This 2008 interview with Dr. Nathan Levin was recorded over lunch in midtown Manhattan, where he served as medical and research director at the Renal Research Institute. Dr. Levin’s remarkable journey in nephrology began in 1955 during his medical training in South Africa, when he encountered patients dying from renal failure at a time when no effective treatments existed. In this wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Levin reflects on a distinguished career spanning basic science research, clinical care, and leadership in nephrology. He shares personal stories of his early scientific work, his role in advancing dialysis therapy, and his experiences shaping institutions and patient care systems. The interview also offers insight into the political and policy forces—both in the United States and internationally—that have influenced the development and delivery of dialysis care. Dr. Levin recounts his interactions with many of the field’s pioneering physicians, providing a unique perspective on the evolution of modern nephrology. He closes by discussing his ongoing efforts to support nonprofit initiatives aimed at expanding access to dialysis care across Africa, bringing his career full circle to the regions where his passion for the field first began.
