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Built on innovation, nephrology is a specialty of many firsts: from developing organ replacement therapies to advocating successfully for government support of lifesaving dialysis to removing race from a commonly used clinical algorithm. If asked in 2019, I would have declared nephrology the epitome of visionary leadership: determined to solve the most complex medical and social justice issues globally and inspired by a passion for patients.
Today, I view things somewhat differently. During the past 2 years, our specialty has demonstrated some of the most effective crisis leadership in medicine. When this column publishes, we may be past the worst