Libin Institute trainees recognized internationally

Each year the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) chooses about 300 medical resident and graduate sciences students for a week of mentorship during the organization’s annual conference. The organization, which has more than 20,000 members from 132 countries, provides these trainees with a travel award and are mentored by world-class experts.

In 2020, four Libin Cardiovascular Institute trainees were chosen for this honour. Continue reading to learn a little about these individuals and their research programs. 

Victoria Riehl-Tonn (pictured left)

Victoria Riehl-Tonn is a masters student in Medical Science under the supervision of Dr. Sofia Ahmed, MD. 

Riehl-Tonn was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta and recently received her Bachelor of Nursing degree from Mount Royal University.

Her research focuses on quality of life in patients living with end-stage kidney disease on dialysis with sex and gender considerations. She developed her interest on patient-centred research in nephrology while completing her nursing degree when was involved in clinical dialysis research.

Riehl-Tonn hopes to pursue a career in research, with a focus on patient-oriented research. She is excited to have been named a Kidney STAR and looks forward to working with peers and receive mentorship from international experts.

Danica Chang (Pictured second from left)

Danica Chang is a masters student in the Medical Science program under the supervision of Dr. Sofia Ahmed, MD and Dr. Sandi Dumanski, MD. 

Chang’s research focuses on contraception, sexual function, and reproductive health in young women with chronic kidney disease.

She became interested in the topic of sex and gender as an undergraduate student. That interest evolved to examining the female kidney disease population when she joined her current lab and learned that women’s kidney health is an understudied area of research.

Chang hopes to pursue a career as a clinician-scientist as a kidney specialist and researcher. Being named as a Kidney STAR is Chang’s first international award, and she is excited to learn more about current nephrology research, connect with other trainees and receive career guidance from experts in the field.

Dr. Rana Hassan, MD (pictured second from right)

Dr. Rana Hassan, MD, grew up in London, Ontario and received her MD at the University of Ottawa. She is now a second-year internal medicine resident. 

Hassan is also involved in research under the supervision of Dr. Sofia Ahmed, MD.

Her main areas of research interest are nephrology and cardiology. She is currently working on a project assessing gender differences in heart failure, with emphasis on the female-specific risk factors that inform appropriate clinical decision-making.

Hassan, who hopes to pursue a career as a physician in an acute-care setting, is excited about the networking opportunities associated with being named an ASN Kidney Star.

Chantal Rytz (pictured far right)

Chantal Rytz, a PhD student in the lab of nephrologist and researcher of Dr. Sofia Ahmed, MD, was born and raised in Calgary. She recently completed her masters with Dr. Marc Poulin in Cardiovascular & Respiratory Sciences. 

Her research aims to assess the cardiovascular and renal risk factors associated with menstrual cycle irregularities in females. She I also interested in how gender-affirming hormones, which may cause irregularities in cycles, may impact the transgender community.

Rytz is hoping to pursue a career in women’s cardiovascular health research and advocacy, as she really enjoys the “head-scratching-detective-work” aspects of research.

“I think it is imperative to continue exploring the many unanswered questions regarding women’s cardiovascular health,” says Rytz, noting she is grateful to have been chosen as a Kidney STAR as it will enable her to learn from world-class researchers.