Patricia McCarley is a distinguished nephrology nurse, nurse practitioner, educator, and quality improvement leader whose career spans more than four decades of transformation in kidney care. After graduating from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, she entered dialysis nursing in 1976 and went on to hold influential roles at DCI, the Nashville VA Medical Center, Renal Care Group, and Fresenius Medical Care. Throughout her career, she witnessed the evolution of dialysis from manually assembled Kiil dialyzers to modern technologies while contributing to advances in home hemodialysis, vascular access management, anemia management, clinical research, and quality improvement. A passionate advocate for interdisciplinary teamwork, patient-centered care, and professional education, McCarley has been a respected leader within the American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) and a mentor to generations of nephrology professionals. In this interview, she reflects on the technological, clinical, and cultural changes that have shaped dialysis care and the enduring importance of keeping patients at the center of every decision.
