Joseph Berger, M.D.

Joseph Rossi Berger, M.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of the Division of Nephrology. Dr. Berger's clinical interests include geriatric medicine and nephrology. 

Originally from Dallas, Dr. Berger holds bachelor's degrees in biology and chemistry from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He received his medical degree, completed internal medicine residency training, and completed advanced training through fellowships in nephrology and geriatric medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in geriatric medicine and nephrology, Dr. Berger joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2008 as an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine. He then became an Assistant Professor in the Division of Nephrology in 2012 and was promoted to Associate Professor in the Division of Nephrology in 2019. He was first appointed as a Hospitalist in Internal Medicine at Parkland and UT Southwestern University hospitals. He is currently appointed as a Nephrologist at Parkland and UT Southwestern University hospitals. 

Dr. Berger's research interests include geriatric nephrology, nephrology for hospital medicine, dialysis, and renal replacement therapy. His investigations have resulted in eight publications in peer-reviewed journals and contributions to multiple book chapters. He's also had three publications in non-peer-reviewed journals and other media.

Personal Note

Outside of medicine, Dr. Berger enjoys playing classical piano, watching sports, and spending time with his family, which includes a lovable cocker spaniel that he tries in vain to keep up with. 

Medical School

UT Southwestern Medical School (2004)

Residency

UT Southwestern Medical School (2007), Internal Medicine

Fellowship

UT Southwestern Medical School (2008), Geriatric Medicine

Fellowship

UT Southwestern Medical School (2011), Nephrology

• Aging and the kidneys
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Geriatric Medicine
• Nephrology

Featured Publications

An overview of frailty in kidney transplantation: measurement, management and future considerations.

Harhay MN, Rao MK, Woodside KJ, Johansen KL, Lentine KL, Tullius SG, Parsons RF, Alhamad T, Berger J, Cheng XS, Lappin J, Lynch R, Parajuli S, Tan JC, Segev DL, Kaplan B, Kobashigawa J, Dadhania DM, McAdams-DeMarco MA, Nephrol Dial Transplant 2020 Jul 35 7 1099-1112

Dialysis for Undocumented Immigrants: Challenges and Solutions.

Berger JR, Quinones H, Vazquez MA, Kidney360 2020 Jun 1 6 549-552

Association of Scheduled vs Emergency-Only Dialysis With Health Outcomes and Costs in Undocumented Immigrants With End-stage Renal Disease.

Nguyen OK, Vazquez MA, Charles L, Berger JR, Quiñones H, Fuquay R, Sanders JM, Kapinos KA, Halm EA, Makam AN JAMA Intern Med 2019 Feb 179 2 175-183

When is a Conservative Approach to Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease Preferable to Renal Replacement Therapy?

Berger JR, Hedayati SS Semin Dial 2014 May 27 3 253-6

Renal replacement therapy in the elderly population.

Berger JR, Hedayati SS Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2012 Jun 7 6 1039-46

• Alpha Omega Alpha
  alumni member (2019)
• UT Southwestern Colleges Mentor
  (2018)
• Golden Key National Honor Society
  Premier collegiate honor society recognizing outstanding academic achievement (0)
• Mortar Board
  A national honor society recognizes college seniors for their achievements in scholarship, leadership and service (0)
• Phi Beta Kappa
  Academic honor society with the mission of "fostering and recognizing excellence" in the undergraduate liberal arts and sciences (0)

• American Geriatrics Society (2011)
• American Society of Nephrology (2009)