Biographical summary
Harini Chakkera, M.D., MPH, is Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. She is a transplant nephrologist and chair of the Division of Nephrology. She also is currently the medical director of the Pancreas Transplant Program. She previously held the positions of fellowship program director for both the General Nephrology Fellowship and Transplant Nephrology Fellowship programs and was the chair of the Student Promotion and Assessment Committee, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Arizona.
Areas of clinical expertise include:
- Determination of eligibility for kidney and pancreas transplant
- Living-donor evaluation to determine their suitability
- Providing complex coordination and management for patients after kidney and pancreas transplant
- Promoting patients' understanding of their disease and empowering them to become partners in managing their health
Dr. Chakkera has truly excelled in all the shields at Mayo Clinic — education, clinical practice and research. In addition to her clinical activities, she is active in research and education. She was responsible for transforming the internal medicine resident rotation in nephrology. Additionally, she was instrumental in the founding of two fellowships (General Nephrology and Transplant Nephrology) and was the founding leader for the renal block, Mayo Medical School in Arizona. She provides mentorship to several residents and fellows.
She currently holds the position of Director: Medical Education Quality and Strategy, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. In 2021, Dr. Chakkera was recognized for her contributions to the Education Shield receiving the Distinguished Educator of the Year Award, Mayo Clinic Arizona. Dr. Chakkera is recognized as a national and international content expert in the areas of metabolic disease and diabetes associated with transplantation. Her research is funded by industry, intramural and NIH funding. She is the author of expert content and publishes in high-impact scientific journals. She has been a seminal leader in elucidating the mechanisms and consequences of metabolic disease post-transplant and has been invited to present on this topic at various national and international forums.
She has been an active member of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and American Society of Transplantation (AST) and recognized as a Fellow of both ASN and AST. She has held positions on several of its committees and currently is a member of the Transplant Nephrology Fellowship Training Accreditation Board of Managers.
Dr. Chakkera has been recognized in America's Top Physicians — Consumers' Research Council of America and Marquis Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare in America. In 2017, she received the Marquis Who's Who in America Lifetime Achievement award.
Conditions treated
- Kidney failure
- Pancreatic disorder
Procedures performed
Interests
- Renal transplantation outcomes
- Evaluating modifiable predictors to improve kidney transplant survival
- Outcomes after renal transplantation: evaluating predictors that can improve the long-term survival of the transplanted kidney and studying treatment modalities adopted to maximize the survival of the renal allograft after acute rejection
Mayo Clinic locations
Education
- 2005
Fellow - TransplantationUniversity of California, San Francisco
- 2003
Fellow - NephrologyUniversity of California, San Francisco
- 2002
MPHUniversity of California, Berkeley
- 1999
Resident - Internal MedicineHennepin County Medical Center
- 1997
Internship - Internal MedicineHennepin County Medical Center
- 1994
MB BS - Bachelor of Medicine & SurgeryBangalore University
Activities and honors
Certifications
- 2002
NephrologyAmerican Board of Internal Medicine
- 1999
Internal MedicineAmerican Board of Internal Medicine
Awards and honors
- 2024
Chief Guest51st Annual National Conference of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India
- 2021
Distinguished Educator of the Year AwardMayo Clinic Arizona
- 2017
Lifetime Achievement AwardMarquis Who's Who in America
- 2012
Recognized in Phoenix Super Doctors 2012Key Professional Media Inc.
- 2011
Recipient of 2011 Research Early Career Development AwardMayo Foundation
- 2011
Recipient of Clinical Practice Innovation-10 Grant; Topic: Establish a Renal Studies Unit at Mayo Clinic in ArizonaMayo Clinic in Arizona
- 2008
Recipient of the NIH KL2RR 24151 Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Career Development Award: NIH Roadmap/NCRRNational Institutes of Health
- 2007
America's Top PhysiciansConsumers' Research Council of America
- 2003
Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Award NIH F-32 DK 065349-01. Individual fellowship award NIHNational Institutes of Health
- 2003
Clinical Science Fellowship GrantAmerican Society of Transplantation
- 2001
Recipient of NIH T32DK 07219 Fellowship GrantNational Institutes of Health
- 1999
AST Distinguished Fellow Research Forum PresenterAnnual Transplant Fellows Research Symposium
- 1998
WinnerNational American College of Physicians Clinical Vignette Abstract Competition
- 1996
WinnerRegional American College of Physicians Clinical Vignette Poster Competition
Professional memberships
- 2024 - present
Invited MemberKidney Health Guidance Oversight Committee, American Society of Nephrology
- 2023 - present
Invited Grants ReviewerAmerican Society of Nephrology
- 2022 - present
MemberPublic Policy Committee, American Society of Transplantation
- 2022 - present
MemberAmerican Association for Physician Leadership
- 2018 - 2023
Board MemberBoard of Managers, Transplant Nephrology Fellowship Training Accreditation Program, American Society of Transplantation
- 2017 - 2023
ChairStudent Promotion and Assessment Review Committee, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Department of Education Administration
- 2016 - 2023
MemberLLC Review Committee, Transplant Nephrology Fellowship Training Accreditation Program, American Society of Transplantation
- 2015 - 2023
MemberMedical Advisory Board, National Kidney Foundation of Arizona
- 2015 - 2018
MemberEducation Committee, American Society of Transplantation
- 2015 - 2017
ChairSouthwest Nephrology Conference Planning Committee, National Kidney Foundation of Arizona
- 2015 - 2018
MemberBlue Ribbon Panel on Career Development, American Society of Nephrology
- 2015 - 2018
LeaderFounding Renal Block, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Department of Education Administration
- 2014 - present
MemberDiversity Subcommittee, Personnel Committee, Executive Operations Team - Arizona
- 2012 - 2017
ChairTransplantation Disease Oriented Group, Mayo Clinic Arizona Task Forces
- 2012 - 2014
ChairWorkforce Diversity Group, Workforce Committee, American Society of Nephrology
- 2011 - present
MemberFellowship Training Program Director Committee, American Society of Nephrology
- 2011
Abstract ReviewerAmerican Society of Nephrology
- 2011 - 2016
MemberWorkforce Committee, American Society of Nephrology
- 2011 - 2013
Elected MemberExecutive Committee of Women's Health Community of Practice, American Society of Transplantation
- 2011
ChairScientific Session, Joint Meeting of the ASTS and AST, American Transplant Congress
- 2011 - 2017
MemberClinical Research Subcommittee, Research Operations Management Team, Mayo Clinic Arizona Committees
- 2010
Abstract ReviewerAmerican Society of Nephrology
- 2010 - 2019
MemberGraduate Education Committee, Department of Internal Medicine
- 2009 - 2011
MemberProtocol Review Committee, Biospecimen Subcommittee, Research Operations Management Team
- 2009 - present
MemberAmerican Diabetes Association
- 2008 - 2016
Division Educational DirectorGraduate Education Committee, Department of Internal Medicine
- 2008 - 2010
Abstract ReviewerAmerican Transplant Congress
- 2008
ChairScientific Session, Joint Meeting of the ASTS and AST, American Transplant Congress
- 2007 - 2010
MemberMembership Committee, American Society of Transplantation
- 2007 - 2010
MemberCommunications Committee, American Society of Transplantation
- 2007
ChairScientific Session, Joint Meeting of the ASTS and AST, American Transplant Congress
- 2007 - present
MemberAmerican Society of Transplantation
- 2007 - present
MemberAmerican College of Physicians
- 2007 - present
MemberArizona Medical Association
- 2005
MemberTransplantation Disease Oriented Group, Mayo Clinic Arizona Task Forces
- 2002 - present
MemberAmerican Society of Nephrology
-
MemberBiospecimen Subcommittee, Research Operations Management Team, Mayo Clinic Arizona Committees
Publications