Advancing private practice nephrology

How peer learning, work-life balance, and AI are shaping the 2026 RPA Annual Meeting

Editor’s note: Private practice nephrology sits at the intersection of CKM and population health, value-based care, workforce gaps, and rising patient complexity. In this guest essay, I invited Dr. Katie Kwon to share how the Renal Physicians Association is designing its upcoming annual meeting to grapple with those realities. Katie offers a window into how this professional community is preparing for the road ahead.

Atlanta, Georgia / iStock

RPA’s Annual Meeting brings together practicing nephrologists, APPs, practice managers, and industry, with a focus on networking, peer learning, and the delivery of practical information that is immediately actionable. The audience has grown every year since returning from covid, and the participants and content make this a must-attend event. Here are some of the highlights for the upcoming meeting, which takes place in Atlanta April 16^th through 19^th.

There are two pre-meeting programs that are new this year. The first is given in collaboration with the International Society of Glomerular Disease. This half-day program explains how to set up a clinical research program. The focus is on private practices who are new to the clinical research space, and covers the business case, necessary resources, and potential partnership opportunities. This in-person session takes place on April 16^th, the day before the start of the Annual Meeting. The second offering is a course in artificial intelligence use in nephrology. The program starts with two hours of virtual learning to be completed before the meeting. There will then be a closed 90-minute session with hands-on teaching, delivered in person during the meeting. The program awards a first-of-its-kind certificate -the AI-Ready Nephrology Practice Professional. Both programs are open for registration now; an additional registration fee is required.

Big Picture Talks help attendees understand the complexities of US healthcare delivery and policy. This year we will hear about the ongoing evolution of electronic healthcare records as they incorporate AI and population management tools. The chair of MedPAC (CMS’s payment advisory committee), Dr. Michael Chernew, will do a fireside chat about physician payment and the ongoing shift to value-based care. We will also hear talks about the payor’s perspective and priorities, and how pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) work. Big Picture Talks are a signature feature of the RPA Annual Meeting and a terrific way to further understanding of the market forces at work on medical practice.

Last year saw the introduction of Round Robin sessions. Participants in the Round Robin sit in groups and discuss their real-life practice management challenges. An RPA staff member at each table captures insights generated from the discussion. Over the course of the session, tables trade their questions, so that the entire group gets a chance to offer solutions. This innovative format returns this year. Imitated but not duplicated, the secret sauce of the Round Robin is the participants. RPA brings together experienced private practice nephrologists and expert practice administrators, leading to deep discussions and innovative problem-solving.

The small size of the meeting lends itself to workshops, designed to facilitate discussion. Workshops this year cover a range of relevant challenges: practice succession planning, disaster preparation, and APP leadership development. For those not ready for the full AI certificate course, there will be a hands-on workshop on AI prompt writing; participants should be sure to bring their laptops for this interactive instructional session.

Sunday remains focused on clinical updates, but this year the content has been reimagined to enhance active learning and audience participation. The focus is on two emerging areas in nephrology: new therapies for glomerular diseases, and hemodiafiltration. The clinical sessions are grounded in practical information that can be used immediately. Staying through the Sunday session is highly recommended so as not to miss this useful content.

Work-life balance and wellness are critical, and one of the stated goals of the meeting is to come away feeling refreshed and recharged, rather than exhausted and depleted. Committee meetings remain in their new position on Thursday evening. This allows for a gentler start in the mornings, with morning wellness sessions for everyone to enjoy. The Pecha Kucha professional development opportunity allows participants to improve their public speaking skills and moves this year from the exhibit floor to its own workshop session. Evening social events include the opening reception and the PAC reception. Finally, donors to the Dale Singer Educational Foundation are invited to an exclusive “Flavor Tripping” experience using all-natural “miracle berries,” which make sour things taste sweet.

Registration for the Annual Meeting and the pre-meeting workshops is open now: https://www.renalmd.org/page/rpaannualmeeting26. The RPA looks forward to welcoming everyone to Atlanta!

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Dr. Katie Kwon is a partner at Lake Michigan Nephrology and Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Panoramic Health. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Renal Physicians Association, and contributes to the American Society of Nephrology through its Kidney News editorial board.

If you’re planning to attend the RPA Annual Meeting, let us know! If not, which topics or sessions would you like us to cover while we’re on the ground?