Meet a Medical Director: Dr. Adrian Abreo
Dr. Abreo is the medical director of nephrology, cardiology, infectious diseases, and endocrinology at theMednet. He views the platform as a unique opportunity to merge his passions for clinical research and education on a national scale. He believes that theMednet’s national conversations facilitate the effective implementation of new medical practices, ultimately improving patient care. Committed to fostering collaboration and continuous learning, Dr. Abreo hopes this ongoing effort will shape the future of medicine and empower the next generation of healthcare leaders.
Dr. Adrian Abreo was born into medicine. His mother - now retired - is an emeritus professor of pathology and his father - semi-retired and still a significant mentor to him - is a former chief of nephrology. Dr. Abreo developed an early fascination with science and, as a child, enjoyed trying to replicate experiments that he saw on children’s television programs. His research as a high school student later earned him a place in the International Science and Engineering Fair.
He double majored in biology and cultural anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis and then earned his MD from LSU Health Shreveport. He completed residency training at Baylor College of Medicine, followed by a Master's in Clinical Research and a nephrology fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Abreo later shifted his focus from clinical research to medical education, at the University of Cincinnati for a year and then at LSU Medical School. He became the Third-Year Internal Medicine Clerkship Director and an Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program. Additionally, he was Chair of the Williams Academic Society, prioritizing mentoring and career development of 100 students each year.
During his time as a medical student, Dr. Abreo experienced a moment that cemented his fascination with nephrology. He recalls a pivotal encounter during rounds when a patient with chronic kidney disease had been admitted with chronic diarrhea, and the attending physician, with just a glance at the basic lab results and without hearing any details of the case, confidently identified an acid-base disturbance and asked, “How long has this patient had diarrhea?”
Dr. Abreo’s understanding of acid-base disorders evolved over time, but the moment underscored the critical role of basic lab tests in nephrology, in contrast to other fields where advanced imaging may be necessary for diagnosis.
Dr. Abreo considers patient education to be a critical aspect of nephrology. He emphasizes to his trainees the importance of involving patients in the preventive management of chronic kidney disease, as it can progress silently, with changes sometimes detectable only through lab tests.
“Nephrology is unique in that you can have chronic kidney disease with almost no symptoms. When significant symptoms do appear, it often means you're approaching the need for dialysis. A lot of what we do is aimed at preventing kidney function from getting worse by doing things such as controlling blood pressure and reducing proteinuria. The challenge is that patients may not notice any difference if they take their medications or not, leading them to question why they should take them, especially if the medications are expensive or make them feel worse,” said Dr. Abreo. “I stress to residents and fellows that it’s our role to educate patients on the importance of taking their medications and the consequences of not doing so. For example, we might explain to a patient that not taking their blood pressure medication may not have immediate symptomatic effects, but it can lead to a stroke or worsen kidney function.”
Patient education is especially crucial in Dr. Abreo’s work with underserved populations, who often face cultural barriers, limited access to care, and a lack of understanding of their conditions. In advocating for these groups, he emphasizes empathy and customizes educational efforts to meet their specific needs, particularly within the dialysis population.
“You have to take that extra step where just simply writing a prescription and giving them a clinic appointment might not be enough to sell them on it. You have to convince them on their own terms,” said Dr. Abreo.
He emphasizes that it's crucial for physicians to remain optimistic and to understand the societal challenges that are often taken for granted, providing as much support as possible to each patient.
Throughout his clinical practice, he observed physicians at different institutions taking differing approaches to the same clinical situation, often without available evidence to support one approach over another. “It was frustrating when you encountered a clinical situation and found no guidance in the literature on what to do for the patient,” he explained.
TheMednet filled that role for him – it helps to guide clinical decision-making.
TheMednet also allowed him to merge his interests in clinical research and education on a national scale. He finds it rewarding to interact with enthusiastic early-career physicians. He collaborates closely with deputy editors and fellows across each of his specialties, finding great joy in mentoring them as they navigate the stages of their own medical careers.
At theMednet, he focuses on optimizing and curating content to enhance physician experience.
“It’s incredibly motivating and rewarding to see the impact of our work, especially when we receive great questions. These are questions I’ve pondered my whole career, and now I get to see experts offer their insights. Education is taking place on such a large scale – it’s a national conversation.”