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We are incredibly proud to highlight Dr. Jessica Coleman, our NephCure Specialist of the Month for May. This initiative recognizes the outstanding contributions of NephCure Specialists to the field of nephrology, spotlighting their work, projects, accomplishments, and valuable advice to the rare kidney disease (RKD) patient community.
Dr. Coleman is a board-certified specialist in both Nephrology and Internal Medicine. Her medical journey began at Georgia Tech, where she graduated with honors in Biochemistry and worked as a chemical engineer before pursuing her medical degree at Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia. She went on to complete her residency and nephrology fellowship at the University of Kentucky, where she was later appointed chief fellow.
Today, Dr. Coleman practices privately in the Lowcountry region of Georgia and South Carolina, serving patients in the Beaufort, Hilton Head, and Savannah areas. She has been a keynote speaker at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and is a coauthor of a published article in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.
NephCure sat down with Dr. Coleman to explore her passion for caring for patients with rare kidney disease.
When asked to explain how IgAN affects the patient’s kidneys, Dr. Coleman shared:
“I tell patients that they have an autoimmune disease where their body starts reacting to a specific antibody (something our body usually uses to “tag” foreign objects for destruction. Unfortunately, in IgA, our body reacts to this antibody and creates a bulky complex that then gets deposited in the kidney filters (the glomerulus). Once there, it starts a chain reaction of inflammation and mechanical obstruction that damages the filter and, as a result, causes irreversible kidney disease/destruction and fibrosis.”
With the rapid emergence of new clinical trials and treatment options, we asked Dr. Coleman how she keeps up with the latest advancements for her IgA nephropathy patients. She shared:
“I typically stay up to date on journals, go to as many conferences (American Society of Nephrology, National Kidney Foundation, etc) as I can as well as regional updates (for example, I’m at the Cleveland clinic right now for their Update on Nephrology) and have a good relationship with pharmaceutical companies so that I can ensure that the appropriate treatment(s) reach the appropriate patient. I also follow social media platforms and routinely interact with other thought leaders to continue to adjust and titrate my formulary and approach”
When patients need additional personal support, Dr. Coleman often refers them to organizations such as NephCure, the IgAN Foundation, or the National Kidney Foundation. She also encourages patients to engage on social media, where they can connect with others who share the same diagnosis.
For more information about NephCure Specialists and to find rare kidney disease experts in your area visit, NephCure’s Find A Specialist webpage.
