Regarding the Situation with…Social Media in General

Regarding the Situation with…Twitter, Bluesky, Social Media

We at #NephJC pride ourselves on bringing you the best in nephrology publications and innovations without commercial bias. As we’ve stated during many a donation drive, we are beholden to none but our followers and readers.

Having said that, we’ve noticed a trend since the death of Twitter (yes, it will always be Twitter to the real FOAMed illuminati). The diaspora of NephTwitter were scattered throughout the nephro-universe of social media, never quite finding a new home. Perhaps the downfall of the Nephrologians can be a plot line for the next Mandalorian season?? Many left the social media space altogether because of the division, politicization and plain BS of some of the algorithms (I for one don’t need to see EVERYTHING Elon posts). However, we still believe there is a need for our unique style of nephrology education. Jon Stewart- yes, the comedian- recently likened social media to smoking: an addictive, attention seeking habit that is generally recognized as not healthy for most people and that is likely to be regulated for teen and self-regulate by adults. He believed the antidote was more long-form, nuanced edu-tainment. So, it light of the changing landscape, we are going to focus more on our blogs, VAs, and podcasts and less on live discussions on Bluesky.

NephJC is nothing if not nimble, and we have never been afraid of change.

So, given the low attendance at live chats (no judgement) we’re changing to a summary thread (a new 10 posts) with provocative questions to answer, at your leisure. We hope this keeps the discussions going without the need to be on social media for prolonged periods or at a specific hour and day. These threads will be posted at the familiar 9pm EST every other Tuesday. This shorter form will also allow us to post on multiple sites, and hopefully we will be easily accessible to you where you chat with other nephrophiles. Feel free to reply, chat, tag people in conversations whenever and wherever you see a #NephJC post. The team will be around, but we won’t be actively ‘moderating’ a one hour chat.

Sincerely,

NephJC Leadership

PS: As always we love to hear from our audience. If you have suggestions, or a better way to reach more people, we are all ears. Heck, if we hear enough complaints we might even bring back the chats!😉

Announcing the NephJC Editorial Internship

Are you a curious, motivated nephrology fellow or early‑career faculty member with a passion for science communication? NephJC is inviting a small group of talented individuals to join our Editorial Internship Program and become part of the team that shapes how nephrology is discussed, illustrated, and shared online.

As an intern, you’ll help craft the bimonthly NephJC Journal Club, one of the most vibrant hubs for post‑publication peer review in nephrology, while developing your skills as an editor, writer, illustrator, or podcaster. We’re also planning to expand our Instagram presence this year, so creative voices with an eye for visual storytelling will have new opportunities to shine.

What this internship offers

• Collaboration with an experienced, dynamic production team

• Engagement with cutting‑edge nephrology research

• Increased professional visibility within the global nephrology community

Take your passion for kidneys, curiosity, and community to the next level- join the NephJC Editorial Internship Program and help us keep the nephrology spirit alive across platforms, including a more active IG presence.

2026 #NephJCKidneys vote begins

After an extended nomination period, it is time to vote for your favorites. Like in the previous years, you will need to be a subscriber to the newsletter to be eligible to vote. By voting you let our content creators know how much they are contributing the the FOAMed goals of NephJC.

Just one week to vote!

The link to vote will be available in the newsletter.

Here is the final ballot:

Article of the Year

• PISCES trial: link| NephJC summary| Freely Filtered episode

• ACHIEVE trial- spironolactone in dialysis: link| NephJC summary| Freely Filtered episode

• VALIANT trial - pegcetacoplan in C3GN : link| NephJC summary

• ORIGIN3 trial- atacicept in IgAN: link| NephJC summary| Freely Filtered episode

• Primary aldosteronism underdiagnosed: link| NephJC summary

• ADPKD KDIGO guideline: link| NephJC summary| Freely Filtered episode

• REGENCY trial:- obinutuzumab in lupus nephritis link| NephJC summary| Freely Filtered episode

• Metformin in advanced CKD: link| NephJC summary| Freely Filtered episode

• HiLo- high vs low phosphorus target in dialysis: link| NephJC summary

Engaged Scientist of the Year

• Jonathan Barratt @IgAN_JBarratt

• Jordy Cohen @jordybc.bsky.social

• Charmaine Lok - PISCES

• Daniel Edmonston @danieledmonston.bsky.social

Nathan Hellman Social Media Project of the Year

• ISN social media team for Spaces

• Indian society of nephrology - social media team

• Roger Rodby for Renal Biopsy Cases

• Sophia Ambruso for abckidney.com

Most Valuable Player

Milagros Flores @dramiliflores.bsky.social

Brian Rifkin @brianrifkin.bsky.social

Akshaya Jaychandran @nephromommy-akshu.bsky.social

Visual Abstract of the Year

ISN-GKHA interactive map: From data to dialogue by Denisse Arellano

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Akshaya Jaychandran ACHIEVE trial 

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Husam Alzayer: incremental dialysis

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Krithika Mohan: herb nephropathy

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NephJC Social Justice Award

WHO kidney resolution and UN political declaration

World KIdney Day- Kidney health for all

NephJC on Instagram

NephJC continues to host its live journal clubs and real-time discussions on Bluesky where open dialogue, shared learning, and critical appraisal are central to what we do. For now, our scheduled chats and discussions will continue on Bluesky.

We are also expanding our presence on Instagram with a complementary goal. Instagram allows us to connect with nephrologists and the public who may not be active on X or Bluesky but who are still interested in practice-relevant research, methodology, and staying informed on ongoing NephJC activities. For many clinicians, Instagram serves as an accessible entry point rather than a space for in-depth discussion.

The NephJC editorial team recognizes that Instagram does not allow for the same type of open, back-and-forth dialogue that defines our journal clubs. We are not aiming to replicate that experience there. Instead, we see Instagram as a way to highlight important studies, share key concepts, and guide interested readers toward platforms where deeper discussion and engagement are possible.

Our commitment to thoughtful, inclusive, and rigorous discussion remains the same. Instagram is simply another way to welcome more colleagues into the NephJC community.

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Taking the reigns

In April 2014, Swapnil and I launched NephJC—and within weeks we were overwhelmed by the sheer work of running a twice-monthly, Twitter-based journal club. Fortunately, we also had a deep bench of friends on the internet. A rotating cast of brilliant volunteers stepped in, proving the old fortune-cookie wisdom true: many hands make light work.

Over the years, both Swap and I have taken on new responsibilities and new roles. Swap even has a big announcement on the horizon. As NephJC has grown, we’ve had to confront the hardest part of any grassroots digital project: succession. The good news is we’ve been spoiled with talent. Two exceptional leaders have been (not so) quietly steering the ship for the last 18–24 months, so much so that most of you won’t notice any change at all.

Today we’re making it official:

Your new Editors-in-Chief of NephJC are Brian Rifkin and Cristina Popa.

Both are highly decorated graduates from the NSMC. Brian won Rookie of the Year in 2021 and Cristina followed right behind him in 2022. She also tacked on the MVP award in 2024.

Swap and I will still be around, but less.