Harini A. Chakkera, M.D., M.P.H.

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.