As part of our “Meet Yale Internal Medicine” series, today’s feature is on Randy Luciano, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine (nephrology).
After earning his medical degree at University of Connecticut, Randy Luciano, MD, PhD, pursued residency at Yale School of Medicine (YSM). He was part of the Primary Care Residency Program, which at the time was based at Yale New Haven Hospital and Waterbury Hospital.
When choosing a specialty, Luciano wanted one that would lend itself to long term relationships with patients and offer daily challenges in the care of patients with complex disease. He was drawn to nephrology by the elegant physiology and complexity of the kidneys, and the diversity of disease seen in patients.
“After completing the primary care program, I knew I wanted to have a relationship with my patients, yet specialize,” said Luciano. “Nephrology allowed me to do that. I see some of my patients once a week and I cannot think of another specialty in which that would happen.”
Luciano treats patients with all forms of kidney disease and in addition, he specializes in glomerular disease, which affects the ability of the kidney to filter properly. Luciano treats kidney diseases such as minimal change disease, membranous nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, lupus nephritis, IgA nephropathy and ANCA mediated vasculitis. His patients have relayed how appreciative they are of the time he takes with each one, something by which Luciano prides himself.
Recently, he expanded his practice area from New Haven to Old Saybrook to better serve his patient population and hopes to move into other areas of the state, including North Haven and Greenwich.
Luciano has found his niche at YSM, becoming an expert in the use of ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy to diagnose kidney disease.
“For some kidney diseases, we can look at blood work, urine tests and imaging, and come up with a treatment plan. But for certain types of kidney disease, the use of biopsy is the gold standard for a diagnosis,” said Luciano. “Once our suspected diagnosis is confirmed by the biopsy, we will sit down with the patient and his or her family, and determine a treatment plan.”
The samples collected are used not only for diagnosis, but for research through a variety of studies by the Section of Nephrology, such as the link between diabetes and kidney disease, among others. Specimens are also being analyzed for use in precision medicine.
In addition to his clinical duties, Luciano helps to train the future leaders in nephrology as the Associate Program Director for the Nephrology Fellowship Program, maintaining the section’s excellence in nephrology training started by John Peters, MD, many years ago.
YNHH is a large hospital, but has a smaller, community feel. I have wonderful support from my colleagues but also find joy in treating my patients in the hospital, outpatient clinics, or dialysis units.
Dr. Randy Luciano
“I prefer working with the fellows on the clinical units, rather than in a lecture setting,” explained Luciano. “I believe they learn more when we are seeing patients together. When I was in medical school, I thrived in this setting and enjoy teaching fellows this way.”
Overall, Luciano relishes his time at Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) and admits his favorite days are caring for patients by the bedside. “YNHH is a large hospital, but has a smaller, community feel,” said Luciano, “I have wonderful support from my colleagues but also find joy in treating my patients in the hospital, outpatient clinics, or dialysis units.”
For more information on the YSM Section of Nephrology, visit Nephrology.