On January 16, 2026, the first scientific and practical event of the new year within the educational and research project NephroHub took place—an online master class dedicated to the KDIGO 2026 Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of anemia in chronic kidney disease, as well as the AUA 2026 guidelines on the management of patients with urolithiasis. The program also addressed updated approaches of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) that are highly relevant to contemporary nephrology practice. The event served as a conceptual framework for clinical decision-making in nephrology and urology in accordance with the 2026 international standards.
The scientific partners of the event were the Department of Nephrology and Renal Replacement Therapy and the Department of Urology of the Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, ensuring a high scientific standard and a truly interdisciplinary discussion. A keynote contribution was delivered by Serhii O. Vozianov, Vice President of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Academician of the NAMS of Ukraine, Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology, Director of the State Institution “O. F. Vozianov Institute of Urology of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine,” Head of the Department of Urology of the Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, MD, PhD, Professor, Honored Doctor of Ukraine. His presentation on contemporary surgical approaches to urolithiasis in line with the AUA 2026 guidelines added exceptional scientific authority and practical value to the meeting.
The event was held under significant organizational and everyday challenges, including power outages, heating disruptions, and abnormally cold winter conditions. These challenges were felt not only physically but were also reflected in the scientific agenda—most notably in the discussion of the “uremic frost” phenomenon in patients with chronic kidney disease. Nevertheless, despite all difficulties, nearly 1,000 physicians from across Ukraine joined the online broadcast.
For participants, the NephroHub master classes became far more than a routine continuing professional development activity. Beyond updating their knowledge with new international guidelines and recent advances in nephrology and urology, the event served as a much-needed island of stability, essential for maintaining professional motivation and supporting the mental well-being of the medical community during a particularly demanding period.
The shared thirst for knowledge—like an inner flame that prevents both physical and emotional freezing—brought physicians together around science, modern clinical approaches, and a common determination to move forward, even in the most challenging times for the country and its healthcare system.