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Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD

(Dr. Julia Lewis, MD)

(210 Ratings)

Specializes in: Adult Nephrology

University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago (1980)

Professional interests include: chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD), hemodialysis, and more.

1301 Medical Center Drive Suite 2501
Nashville, TN 37232

(615) 343-7592

Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD is a nephrologist in Nashville, TN specializing in adult nephrology. She graduated from University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago in 1980 and has 46 years of experience. Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD is affiliated with Vanderbilt Health.

Office Locations

Vanderbilt Health

1301 Medical Center Drive Suite 2501
Nashville, TN 37232

(615) 343-7592

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3601 Tvc
Nashville, TN 37232

(615) 322-3000

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Some issues Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD can help you with:

Dialysis

Dialysis is a procedure that replicates renal (kidney) function by filtering patients' blood. When kidneys do not work properly, waste can accumulate in the blood and unbalanced chemicals can impair the body's critical functions. In order to stay healthy, a person without proper kidney function must receive dialysis. There are two forms of dialysis treatment: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Both forms of dialysis are recurring treatments that in many cases last throughout the lifetime of the affected patient. Patients who briefly lose renal function may slowly reduce the frequency of dialysis sessions until their kidneys recover. However, most patients who start on dialysis remain on dialysis for the rest of their lives or until they receive a kidney transplant.

A number of conditions can worsen renal function and lead to end-stage or acute kidney failure. When kidneys fail (i.e. nearly 90 percent of their function is lost), dialysis is typically prescribed. Conditions that cause chronic kidney failure (eventually requiring dialysis) include:

Type 1 and 2 Diabetes
Pyelonephritis, recurring kidney infection
Glomerulonephritis, inflammation of the kidney's filtering parts
Polycystic kidney disease
Interstitial nephritis, inflammation of the kidney's tubules
High blood pressure
Vesicoureteral reflux, improper bladder emptying

For hemodialysis (the more common form of dialysis), a patient will visit a hospital or clinic and be connected to a dialysis machine by a needle attached to a tube that draws blood from the arm. The drawn blood is transferred to the dialysis machine, where it is filtered and separated until clean. Waste products from the blood pass into a fluid called dialysate, which is pumped out of the machine into a waste receptacle. The machine also measures and helps ensure the blood has the appropriate level of fluid, electrolytes, and pH. A tube delivers the cleaned blood back into the patient's body. A dialysis session like this will typically last for three to four hours, with a patient undergoing dialysis around three times per week.

A second method of dialysis is known as peritoneal dialysis. Unlike hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis can be performed at home by oneself after an initial surgery. To start, a physician (generally a surgeon) will make a small incision in the lower abdomen and insert and surgically attach a catheter (thin tube). At home, the patient connects a pump to the abdomen catheter, delivering dialysate (dialysis fluid) from a bag hanging on a wheeled stand. This fluid enters the peritoneal cavity (greater abdomen area containing the stomach, liver, and intestines) and collects waste through osmosis, where waste in the blood moves across a membrane and into the dialysate. This process continues for several hours until the fluid concentration is equal between the blood and dialysate, at which point the fluid can be drained. The fluid can then be passed through a machine called a cycler, which removes waste and allows for the dialysate to be reused. This process is repeated about four times per day. Dialysis patients must limit the amount of fluid they consume prior to receiving dialysis and should also avoid eating salty foods. The cycler cannot filter more than a certain amount of waste products from the blood.

Kidneys are important organs, and dialysis treatments are vital for those with renal dysfunction. For many, dialysis is not so much a medical procedure but a part of their normal life.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are hard deposits that form in the kidneys, made up of minerals that are normally present in urine. They can vary in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a nickel, occasionally even larger. Sometimes they lodge in the kidney, and sometimes they break free and make their way out through the urinary tract, which can be extremely painful.

Kidney stones can be smooth or jagged and are yellow to brown in color. They are mostly comprised of the minerals calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus. Examining the stones to see what they are made of can show what caused the stone to be formed in the first place. For example, a stone made of mostly calcium, which is the most common type, can happen any time the urine becomes too concentrated due to dehydration or a blockage in the kidney. A uric acid stone forms when acid levels in the urine get too high, usually due to excessive consumption of animal protein such as meat and fish. A struvite stone is a sign of certain infections, and a cystine stone can be due to a genetic disorder that raises the risk of kidney stones.

The most common symptom of kidney stones is pain, either in the back or lower abdomen, or severe pain when urinating. There may also be blood in the urine. Treatment for kidney stones depends on how large the stone is. Very small stones can pass out of the body on their own, and they do not require treatment other than drinking adequate water and taking pain killers. Larger stones need to be broken apart and removed. The main treatment options are:

Shock wave lithotripsy, which uses sound wave vibrations to break apart the stone
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy, or the use of a very tiny tool (like a wire inserted through the back) to break apart and remove the stone
Ureteroscopy, a thin tube inserted through the urethra and bladder to the stone, where tiny tools can grasp the stone and remove

People who have had one kidney stone are at risk of developing another. To reduce this risk, patients are given instructions specific to the type of stone they developed. Generally the instructions will include drinking more water to dilute the urine, but it may also involve lowering sodium intake or eating less meat.

Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis is a procedure that imitates renal (kidney) function by filtering patients' blood. When the kidneys do not work properly, waste can accumulate in the blood and unbalanced chemicals can impair the body's critical functions. In order to stay healthy, a person without proper kidney function must receive dialysis. There are two forms of dialysis treatment: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Both forms of dialysis are recurring treatments that in many cases last throughout the lifetime of the affected patient.

Peritoneal dialysis can be performed at home by oneself after an initial surgery. To start, a physician (generally a surgeon) will make a small incision in the lower abdomen and insert and surgically attach a catheter (thin tube). At home, the patient connects a pump to the abdomen catheter, delivering dialysate (dialysis fluid) from a bag hanging on a wheeled stand. This fluid enters the peritoneal cavity (greater abdomen area containing the stomach, liver, and intestines) and collects waste through osmosis, where waste in the blood moves across a membrane and into the dialysate. This process continues for several hours until the fluid concentration is equal between the blood and dialysate, at which point the fluid can be drained. The fluid can then be passed through a machine called a cycler, which removes waste and allows for the dialysate to be reused. This process is repeated about four times per day. Dialysis patients must limit the amount of fluid they consume prior to receiving dialysis and should also avoid eating salty foods. The cycler cannot filter more than a certain amount of waste products from the blood.

Kidneys are important organs, and peritoneal dialysis can be vital for those with renal dysfunction. Peritoneal dialysis may be a more convenient alternative to hemodialysis, which requires going into a clinic.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“"I think we have to be cautious not to confound the desperateness of the unmet need with a willingness to throw anything at that unmet need," said panelist Julia Lewis, MD, of Vanderbilt University...”—"Medtronic's Renal Denervation System for Hypertension Splits FDA Panel", MedPage Today, August 2023

“A lower pill burden is an advantage of tenapanor over phosphate binders, and taking fewer, smaller pills "matters to almost all of our patients," said committee chair Julia Lewis, MD, of Vanderbilt...”—"FDA Panel Endorses Kidney Disease Drug for Serum Phosphorus Control", MedPage Today, November 2022

“The only "no" vote, by committee chair Julia Lewis, MD, a nephrologist at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, centered on multiple concerns: lack of any prior drugs that work for HFpEF, that...”—"FDA Panel Backs Entresto, Spironolactone for Broader HF Use", MedPage Today, December 2020

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD treated as a nephrologist in Nashville, TN during 2012 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD for Medicare patients.

apheresis	54
dialysis	482
doctor visit	369
hemofiltration	136
hospital care	796
inpatient care	780
outpatient care	16

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD treated as a nephrologist in Nashville, TN during 2013 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD for Medicare patients.

apheresis	51
dialysis	611
doctor visit	371
hemofiltration	240
hospital care	793
inpatient care	793

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD.

**Gender**
Male	302
Female	244

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	383
Black	139
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	176
From 75 to 84	85
85 and over	23
Less than 65	262

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD in 2013

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	61
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	58
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	53
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	23
Diabetes	54
Dementia	7
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD treated as a nephrologist in Nashville, TN during 2014 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	485
doctor visit	371
hemofiltration	180
hospital care	711
inpatient care	711

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD.

**Gender**
Male	260
Female	239

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	359
Black	121
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	154
From 75 to 84	92
85 and over	20
Less than 65	233

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD in 2014

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	56
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	48
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	54
Dementia	7
Cancer	7

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD treated as a nephrologist in Nashville, TN during 2015 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD for Medicare patients.

apheresis	32
dialysis	476
doctor visit	379
hemofiltration	141
hospital care	757
inpatient care	757

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD.

**Gender**
Male	488
Female	480

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	672
Black	252
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	338
From 75 to 84	170
85 and over	50
Less than 65	410

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD in 2015

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	53
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	15
Heart Failure	46
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	54
Dementia	12
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD treated as a nephrologist in Nashville, TN during 2016 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD for Medicare patients.

apheresis	36
dialysis	703
doctor visit	404
hemofiltration	222
hospital care	892
inpatient care	892

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD.

**Gender**
Male	306
Female	255

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	387
Black	148
Hispanic	13
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	199
From 75 to 84	117
85 and over	19
Less than 65	226

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD in 2016

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	60
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	59
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	20
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	19
Heart Failure	55
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	57
Dementia	16
Cancer	6

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD treated as a nephrologist in Nashville, TN during 2017 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD for Medicare patients.

apheresis	61
dialysis	397
doctor visit	352
hemofiltration	166
hospital care	595
inpatient care	595

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD.

**Gender**
Male	278
Female	232

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	373
Black	112
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	186
From 75 to 84	99
85 and over	23
Less than 65	202

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD in 2017

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	59
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	52
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	54
Dementia	17
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD treated as a nephrologist in Nashville, TN during 2018 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	335
doctor visit	292
hemofiltration	160
hospital care	515
inpatient care	515

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD.

**Gender**
Male	251
Female	200

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	308
Black	120
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	156
From 75 to 84	87
85 and over	25
Less than 65	183

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD in 2018

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	56
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	49
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	55
Dementia	15
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD treated as a nephrologist in Nashville, TN during 2019 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	252
doctor visit	271
hemofiltration	128
hospital care	540
inpatient care	540

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD.

**Gender**
Male	268
Female	186

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	324
Black	109
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	182
From 75 to 84	100
85 and over	18
Less than 65	154

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD in 2019

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	57
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	56
Dementia	20
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD treated as a nephrologist in Nashville, TN during 2020 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD for Medicare patients.

apheresis	32
dialysis	244
doctor visit	275
hemofiltration	102
hospital care	440
inpatient care	440

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD.

**Gender**
Male	249
Female	185

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	312
Black	99
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	173
From 75 to 84	88
85 and over	23
Less than 65	150

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD in 2020

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	62
Depression	34
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	53
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	22
Diabetes	53
Dementia	20
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD treated as a nephrologist in Nashville, TN during 2021 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD for Medicare patients.

apheresis	30
dialysis	205
doctor visit	297
hemofiltration	112
hospital care	381
inpatient care	381

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD.

**Gender**
Male	227
Female	159

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	286
Black	79
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	173
From 75 to 84	83
85 and over	22
Less than 65	108

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD in 2021

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	58
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	46
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	52
Dementia	14
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD treated as a nephrologist in Nashville, TN during 2022 were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD for Medicare patients.

dialysis	209
doctor visit	289
hemofiltration	115
hospital care	370
inpatient care	370

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD.

**Gender**
Male	212
Female	158

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	274
Black	71
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	14
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	158
From 75 to 84	88
85 and over	24
Less than 65	100

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD in 2022

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	13
Ischemic Heart Disease	49
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	30
Heart Failure	46
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	52
Dementia	9
Cancer	17

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD treated as a nephrologist in Nashville, TN were hospital care, inpatient care, dialysis and hemofiltration.

apheresis	42
dialysis	399
doctor visit	333
hemofiltration	154
hospital care	617
inpatient care	615
outpatient care	16

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD.

**Gender**
Male	258
Female	212

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	113
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	334
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	1
Other	1

**Age**
75 to 84	91
85 and over	22
Less than 65	184
65 to 74	172

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD treated were chronic kidney disease, hypertension, high cholesterol and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	51
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	68
Asthma	8
Osteoporosis	6
Heart Failure	45
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	49
Atrial Fibrillation	17
Dementia	12
Cancer	9

Education & Training

Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD graduated from University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago in 1980. She completed residency at Michael Reese Hospital. She is certified by the Internal Medicine - American Board of Internal Medicine and has a state license in Tennessee.

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago (1980)

Residency: Michael Reese Hospital (1983)

Board Certification: Internal Medicine - American Board of Internal Medicine (1983)

Licensed In: Tennessee

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Vanderbilt Health

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 210 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Nashville, TN.

4.9

Overall Rating

(210 Ratings)

Leave a Review

General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Julia B. Lewis, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC	$43,305 SOTAGLIFLOZIN $40,950	NO PRODUCT DISCUSSED $2,355
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.	$32,211 Auryxia $32,211
SANOFI US SERVICES INC.	$24,526 SOTAGLIFLOZIN $24,526
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.	$20,105 GIVLARRI $1,785	$18,320
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation	$12,091 $12,091
Other	$14,598 Non-Covered $5,684	Renal - CRRT $119	Renal - PD $96	PROCYSBI $32	LUPKYNIS $20	Other $8,647

**Types of Payments**
Consulting Fee	$96,307
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program	$35,616
Travel and Lodging	$6,951
Honoraria	$6,595
Food and Beverage	$1,316
Other	$52

Biography

Dr. Julia Lewis' specialty is adult nephrology. On average, patients gave Dr. Lewis a rating of 5.0 stars (out of 5). These areas are among her clinical interests: kidney stones, acute kidney injury (AKI), and diabetic nephropathy (diabetic kidney disease). She is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago and a graduate of Michael Reese Hospital's residency program. She speaks Spanish. Dr. Lewis is affiliated with Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).