement. Furthermore, the program's robust avenues for scholarly development, through both clinical research and quality improvement initiatives, promise not only academic growth but also deep professional fulfillment.

Learn more about Dr. Balaji by reading her Fellow Spotlight!

 

Moonyoung Choi, MD

 

I graduated from Chosun University School of Medicine in South Korea. After my residency in internal medicine, I moved to the USA and continued my training at St. John's Episcopal Hospital in New York. Throughout my medical journey, I have always been interested in nephrology. It truly is a blended yet all-embracing discipline that requires an in-depth understanding of physiology, while requiring exceptional patient care skills in both primary and acute care settings. The nephrology fellowship program at UMass offers state-of-the-art faculty, a supportive environment, hands-on learning, a diverse patient population, and complex research/clinical cases, top-notch transplant nephrology in central Mass, which leads to amazing learning opportunities. Learning at UMass is one of my best choices.