Sydney Hartsell, MD, MPH, has been selected for two notable appointments that reflect her growing contributions to nephrology, research, and academic medicine.
Dr. Hartsell has been appointed to the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) K12 Program, a career development program that supports the next generation of clinical and translational researchers. The K12 award will support her project, "Predictors of SGLT2i and GLP-1RA Discontinuation in Women and Rural Adults with Type 2 Diabetes.” Dr. Hartsell will use novel machine learning/artificial intelligence methods to explore barriers to kidney- and heart-protective therapy in people with diabetes, particularly in the understudied populations of women and rural adults. She will use the learning resources of the K12 to bolster qualitative and implementation science skills in preparation for future trials that identify and test interventions to improve access to treatments. She is mentored by Dr. Srini Beddhu (Nephrology), Dr. Jincheng Shen (Epidemiology), and Dr. JD Smith (Department of Population Health Sciences).
She has also been selected as a Junior Associate Editor for the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), one of the field’s premier scholarly journals. This position will provide a mentored inside perspective on the scientific research publication and review process.
These honors come just one year after Dr. Hartsell joined the University of Utah in 2025, where she has rapidly established herself as a rising leader in cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome research and clinical care. The CTSI K12 appointment and JASN editorial role underscore Dr. Hartsell’s emerging national profile and highlight the impact she is already making at the University of Utah and within the broader cardiorenal community.