Susan T Crowley, MD, MBA, FASN
Professor of Medicine (Nephrology)Cards
Appointments
Additional Titles
Executive Director, VHA Kidney Medicine Program, Specialty Care Services
Chief, Kidney Medicine, VA Connecticut Healthcare Systems, Medical Services
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Executive Director, VHA Kidney Medicine Program, Specialty Care Services
Chief, Kidney Medicine, VA Connecticut Healthcare Systems, Medical Services
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Executive Director, VHA Kidney Medicine Program, Specialty Care Services
Chief, Kidney Medicine, VA Connecticut Healthcare Systems, Medical Services
Contact Info
About
Copy Link
Titles
Professor of Medicine (Nephrology)
Executive Director, VHA Kidney Medicine Program, Specialty Care Services; Chief, Kidney Medicine, VA Connecticut Healthcare Systems, Medical Services
Biography
In my position as the Executive Director of the Veterans Health Administration(VHA) Kidney Medicine Program , I lead the development of clinical policies and programs in nephrology for the nation’s largest integrated health care system. As such I serve as Chairperson of the VHA Kidney Health Committee, chartered in 2010 as the VHA Dialysis Steering Committee and subsequently expanded to provide programmatic guidance to VHA in the delivery of dialysis services as well as preventative kidney health care to Veterans. I enjoy drafting evidenced based health policy, and collaborating with an incredibly diverse group of colleagues to source innovative solutions for clinical program needs. My experience as the former Medical Director of Dialysis for the VA Connecticut Healthcare System (VA CT HCS), a VA Dialysis Center recognized twice as a Clinical Program of Excellence by the Under Secretary of Health, provided superb clinical grounding for my current role. In addition, as Chief of the Renal Section at VA CT HCS, I've welcomed the opportunity to expand the diversity of clinical nephrology services available to local Veterans, as well as the clinical renal research initiatives and post graduate professional training opportunities available at the VA.
Appointments
Nephrology
ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- MBA
- University of Connecticut, Business (2019)
- Fellowship
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1990)
- Residency
- State University of New York (1987)
- Internship
- National Naval Medical Center (1985)
- MD
- Union University (1984)
Board Certifications
Nephrology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 1990
Internal Medicine
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 1987
Research
Copy Link
Overview
I currently serve on the Advisory and/or Safety Boards of a number of multicenter clinical trials related to the management of patients with chronic kidney disease.
Medical Research Interests
Public Health Interests
ORCID
0000-0001-8143-5759
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Aldo Peixoto, MD
Kai Chen, PhD
Lingzhi Chu
Robert Dubrow, MD, PhD
David Moore, MD, PhD
Denise Esserman, PhD
Kidney Failure, Chronic
Veterans
Acute Kidney Injury
Kidney
Kidney Diseases
Nephrology
Publications
2025
Barriers and Opportunities in Access to Peritoneal Dialysis across Veterans Healthcare Administration.
Wadhwa A, Reule S, Cavanaugh K, Fischer M, Mackichan K, Sinha A, Palevsky P, Crowley S, Fried L, Shukla A. Barriers and Opportunities in Access to Peritoneal Dialysis across Veterans Healthcare Administration. Clinical Journal Of The American Society Of Nephrology 2025 PMID: 40952802, DOI: 10.2215/cjn.0000000826.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVeterans Healthcare AdministrationPD servicesHealthcare administratorsPatient education programStaff-related issuesSystem-related challengesUnderrecognized barrierVeterans' accessRespondents' perceptionsVeteran populationElectronic questionnaireEligible centersSupport staffUnited StatesVeteransNephrology servicesEducation programsInsufficient availabilityTrained assistantsOutpatient hemodialysisAccessibility itemsCharacteristic itemsPeritoneal dialysisRespondentsServicesAssessing Rural Veterans’ Experiences with a Tele-Nephrology Program in the Veterans Health Administration
Mattocks K, Walker L, Kroll-Desrosiers A, Crowley S, Moore D, Bonegio R. Assessing Rural Veterans’ Experiences with a Tele-Nephrology Program in the Veterans Health Administration. American Journal Of Nephrology 2025, 1-8. PMID: 40527310, DOI: 10.1159/000546917.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVeterans Health AdministrationNephrology careSpecialty providersVeterans' perceptionsVeterans' experiencesVeterans receiving careVA Medical CenterSemi-structured interviewsMISSION ActPrimary careClinical partnershipsVeterans' healthSpecialty careVirtual careDiverse veteransChronic kidney diseaseHealth AdministrationNephrology programsCareIncrease accessVeteransMedical CenterRefractory hypertensionRural areasHigher mortality rateImpact of the Kidney Score Platform on Communication About and Patients’ Engagement With Chronic Kidney Disease Health: Pre–Post Intervention Study
Tuot D, Crowley S, Katz L, Leung J, Alcantara-Cadillo D, Ruser C, Talbot-Montgomery E, Vassalotti J. Impact of the Kidney Score Platform on Communication About and Patients’ Engagement With Chronic Kidney Disease Health: Pre–Post Intervention Study. JMIR Formative Research 2025, 9: e56855. PMID: 40300154, PMCID: PMC12054969, DOI: 10.2196/56855.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPre-post intervention studyPatient Activation MeasureKidney healthPractice toolkitIntervention studiesIncrease patient activationDiabetes statusPrimary care cliniciansPrimary care settingPercentage of veteransChronic kidney diseaseUS adult populationClinical practice guidelinesChronic kidney disease managementChronic kidney disease education programClinician engagementPatient engagementCare cliniciansCare settingsPaired t-testPatient knowledgeTailored educationKnowledge scoresPatient activationPatient interactionsPain Coping Skills Training for Patients Receiving Hemodialysis
Dember L, Hsu J, Mehrotra R, Cavanaugh K, Kalim S, Charytan D, Fischer M, Jhamb M, Johansen K, Becker W, Pellegrino B, Eneanya N, Schrauben S, Pun P, Unruh M, Morasco B, Mehta M, Miyawaki N, Penfield J, Bernardo L, Brintz C, Cheatle M, Doorenbos A, Heapy A, Keefe F, Krebs E, Kuzla N, Nigwekar S, Schmidt R, Steel J, Wetmore J, White D, Kimmel P, Cukor D, Adams M, Almonte-Then S, Amonu C, Anderson L, Argega Leon A, Argyropoulos C, Ashley E, Bajana Meza M, Bansal N, Barbosa M, Barrell T, Bart G, Barton A, Beach S, Beeks L, Belcher J, Berman N, Berry D, Bhatraju E, Bishop N, Blazes C, Busch A, Cameron S, Cardona M, Casilli V, Cazes M, Chacon Palma G, Chalamidas K, Chaudry S, Chen N, Chicos I, Clark C, Collins D, Connelly L, Contreras B, Cosmin A, Crowley S, Dalton C, Dirks J, Donahue S, Dutka P, Dyer V, Edeh O, Edwards D, Edwards D, Ekor K, Esserman D, Falker C, Farkas L, Farrar J, Felson S, Flores Y, Fraticelli Ortiz D, Garcia G, Gear L, Geibel A, Gilmartin C, Goldfarb D, Goldfeld K, Goldstein A, Gong A, Grant C, Grindstaff R, Guajardo E, Guy C, Hamm M, Hammond J, Harris K, Hoffman S, Holden C, Howell H, Ikizler T, Joffe S, Joffe J, Johnson S, Kalam E, Kampman K, Keane C, Kimura G, Kirsch O, Kourany W, Krishnamurthy P, Kubrick P, Lacey P, Landis J, Lash J, Lazlo K, Lee J, Lefler J, Leon Cupe A, Lerner S, Liebschutz J, Lietz P, Linke L, Lockwood M, Luo H, Macina A, McCarthy A, McDaniels K, McLaren S, McNeil D, Meinel M, Mejia V, Mengesha B, Merriman D, Michael W, Mims R, Mishra P, Modersitzki F, Moss A, Mullins C, Munet U, O'Connell K, Okereke U, Olejniczak D, Opeke S, Pacheco-Hernandez M, Pankratz S, Park D, Payne K, Pegues H, Percy S, Pleasant S, Purdy T, Quinn D, Quintana N, Rice K, Robinson G, Roche C, Rodriguez Sosa G, Rudow G, Rudy Q, Rutledge J, Sanchez S, Sands B, Scherer J, Schopp M, Self B, Shallcross A, Silva K, Stallings T, Stauffer C, Steffen A, Stewart T, Stringfellow S, Sullivan L, Torres R, Torres J, Trejo G, Varela D, Vassilieva S, Vilchis H, Villareal D, Walsh J, Ways J, Weidner T, Weimer M, Weiner D, Weisbord S, Wilkie C, Wilkinson M, Williams S, Williams J, Wilson O, Wood V, Yabes J, Zamora G, Zaniga S. Pain Coping Skills Training for Patients Receiving Hemodialysis. JAMA Internal Medicine 2025, 185: 197-207. PMID: 39786400, PMCID: PMC11791705, DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.7140.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPain Coping Skills TrainingPain coping skills training groupUsual care groupBrief Pain InventoryUsual carePain interferenceCoping skills trainingCare groupQuality of lifePain catastrophizingPain intensityBPI interferenceOutcomes of pain intensityRandomized clinical trialsSecondary outcomesChronic painSecondary outcomes of pain intensitySkills trainingBPI interference scoreCognitive behavioral interventionProportion of participantsOutpatient dialysis facilitiesClinically Meaningful ImprovementsPain interventionsRandomized clinical trial of patients
2024
Preparing for stormy weather: building VA health system resilience for dialysis emergency preparedness in the era of climate change
Martin D, Brewster P, Crowley S. Preparing for stormy weather: building VA health system resilience for dialysis emergency preparedness in the era of climate change. Current Opinion In Nephrology & Hypertension 2024, 34: 156-163. PMID: 39699057, DOI: 10.1097/mnh.0000000000001054.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsVeterans Health AdministrationEnd stage kidney diseaseEmergency preparedness educationEmergency preparednessDialysis servicesHealth system resilienceKidney health outcomesPatient populationKidney diseaseIncreased risk of morbidityImproving emergency preparednessRisk of morbidityHealth outcomesHealth servicesChronic kidney diseaseHealth AdministrationPreparedness educationDialysis careStage kidney diseaseDialysis patient populationIncreased riskOptimal managementDialysis treatmentCareEmergency response plansIncremental hemodialysis transition in veterans and nonveterans with kidney failure
Rhee C, Kovesdy C, Unruh M, Crowley S, Geller D, Goldfarb D, Kraut J, Rastegar M, Rifkin I, Kalantar-Zadeh K. Incremental hemodialysis transition in veterans and nonveterans with kidney failure. Current Opinion In Nephrology & Hypertension 2024, 34: 33-40. PMID: 39611277, DOI: 10.1097/mnh.0000000000001040.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsHealth-related quality of lifeEnd-stage kidney diseaseResidual kidney functionAssociated with impaired health-related quality of lifeImpaired health-related quality of lifeTwice-weekly hemodialysisLow patient burdenHigher mortality riskQuality of lifeRandomized Controlled TrialsTransition to dialysisReceive careResidual kidney function preservationIncremental hemodialysisInitiation of hemodialysis treatmentMortality riskPatient burdenESKD populationPragmatic studyYear of treatmentVeteransStandard of careThrice-weekly hemodialysisDialysis transitionCareKDOQI US Commentary on the KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of CKD
Navaneethan S, Bansal N, Cavanaugh K, Chang A, Crowley S, Delgado C, Estrella M, Ghossein C, Ikizler T, Koncicki H, St Peter W, Tuttle K, William J. KDOQI US Commentary on the KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of CKD. American Journal Of Kidney Diseases 2024, 85: 135-176. PMID: 39556063, DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2024.08.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsKidney Disease Outcomes Quality InitiativeChronic kidney diseaseManagement of chronic kidney diseaseKDIGO guidelinesTeam-based careContext of clinical practiceChronic kidney disease burdenEarly identification of CKDWorking GroupClinical practice guidelinesIdentification of chronic kidney diseaseKidney diseaseSodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitorsGlucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonistsNonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonistChronic kidney disease etiologyPeptide 1 receptor agonistsManaging kidney diseaseChronic kidney disease evaluationMineralocorticoid receptor antagonistsSlow CKD progressionImprove cardiovascular outcomesEvidence basePractice guidelinesCKD-related complicationsA unified framework for assessing interaction effects among environmental exposures in epidemiologic studies: A case study on temperature, air pollution, and kidney-related conditions in New York state
Chu L, Chen K, Yang Z, Crowley S, Dubrow R. A unified framework for assessing interaction effects among environmental exposures in epidemiologic studies: A case study on temperature, air pollution, and kidney-related conditions in New York state. Environmental Research 2024, 248: 118324. PMID: 38301759, DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118324.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsAir pollutionMultiplicative interaction effectsNew York StateEstimated health burdenCase-crossover designEvaluation of effect modificationBi-variate associationsAssess interaction effectsConditional logistic modelMeasures of exposureInteraction effectsEffect modificationPollutionExposure variablesHealth burdenEpidemiological studiesEnvironmental exposuresLog-linear modelLogistic modelInteraction termsQuantitative frameworkAirCase studyExposureAlert systemIncorporating Social Determinants of Health in the Prediction of Chronic Kidney Disease Progression in a National Cohort of US Veterans
Singh K, Bragg-Gresham J, Han Y, Gillespie B, Weitzel W, Crowley S, Saran R. Incorporating Social Determinants of Health in the Prediction of Chronic Kidney Disease Progression in a National Cohort of US Veterans. Fortune Journal Of Health Sciences 2024, 07 DOI: 10.26502/fjhs.173.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
The design and baseline characteristics for the HOPE Consortium Trial to reduce pain and opioid use in hemodialysis
Dember L, Hsu J, Bernardo L, Cavanaugh K, Charytan D, Crowley S, Cukor D, Doorenbos A, Edwards D, Esserman D, Fischer M, Jhamb M, Joffe S, Johansen K, Kalim S, Keefe F, Kimmel P, Krebs E, Kuzla N, Mehrotra R, Mishra P, Pellegrino B, Steel J, Unruh M, White D, Yabes J, Becker W, Consortium F. The design and baseline characteristics for the HOPE Consortium Trial to reduce pain and opioid use in hemodialysis. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2023, 136: 107409. PMID: 38086444, PMCID: PMC10922728, DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2023.107409.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Copy Link
Activities
activity National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP/NIDDK/NIH)
2009 - PresentCommitteesMemberDetailsKidney Interagency Coordinating Committeeactivity Department of Veterans Affairs
2010 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsMemberDetailsVA Innovation Initiative Renal Technical Expert Panelactivity Veterans Health Administration
10/01/2010 - PresentPeer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsChairpersonDetailsVHA Kidney Health Committeeactivity National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
03/18/2015 - PresentPeer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsCo-ChairDetailsImproving Chronic Disease with PIECES ( ICD-PIECES) Data and Safety Monitoring Boardactivity The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
11/07/2014 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsMemberDetailsChronic Kidney Disease Surveillance System Advisory Group
Honors
honor David M. Hume Memorial Award
01/28/2022National AwardNational Kidney FoundationDetailsUnited Stateshonor Fellow, National Kidney Foundation
09/15/2021National AwardNational Kidney FoundationDetailsUnited Stateshonor Fellow
01/01/2010National AwardAmerican Society of NephrologyDetailsUnited States
News & Links
Copy Link
Get In Touch
Copy Link
Contacts
Locations
VA Connecticut Healthcare
Academic Office
950 Campbell Avenue, Ste (111F)
West Haven, CT 06516