Alexander Chang, MD, MS

Dr. Chang is a physician-scientist, practicing nephrologist and associate professor of Clinical Research at Geisinger. His research is devoted to preventing and decreasing the burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and related cardiometabolic complications.

Dr. Chang’s research program encompasses common and rare, genetic causes of CKD. Projects funded by the NIH and industry sponsors include:

• Examining gaps in care and developing clinical decision tools to maximize benefits of therapy in patients with CKD
• Epidemiologic research using electronic health record (EHR) data from Geisinger and other large cohorts to study risk factors and the burden of CKD
• Health services research identifying barriers to appropriate evaluation of hematuria
• Using smartphone-enabled urine albumin testing to improve CKD screening

He also co-leads the Center for Kidney Health Research and has substantial clinical trials expertise. In recent years, Dr. Chang has used his epidemiologic and EHR expertise to examine kidney genetics with publications in JAMA and other top journals on the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, Alport syndrome and other genetic kidney conditions.

Dr. Chang has served on national committees and scientific workshops for the National Kidney Foundation, the American Society of Nephrology and the American Heart Association. He serves on the editorial board for the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. His clinical duties include helping lead systemwide efforts to improve hypertension care at Geisinger. Dr. Chang regularly collaborates with Geisinger’s Population Health and Innovations teams to more rapidly translate clinical research findings into practice, improving the health of our population. His research has influenced national and international clinical guidelines, gene-disease validity classification by ClinGen and National Committee for Quality Assurance-recommended measures for health plans.