Adrian Whelan

Adrian Whelan, MD, MAS, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine. He serves as an Attending on the Kidney Transplant Unit, providing clinical care to patients throughout the kidney transplantation process. His research is dedicated to identifying and overcoming barriers to transplantation, with a strong focus on health equity and access.

• Education:
• MB BCh BAO in Medicine, University College Cork, 2009
• Basic Specialist Training in General Internal Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, 2012
• Higher Specialist Training in Nephrology and General Internal Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, 2017
• Editorial Internship, American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 2019
• MAS in Clinical Research, University of California, San Francisco, 2020
• General Nephrology Fellowship – Clinical Research Track, UCSF, 2020
• Transplant Nephrology Fellowship, UCSF, 2021

Dr. Whelan’s research interests include kidney transplantation, transplant access disparities, hypertension, kidney donor health, and medical education. His scholarly work explores how geographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors influence transplant access and outcomes. He has contributed to understanding the impact of travel distance, rurality, obesity, and donor evaluation processes on transplantation equity.

His recent publications span high-impact journals such as the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, American Journal of Kidney Diseases, and Kidney Medicine. These studies collectively highlight trends in health services research, clinical epidemiology, and policy-relevant findings in nephrology and transplantation. His work increasingly incorporates data-driven analysis of systemic barriers and patient-reported outcomes.

• Scientific Awards and Honors:
• Andy I. Choi Memorial Scholarship, UCSF, 2019
• MRCP UK, Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom, 2012
• MRCPI, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, 2011
• Dr. H. H. Stewart Scholarship in Medicine, National University of Ireland, 2009

Dr. Whelan is actively involved in academic mentorship and medical publishing, having participated in the AJKD Editorial Internship. He has no listed advisees yet but collaborates extensively with researchers at UCSF, including Elaine Ku, Chuck McCulloch, and Garrett Roll. He maintains a public presence through the AJKD Blog, where he discusses topics such as waitlist eligibility, peritoneal dialysis, and NephMadness. There is no mention of specific labs or research teams, but his work is embedded within the UCSF Division of Nephrology’s clinical and research infrastructure.