Elaine Ku

MD MAS

Director, Nephrology Transition Clinic
Nephrologist

Dr. Elaine Ku is a nephrologist who cares for adult and pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease or high blood pressure. She directs the clinic that prepares adolescents who have kidney disease or have received kidney transplants for the transition into adult health care systems.

Ku's research interests include different approaches to diagnosing and managing chronic kidney disease in children versus adults. She is currently studying how blood pressure treatment, obesity and racial disparities affect outcomes for children as opposed to adults with kidney disease.

Ku earned her medical degree from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. She then completed a residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center and a fellowship in adult and pediatric nephrology at UCSF. She also has a master of advanced study degree in clinical research from UCSF. During her undergraduate career at UCLA, she was a Regents Scholar, one of the highest honors conferred on students in the UC system.

Ku belongs to the American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, American Society of Transplantation and American Academy of Pediatrics.

  • Education

    UC San Diego School of Medicine, MD, 2007

    UCSF, MAS, Clinical Research, 2015

  • Residencies

    LAC+USC Medical Center, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, 2011

  • Fellowships

    UCSF, Adult and Pediatric Nephrology, 2015

  • Board Certifications

    Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics

    Nephrology, American Board of Internal Medicine

    Pediatric Nephrology, American Board of Pediatrics

    Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine

  • Academic Title

    Associate Professor

  • Languages

    Mandarin

    Spanish

Conditions I specialize in

  • Chronic kidney failure

  • Glomerulonephritis

  • Lupus nephritis

Where I see patients (1)

    Selected research

    Decorative Caduceus

    Hypertension in Young Adults Trial

    Systolic blood pressure will be collected using at home cuffed devices. The readings at end of the pilot trial (or most recent readings available) will be used for analysis of the primary outcome.

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Pilot to Examine Risk and Feasibility of Remote Management of BP From CKD Through ESRD

    Hyperkalemia: This will be defined as a non-hemolyzed potassium ≥6.0 meq/L.

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Watermelon/UBIQuinone Study

    We will determine the number of patients who drop out of the study following randomized assignment

    Recruiting

    Contact me

    Providers on my team

    Share