Deepthi Gunasekaran, MD

Deepthi Gunasekaran, MD, is a kidney specialist who treats a wide range of kidney diseases. She has a special interest in the intersection of the heart and the kidney. “Patients with heart disease have very special needs for their kidneys and require a delicate fluid balance,” she says.

Dr. Gunasekaran has training in “point-of-care ultrasound,” which uses a pocket-sized ultrasound probe that connects to a handheld device to perform a physical exam that is valuable for assessing fluid balance in patients with heart and kidney disease.

She also enjoys working with patients with kidney stone disease. She focuses on identifying specific risk factors placing patients at high risk of developing multiple stones, and helps determine appropriate lifestyle and medical interventions individualized to each patient.

“The kidneys are so fascinating, complex, and critical to life, and kidney disease is too common and widespread,” Dr. Gunasekaran says. “When I was a medical student, studying the kidneys allowed me to work with a wide variety of patients, including those undergoing dialysis, in intensive care units, on the hospital floors, and in the office.”

When she interacts with patients, she keeps in mind that kidney disease can impact other parts of their lives, from their medical concerns (such as hypertension or diabetes) to their diet, exercise, travel, and other lifestyle choices. “It’s a privilege to be involved in the care of these patients beyond just treating the kidneys,” she says.

An assistant professor of clinical medicine at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Gunasekaran is involved in education for medical students and trainees and focuses her research on the kidney effects of devices used to treat heart failure.