Andinet Gizaw, MD

Biography

Treating kidney disorders with empathy and understanding

Human anatomy is a complex field, but Andinet Gizaw, M.D., still seeks a down-to-earth approach when talking with patients about the kidney health challenges. He prefers to skip the medical jargon as he speaks plainly with them about their condition and how he’ll work to help them.

“I always try to explain the situation in an understandable way,” Gizaw says. “I want my patients to know that I care for them and that I am here to listen.”

He treats patients who have chronic kidney disease, hypertension, electrolyte disorders, and end stage kidney disease. He first came to VCU for a fellowship in 2014 as a general practitioner in internal medicine and launched his career as an attending nephrologist two years later. As part of VCU’s Division of Nephrology, he continues to be fascinated by the functions of the kidneys, which impact all the other organs in the body.

Gizaw enjoys working with a diverse group of colleagues at VCU Health as part of a team focused on providing the best possible care. Gizaw, the medical director at the Fresenius Southside dialysis site, also sees patients at all of the inpatient units at VCU Medical Center as well as at the Adult Outpatient Pavilion and at the Gateway Building’s transplant clinic.

In addition to seeing patients, Gizaw is also an assistant professor of internal medicine at VCU who enjoys practicing at a teaching hospital like VCU Medical Center that offers cutting edge technology and the opportunity to mentor the next generation of kidney care providers. He brings diligence, focus, and perseverance to his role of taking care of patients. He also welcomes challenges and enjoys overcoming them.

“I enjoy untangling complex problems and solving puzzles and finding the right answer,” Gizaw says.
 

Advice to patients:

“I’m a caregiver doing my best to mitigate your conditions. No matter what your diagnosis might be, the way you face and handle your condition also has a big impact on your health.”