Loan Mitigation Program: 2025 Recipients
The ASN Loan Mitigation Program (LMP) aims to reduce the loan burden of future nephrology leaders. Please join ASN in congratulating this year's recipients.
Sara Adelina Cuadra Aruguete, MD
Dr. Sara Cuadra Aruguete is originally from Chicago where her commitment to working with people who are medically underserved started. She completed her undergraduate career at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a major in microbiology. and minor in molecular biology. From there she obtained her medical degree at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and was selected for the Training in Urban Medicine and Public Health (TRIUMPH) program. Her interest in nephrology bloomed in her last year of medical school where she enjoyed her time in a CKD clinic educating patients on ways to prevent progression of their kidney disease.
She completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Minnesota where she currently works as a chief resident. She was awarded the Virginia Watson Master Teacher Award for her dedication to working with learners. This year she will start her nephrology fellowship at the University of Chicago where she aspires to to work in medical education and become a well rounded nephrologist to teach renal pathology to both patients and learners. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, making cold process soap and lip balm, and scuba diving.
Kirollos Nageh Eskander, MD
I took the scenic route to medicine. I started working odd jobs in my late teens until, aimless and without purpose, I joined the service as a combat medic which ignited my love of medicine. During my undergraduate studies, I enjoyed my general and organic chemistry courses along with biochemistry, where I served as a teaching assistant. These interests were reinforced during medical school and residency as renal physiology directly related chemical reactions to homeostasis. I've been fortunate to have excellent mentors throughout every phase of my academic journey and look forward to starting my nephrology fellowship training in the summer of 2025.
Yajaira Sofia Jimenez, MD
Yajaira Sofia Jimenez is a third-year Internal Medicine resident at Duke University Hospital who is passionate about advancing equitable healthcare and the intersection of social determinants of health with the care of patients with chronic kidney disease. Originally from Brownsville, Texas, she graduated with honors from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, earning a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She went on to attend Texas A&M College of Medicine, where she obtained both her MD and a Master of Science in Medical Sciences, focusing her research on immune mechanisms for developing therapies for advanced ovarian cancer. During medical school, Yajaira co-founded a free clinic for homeless youth in Houston, Texas. This July, she will begin her nephrology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine, where she plans to continue addressing healthcare barriers faced by low-income patients with kidney disease. In her free time, Yajaira enjoys working out, gardening, hiking, cooking, and traveling with her mini schnauzer, Kala.
Devon Gerard Kent, DO
Dr. Devon Kent is a third-year internal medicine resident at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California, where he was born and raised. He completed his undergraduate degree in Physiological Science at UCLA and earned his medical degree from Touro University Nevada. Dr. Kent is excited to return to Westwood to continue his training as an incoming nephrology fellow at UCLA.
Dr. Kent's path to nephrology began during his time as a college EMT, where he was captivated by the intricate process of dialysis and inspired to explore renal physiology further. During residency, he discovered a passion for the unique blend nephrology offers—combining the urgency of acute care with the rewarding continuity of long-term patient relationships, all while engaging in intellectually and technically challenging work.
A dedicated advocate for underserved communities, Dr. Kent is committed to addressing health disparities in dialysis care and enhancing medical education to improve patient outcomes. Outside of medicine, Dr. Kent enjoys cycling, baking, and spending quality time with his two dogs.
Paige Orlofsky, MD
Dr. Paige Orlofsky is a third-year internal medicine resident at Brown University and a member of the clinician educator track. She previously completed undergraduate degrees in chemical engineering and German studies at the University of Connecticut and earned her medical degree from the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University. In summer 2025, she will begin her nephrology fellowship at Tufts Medical Center where she looks forward to furthering her interest in medical education. Outside of medicine, she enjoys novels, crafting, and spending time with her hamsters, PB & J.
Debra Sabina Asusa Wekesa, MD
Dr. Debra Wekesa is a chief resident at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha, Nebraska, where she also completed her internal medicine residency in 2024.
She was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri to a family of first-generation Kenyan immigrants. Dr. Wekesa enjoyed a variety of medical and non-medical extracurricular activities in high school and eventually attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City, one of two six-year BA/MD programs in the US. During that time, she was heavily involved in SNMA and volunteering at a local anime convention.
In her current role as chief resident at UNMC, Dr. Wekesa focuses on scholarship and patient safety. She is passionate about all things health equity, medical education and workforce development, and is currently completing a master's in medical education through the Health Educators and Academic Leaders (HEAL) program. Outside of medicine, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and family, going to concerts, traveling, ice skating, and getting back into watching Japanese animation.
Through her time in Omaha, she embraced the full breadth of nephrology through multiple experiences, including participating in Kidney STARS, completing a research project focused on wait time modifications in kidney transplant utilizing race-inclusive eGFR for Black patients, and winning top trainee poster at Kidney Week 2023. Dr. Wekesa is excited to continue the journey with nephrology fellowship at UNMC, where she looks forward to using her passions in medical education, patient education, patient advocacy, and reducing health disparities within the sphere of nephrology!