Albuquerque: (505) 998-7400
Las Cruces: (575) 522-5752
Roswell: (575) 627-5828
Westside ABQ: (505) 998-7443
Alamogordo: (575) 446-5100
Clovis: (575) 769-7577

About Us

What is a Nephrologist?

A Nephrologist is a Medical Doctor who Specializes in Kidney care and treating diseases of the kidneys. The term nephrologist comes from the Greek word “nephros”, which means kidney or renal and “ologist” refers to someone who studies. Nephrologists are also called kidney doctors. Nephrologists are educated in internal medicine and then undergo more training to specialize in treating patients with kidney diseases. They commonly treat chronic kidney disease (CKD), polycystic kidney disease (PKD), acute renal failure, kidney stones and high blood pressure and are educated on all aspects of kidney transplantation and dialysis. When a patient comes in for a check-up, the kidney doctor will evaluate the patient’s medical condition, address any new problems, check test results, make changes to the patient’s dialysis prescription if needed and refill or prescribe medications. During these visits, the nephrologist is also likely to adjust blood pressure medicines and may initiate or adjust therapy for a variety of other problems.

It’s important that patients tell their kidney doctors if they notice any changes in their health.

A doctor with glasses and a white lab coat is smiling and using a stethoscope to listen to the chest of an elderly man wearing yellow-tinted glasses and a black shirt. Both appear to be in a light-colored examination room and are smiling during their interaction.
Image of a medical building labeled "Royal Medical Associates" with the name "Tim Muchayi, MD, Nephrology" prominently displayed above the glass door entrance. The structure features a stucco exterior with a curved roofline, stone accents, and minimalist landscaping.

About Renal Medicine Associates

Renal Medicine Associates is a nephrology specialty medical practice that provides comprehensive care for patients with kidney disease throughout central, eastern, and southern portions of New Mexico. The spectrum of kidney disease includes hypertension, acute and chronic kidney dysfunction, kidney stones, fluid retention, kidney failure, dialysis, and transplantation. It is our mission to provide this care with the highest quality, integrity, and compassion.

RMA Mission

Renal Medicine Associates is dedicated to the highest quality of care in the Prevention and Treatment of Kidney Disease and maintenance of Kidney Health with quality, compassion and integrity.

RMA and the Community

At RMA, we are committed to serving the community beyond our clinic or hospital services. We supported the conception and implementation of the New Mexico Kidney Foundation (www.nm.kidney.org). We believe in patients' education and disease prevention. The New Mexico Kidney Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to educate the community on kidney disease prevention. And philanthropic projects in patients affected with end-stage kidney disease. RMA continues to contribute yearly to the efforts and community projects of the Presbyterian Health Foundation. We were awarded the 2019 Presbyterian Health Care foundation Physician philanthropic award.

http://docs.phs.org/idc/groups/public/documents/communication/pel_00935887.pdf We supported organizations such as the Juvenile Diabetes Association and NM Appleseed (www.nmappleseed.org).

A group of eight women, dressed in black medical scrubs, stand in front of a building's entrance with a sign reading "RMA Renal Medicine Associates." They are smiling and appear to be part of a nephrology team specializing in kidney disease.

Recognition and Awards

A woman stands behind a table with a Renal Medicine Associates banner, displaying educational materials and nephrology models. Below, various people interact at different booths in a health fair setting, engaging with exhibitors and collecting information about kidney disease prevention.

August 9th 2023
Renal Medicine Associates participated in the Santo Domingo Pueblo Health Fair to raise chronic kidney awareness, including a presentation on chronic kidney disease.

RMA has partnered with the Santo Domingo Pueblo clinic to present a chronic kidney disease clinic twice a month.

PHOTOS:

  • Stephanie Mahooty DNP behind the table in the RMA booth.
  • Dr. Sonam Kundeling speaking to booth visitors.

2023 Kidney Walk

Dr Hector Castro and his son Bruno participated in the 2023 Kidney Walk event to raise money for the National Kidney Foundation.

A man wearing a grey t-shirt and red cap stands in a park with a smiling child in a white cap and glasses. Next to them is a person in a red kidney-shaped costume waving, raising awareness for nephrology and kidney disease. Trees and a pathway are visible in the background.
A National Doctors' Day 2024 dedication with a decorative border, featuring a note expressing gratitude to Dr. Dale Erickson for his excellent nephrology care over 12 years. Mae Lockett is mentioned for making a gift in his honor supporting Women's Care.
A maroon-colored card displays the text "I'm someone's Guardian Angel!" in white, handwritten-style font. To the right, there is a metallic pin depicting an angel alongside the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation logo.

Guardian Angel award from the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation

Dr. Erickson recently received the prestigious Guardian Angel award from the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation, an accolade that highlights exceptional care and dedication in the medical field. This award was especially meaningful as it was awarded by one of his own patients, underscoring the profound impact his care and compassion have had on those he serves. The Guardian Angel award symbolizes not only the gratitude of individual patients but also the high standards and dedication exemplified by Dr. Erickson in his daily practice. This recognition serves as a testament to his unwavering commitment to providing outstanding healthcare and his lasting influence on patient well-being.

Dr. Chudi Adi

Dr. Chudi Adi won the KidneyX Innovation Accelerator program, which launched the COVID-19 Kidney Care Challenge to identify and share solutions that reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission and risk among people with, or at risk of, kidney injury or disease.

The Kidney Innovation Accelerator (KidneyX) is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the American Society of Nephrology (ASN).

Stephanie Mahooty, DNP

Stephanie Mahooty, DNP works with the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Spring Clinical Meetings where she has been a planning committee member for the Council of Advanced Practice Providers (CAPP) from 2021-2022.

Dr. Mahooty served as co-chair for the CAPP Continuing Education Committee in 2021. CAPP’s mission is to serve as an advisory and resource for NKF, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners and the community in advancing the care, treatment, and education of patients with kidney disease and their families.

She is also a member of the Health Care Justice Committee of the American Society of Nephrology.

Two individuals pose together in an office environment. Below, a colorful, tear-shaped award is engraved with "NKF 2022 Spring Clinical Meetings, Stephanie Mahooty, DNP, APRN, Program Committee Award," celebrating her dedication to advancements in nephrology and the fight against kidney disease.

RMA History

Renal Medicine Associates (RMA) began on July 1, 1973, by founders Drs. Richard Cronin and Glenn Lubash. We were the first independent nephrology practice in Albuquerque, offering a new medical service to care for individuals in our community with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The U.S. Congress had just passed legislation allowing national insurance coverage for these individuals. Still, simultaneously, advances in cardiovascular intervention and intensive care support mandated kidney specialists to care for a growing population of critically ill hospitalized patients. In 1974, RMA partnered with Biomedical Applications (BMA) – a company based in Boston, MA that had arisen to operate free-standing dialysis facilities. Dr. Dale Erickson, the third member of the group, had finished his fellowship at the University of New Mexico in June 1974 but was first hired as medical director of the Presbyterian Hospital dialysis facility. After working together, RMA and Dr. Erickson formally joined teams in 1975 as equal partners. By this time, several dialysis facilities existed, and there was a growing number of patients with kidney failure depending on dialysis for life extension. Dr. Erickson also started providing service to a new dialysis facility in Clovis and continued to travel to eastern N.M. every month for the next 21 years. He, along with coverage from his partners, developed an outpatient nephrology practice, and provided inpatient consultation and dialysis care for that

community. In 1978, Dr. Richard Goldman chose to join RMA. He promptly became the medical director of this Albuquerque Kidney Center dialysis facility. His interest and knowledge in science and quality control served RMA well as the group began to focus on safety, reliability, and long-term outcomes, including patient survival. After Dr. Goldman’s arrival, several members of the group began to serve on national leadership committees and boards, including the post of president of the Renal Physician’s Association, the premier national organization serving members of the nephrology community. RMA began to work with other national leaders to influence policy and to fight for the rights of ESRD patients within New Mexico. Over the next decades, this core group expanded services. It worked with our surgeons and hospital partners to create the Presbyterian Kidney Transplant Program. The mission of the group grew to include the provision of comprehensive care for our community. Thus, patients within New Mexico are offered the latest and safest technologies to make sure they have the best opportunity for good health. From 1973 to the present, Renal Medicine Associates has been committed to innovation, providing outstanding quality care with integrity and compassion for all individuals affected with kidney disease.