Vanessa Grubbs, MD

Title(s)Associate Professor, Medicine
SchoolSchool of Medicine
AddressLocation Required
Varies CA 00000
Phone628-206-5649
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    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse Education and Training
    University of California, San FranciscoClinical Fellowship Nephrology
    Collapse Awards and Honors
    Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2012  - 2016Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program
    NIH-NIDDK2012  - 2017K23 Career Development Award

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse Overview
    College: Duke University, BA
    Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine, MD
    Internal Medicine Residency: Alameda County Medical Center, Oakland, CA
    Nephrology Fellowship: University of California, San Francisco
    Other graduate training: University of California, Berkeley, MPH


    Dr. Vanessa Grubbs is an Associate Professor in the Division of Nephrology at UCSF and has maintained a clinical practice and research program at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital since 2009. Her research focuses on palliative care for patients with end-stage kidney disease. She is among the 2017 cohort for the Cambia Health Foundation Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program, an initiative designed to identify, cultivate and advance the next generation of palliative care leaders; and the 2018 California Health Care Foundation’s Health Care Leadership Program.

    Her clinical and research work fuel her passion for creative writing. Her first book, HUNDREDS OF INTERLACED FINGERS: A Kidney Doctor’s Search for the Perfect Match, was released June 2017 from Harper Collins Publishers, Amistad division and is now in paperback. Dr. Abraham Verghese, best-selling author and physician, described the book as a "gripping, heartfelt memoir ... a deeply insightful look at health care in America as experienced by doctor and patient.” Dr. Grubbs is currently working on a novel.
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    Collapse Research 
    Collapse Research Activities and Funding
    Tailored Decision Aids for Elderly Patients and Families Approaching End-Stage Renal Disease
    NIH R21DK112100Sep 16, 2016 - Jun 30, 2020
    Role: Principal Investigator
    The Role of Periodontal Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease Progression
    NIH K23DK093710Aug 1, 2012 - May 31, 2018
    Role: Principal Investigator

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    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse Publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
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    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Racialising genetic risk: assumptions, realities, and recommendations. Lancet. 2022 Dec 10; 400(10368):2147-2154. Cerde?a JP, Grubbs V, Non AL. PMID: 36502852.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
    2. Genomic supremacy: the harm of conflating genetic ancestry and race. Hum Genomics. 2022 05 19; 16(1):18. Cerde?a JP, Grubbs V, Non AL. PMID: 35585650; PMCID: PMC9118726.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    3. The misuse of race in the search for disease-causing alleles. Lancet. 2022 03 19; 399(10330):1110-1111. Grubbs V, Cerde?a JP, Non AL. PMID: 35305732.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    4. How Abolition of Race-Based Medicine Is Necessary to American Health Justice. AMA J Ethics. 2022 03 01; 24(3):E226-232. Richmond Ii SP, Grubbs V. PMID: 35325524.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    5. Evaluating the Impact and Rationale of Race-Specific Estimations of Kidney Function: Estimations from U.S. NHANES, 2015-2018. EClinicalMedicine. 2021 Dec; 42:101197. Tsai JW, Cerde?a JP, Goedel WC, Asch WS, Grubbs V, Mendu ML, Kaufman JS. PMID: 34849475; PMCID: PMC8608882.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6  
    6. Impact of pre-dialysis nephrology care engagement and decision-making on provider and patient action toward permanent vascular access. BMC Nephrol. 2021 02 16; 22(1):60. Grubbs V, Jaar BG, Cavanaugh KL, Ephraim PL, Ameling JM, Cook C, Greer RC, Boulware LE. PMID: 33593328; PMCID: PMC7885501.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    7. APOL1, Black Race, and Kidney Disease: Turning Attention to Structural Racism. Am J Kidney Dis. 2021 06; 77(6):857-860. Cerde?a JP, Tsai J, Grubbs V. PMID: 33485919.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    8. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion That Matter. N Engl J Med. 2020 Jul 23; 383(4):e25. Grubbs V. PMID: 32649073.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    9. Precision in GFR Reporting: Let's Stop Playing the Race Card. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2020 08 07; 15(8):1201-1202. Grubbs V. PMID: 32401730; PMCID: PMC7409745.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 17     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    10. Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy in CKD: Findings of the Kidney and Periodontal Disease (KAPD) Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Kidney Med. 2020 Jan-Feb; 2(1):49-58. Grubbs V, Garcia F, Vittinghoff E, Jue BL, Ryder M, Lovett DH, Offenbacher S, Taylor G, Ganz P, Bibbins-Domingo K, Powe NR. PMID: 32734226; PMCID: PMC7380373.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2  
    11. Another Example of Race Disparities in the US Healthcare System. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2019 Sep; 30(9):1553-1554. Grubbs V. PMID: 31471499; PMCID: PMC6727254.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    12. Dialysis or Death: A Qualitative Study of Older Patients' and Their Families' Understanding of Kidney Failure Treatment Options in a US Public Hospital Setting. Kidney Med. 2019 May-Jun; 1(3):124-130. Karlin J, Chesla CA, Grubbs V. PMID: 32734193; PMCID: PMC7380434.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8  
    13. Medicare immunosuppressive drug coverage bills-Can we afford them? Am J Transplant. 2019 07; 19(7):1877-1878. Grubbs V. PMID: 30848535.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    14. Family Involvement in Decisions to Forego or Withdraw Dialysis: A Qualitative Study of Nephrologists in the United States and England. Kidney Med. 2019 Mar-Apr; 1(2):57-64. Grubbs V, Tuot DS, Powe NR, O'Donoghue D, Chesla CA. PMID: 32734185; PMCID: PMC7380365.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2  
    15. A Conceptual Framework of Palliative Care across the Continuum of Advanced Kidney Disease. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2019 04 05; 14(4):635-641. Lam DY, Scherer JS, Brown M, Grubbs V, Schell JO. PMID: 30728167; PMCID: PMC6450347.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 18     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    16. Meeting the Palliative Care Needs of Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: Beyond the Math. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2018 08 07; 13(8):1138-1139. Grubbs V. PMID: 30026284; PMCID: PMC6086696.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    17. ESRD and Hospice Care in the United States: Are Dialysis Patients Welcome? Am J Kidney Dis. 2018 09; 72(3):429-432. Grubbs V. PMID: 29921453.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    18. Time to Recast Our Approach for Older Patients With ESRD: The Best, the Worst, and the Most Likely. Am J Kidney Dis. 2018 05; 71(5):605-607. Grubbs V. PMID: 29685211.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    19. Association of Emergency-Only vs Standard Hemodialysis With Mortality and Health Care Use Among Undocumented Immigrants With End-stage Renal Disease. JAMA Intern Med. 2018 02 01; 178(2):188-195. Cervantes L, Tuot D, Raghavan R, Linas S, Zoucha J, Sweeney L, Vangala C, Hull M, Camacho M, Keniston A, McCulloch CE, Grubbs V, Kendrick J, Powe NR. PMID: 29255898; PMCID: PMC5838789.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 45     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    20. Hospitalizations and Nursing Facility Stays During the Transition from CKD to ESRD on Dialysis: An Observational Study. J Gen Intern Med. 2017 Nov; 32(11):1220-1227. Montez-Rath ME, Zheng Y, Tamura MK, Grubbs V, Winkelmayer WC, Chang TI. PMID: 28808869; PMCID: PMC5653560.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    21. Characteristics and Outcomes of In-Hospital Palliative Care Consultation among Patients with Renal Disease Versus Other Serious Illnesses. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017 Jul 07; 12(7):1085-1089. Grubbs V, O'Riordan D, Pantilat S. PMID: 28655708; PMCID: PMC5498361.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 11     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    22. Understanding Trends in Kidney Function 1 Year after Kidney Transplant in the United States. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017 Aug; 28(8):2498-2510. Huang Y, Tilea A, Gillespie B, Shahinian V, Banerjee T, Grubbs V, Powe N, Rios-Burrows N, Pavkov M, Saran R. PMID: 28270413; PMCID: PMC5533222.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 11     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    23. System-Level Barriers and Facilitators for Foregoing or Withdrawing Dialysis: A Qualitative Study of Nephrologists in�the�United States and England. Am J Kidney Dis. 2017 Nov; 70(5):602-610. Grubbs V, Tuot DS, Powe NR, O'Donoghue D, Chesla CA. PMID: 28242134; PMCID: PMC5568985.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 29     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    24. The Kidney and Periodontal Disease (KAPD) study: A pilot randomized controlled trial testing the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on chronic kidney disease. Contemp Clin Trials. 2017 02; 53:143-150. Grubbs V, Garcia F, Jue BL, Vittinghoff E, Ryder M, Lovett D, Carrillo J, Offenbacher S, Ganz P, Bibbins-Domingo K, Powe NR. PMID: 28011387; PMCID: PMC6237429.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    25. Mortality and illicit drug dependence among hemodialysis patients in the United States: a retrospective cohort analysis. BMC Nephrol. 2016 06 08; 17(1):56. Grubbs V, Vittighoff E, Grimes B, Johansen KL. PMID: 27278934; PMCID: PMC4898454.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    26. The association of periodontal disease with kidney function decline: a longitudinal retrospective analysis of the MrOS dental study. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2016 Mar; 31(3):466-72. Grubbs V, Vittinghoff E, Taylor G, Kritz-Silverstein D, Powe N, Bibbins-Domingo K, Ishani A, Cummings SR, Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study Research Group. PMID: 26320037; PMCID: PMC6071386.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 18     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    27. Potential Impact of Prescribing Metformin According to eGFR Rather Than Serum Creatinine. Diabetes Care. 2015 Nov; 38(11):2059-67. Tuot DS, Lin F, Shlipak MG, Grubbs V, Hsu CY, Yee J, Shahinian V, Saran R, Saydah S, Williams DE, Powe NR, CDC CKD Surveillance Team. PMID: 26307607; PMCID: PMC4613912.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    28. Periodontal Disease and CKD-Associated Morbidity: Is There Now Enough Evidence to Move From Observation to Intervention? Am J Kidney Dis. 2015 Aug; 66(2):181-3. Kshirsagar AV, Grubbs V. PMID: 26210722.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    29. Association Between Periodontal Disease and Kidney Function Decline in African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study. J Periodontol. 2015 Oct; 86(10):1126-32. Grubbs V, Vittinghoff E, Beck JD, Kshirsagar AV, Wang W, Griswold ME, Powe NR, Correa A, Young B. PMID: 26110451; PMCID: PMC4831049.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    30. Specialist and primary care physicians' views on barriers to adequate preparation of patients for renal replacement therapy: a qualitative study. BMC Nephrol. 2015 Mar 28; 16:37. Greer RC, Ameling JM, Cavanaugh KL, Jaar BG, Grubbs V, Andrews CE, Ephraim P, Powe NR, Lewis J, Umeukeje E, Gimenez L, James S, Boulware LE. PMID: 25885460; PMCID: PMC4387659.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 18     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    31. Chronic kidney disease care in the US safety net. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis. 2015 Jan; 22(1):66-73. Tuot DS, Grubbs V. PMID: 25573515; PMCID: PMC4291537.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    32. A palliative approach to dialysis care: a patient-centered transition to the end of life. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014 Dec 05; 9(12):2203-9. Grubbs V, Moss AH, Cohen LM, Fischer MJ, Germain MJ, Jassal SV, Perl J, Weiner DE, Mehrotra R, Dialysis Advisory Group of the American Society of Nephrology. PMID: 25104274; PMCID: PMC4255391.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 48     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    33. Undocumented immigrants and kidney transplant: costs and controversy. Health Aff (Millwood). 2014 Feb; 33(2):332-5. Grubbs V. PMID: 24493776; PMCID: PMC4062914.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    34. Effect of food insecurity on chronic kidney disease in lower-income Americans. Am J Nephrol. 2014; 39(1):27-35. Crews DC, Kuczmarski MF, Grubbs V, Hedgeman E, Shahinian VB, Evans MK, Zonderman AB, Burrows NR, Williams DE, Saran R, Powe NR, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Chronic Kidney Disease Surveillance Team. PMID: 24434743; PMCID: PMC3952065.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 54     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    35. Body mass index and early kidney function decline in young adults: a longitudinal analysis of the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) study. Am J Kidney Dis. 2014 Apr; 63(4):590-7. Grubbs V, Lin F, Vittinghoff E, Shlipak MG, Peralta CA, Bansal N, Jacobs DR, Siscovick DS, Lewis CE, Bibbins-Domingo K. PMID: 24295611; PMCID: PMC3969447.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 39     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    36. Health status as a potential mediator of the association between hemodialysis vascular access and mortality. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2014 Apr; 29(4):892-8. Grubbs V, Wasse H, Vittinghoff E, Grimes BA, Johansen KL. PMID: 24235075; PMCID: PMC3967832.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    37. Estimated kidney function based on serum cystatin C and risk of subsequent coronary artery calcium in young and middle-aged adults with preserved kidney function: results from the CARDIA study. Am J Epidemiol. 2013 Aug 01; 178(3):410-7. Bansal N, Vittinghoff E, Peralta CA, Shlipak MG, Grubbs V, Jacobs DR, Siscovick D, Steffes M, Carr JJ, Bibbins-Domingo K. PMID: 23813702; PMCID: PMC3816347.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    38. Americans' use of dietary supplements that are potentially harmful in CKD. Am J Kidney Dis. 2013 May; 61(5):739-47. Grubbs V, Plantinga LC, Tuot DS, Hedgeman E, Saran R, Saydah S, Rolka D, Powe NR, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CKD Surveillance Team. PMID: 23415417; PMCID: PMC3628413.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    39. Chronic kidney disease identification in a high-risk urban population: does automated eGFR reporting make a difference? J Urban Health. 2012 Dec; 89(6):965-76. Plantinga LC, Tuot DS, Grubbs V, Hsu CY, Powe NR. PMID: 22684427; PMCID: PMC3531349.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    40. Medicare immunosuppressant coverage and access to kidney transplantation: a retrospective national cohort study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2012 Aug 16; 12:254. Grubbs V, Plantinga LC, Vittinghoff E, O'Hare AM, Dudley RA. PMID: 22894737; PMCID: PMC3470983.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    41. Chronic kidney disease and use of dental services in a United States public healthcare system: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Nephrol. 2012 Apr 02; 13:16. Grubbs V, Plantinga LC, Tuot DS, Powe NR. PMID: 22471751; PMCID: PMC3368751.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 14     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    42. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use among persons with chronic kidney disease in the United States. Ann Fam Med. 2011 Sep-Oct; 9(5):423-30. Plantinga L, Grubbs V, Sarkar U, Hsu CY, Hedgeman E, Robinson B, Saran R, Geiss L, Burrows NR, Eberhardt M, Powe N, CDC CKD Surveillance Team. PMID: 21911761; PMCID: PMC3185478.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 46     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    43. 248 Prevalence of Diagnosed Risk Factors in Underserved Patients Without Creatinine Measurements is High. American Journal of Kidney Diseases. 2011 Apr 1; 57(4):b78. Plantinga PL, Tuot TD, Grubbs GV, Powe PN. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    44. 329 Limited English Proficiency and Acute Health Care Utilization Among Patients With CKD. American Journal of Kidney Diseases. 2011 Apr 1; 57(4):b99. Tuot TD, Plantinga PL, Grubbs GV, Powe PN. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    45. 105 Medicare Immunosuppressant Coverage and Access to Kidney Transplantation. American Journal of Kidney Diseases. 2011 Apr 1; 57(4):b43. Grubbs GV, Gregorich GS, O'Hare OA, Dudley DA. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    46. 106 Missed Opportunity? —Dental Visits by Chronic Kidney Disease Status in Underserved Patients. American Journal of Kidney Diseases. 2011 Apr 1; 57(4):b43. Grubbs GV, Plantinga PL, Tuot TD, Powe PN. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    47. Vulnerable populations and the association between periodontal and chronic kidney disease. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2011 Apr; 6(4):711-7. Grubbs V, Plantinga LC, Crews DC, Bibbins-Domingo K, Saran R, Heung M, Patel PR, Burrows NR, Ernst KL, Powe NR, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CKD Surveillance Team. PMID: 21350109; PMCID: PMC3069360.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 27     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    48. Health literacy and access to kidney transplantation. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Jan; 4(1):195-200. Grubbs V, Gregorich SE, Perez-Stable EJ, Hsu CY. PMID: 19056617; PMCID: PMC2615704.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 73     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    49. Acute myocardial infarction length of stay and hospital mortality are not associated with language preference. J Gen Intern Med. 2008 Feb; 23(2):190-4. Grubbs V, Bibbins-Domingo K, Fernandez A, Chattopadhyay A, Bindman AB. PMID: 18043984; PMCID: PMC2359166.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    50. Good for harvest, bad for planting. Health Aff (Millwood). 2007 Jan-Feb; 26(1):232-7. Grubbs V. PMID: 17211033.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    51. Effect of awareness of language law on language access in the health care setting. J Gen Intern Med. 2006 Jul; 21(7):683-8. Grubbs V, Chen AH, Bindman AB, Vittinghoff E, Fernandez A. PMID: 16808766; PMCID: PMC1924696.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:Humans
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