Sections
Nephrology
Biography
Dr. Rizzolo received her medical degree from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, and her residency and chief residency in internal medicine at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. She completed a clinical and research and chief fellowship in nephrology at the University of Colorado in 2023, and an implementation science fellowship from the BU Evans Center for Implementation and Improvement Science in 2025. Her research interests center on utilizing implementation science methodologies to improve access to kidney care for underserved communities disproportionately impacted by kidney disease, especially non English speaking populations. Her research methods center around qualitative and novel mixed methods approaches.
Currently she is supported by a K23 from the NIDDK supporting the implementation and piloting of storytelling as a kidney disease education tool for Spanish speaking patients with advanced kidney disease. She also has been supported by the renal section's INSPIRE and CTSI pilot grant in 2024 that aimed to develop digital storytelling methods. She currently serves on multiple national committees through the National Kidney Foundation and American Society of Nephrology that work to improve access to kidney care and quality kidney education for all.
Education
MD, Tufts University School of Medicine
Biology, BA, Tufts University
Publications
Kerns ES, Morales D, Rizzolo K. Expanding Access to Care for Immigrants with End-Stage Kidney Disease in Rhode Island. R I Med J (2013). 2026 Jun 01; 109(6):77-78. PMID: 42202099.
Published on 4/24/2026Milligan M, Kimball S, Rizzolo K. Kidney Health Considerations for Patients with a Forced Migration History. J Immigr Minor Health. 2026 Apr 24. PMID: 42032386.
Published on 2/28/2026Bavi SR, Rizzolo K. Kidney Care for Haitian Immigrants in the United States. J Immigr Minor Health. 2026 Feb 28. PMID: 41762389.
Published on 2/11/2026Rizzolo K, Flythe JE, Camacho C, Gonzalez AM, Jaure A, Vinze S, Cervantes L. The Perspectives of Patients and Community Health Workers on the Recruitment and Retention of Latino Individuals in Research in Dialysis: A Qualitative Study. Kidney Med. 2026 Apr; 8(4):101289. PMID: 41971228.
Published on 2/3/2026Rizzolo K, Robledo K, Rupa Bavi S, Juarez-Colunga E, Murray R, Sharma P, Cervantes L. Trainee Awareness of Transplant Barriers for Undocumented Immigrants. J Immigr Minor Health. 2026 Feb 03. PMID: 41634511.
Published on 1/23/2026Cervantes L, Rizzolo K, Ram A, Glasgow RE, Earnest M. Engaging in Advocacy to Promote Policy Change: Incorporating Advocacy-Informed Research and Applying the PRISM Implementation Science Model. J Gen Intern Med. 2026 Apr; 41(5):1379-1386. PMID: 41578106.
Published on 11/10/2025Welles CC, Rizzolo K, Gorman C, Camacho C, McBeth L, Becerra-Ashby E, Peters R, Schwartz N, Cervantes L. Private Insurance for Undocumented Latino Immigrants: A Qualitative Study of a Marketplace-Like Model. J Gen Intern Med. 2025 Nov 10. PMID: 41212356.
Published on 11/7/2025Cervantes L, Rizzolo K, Ressalam J, Maw A, Golestaneh L, Tuot DS, Flythe JE, Ndumele CE, Wong G, Glasgow RE. Adaptation of Navigate-Kidney: A Community Health Worker Intervention for People With Kidney Disease. Kidney Int Rep. 2026 Jan; 11(1):62-75. PMID: 41541772.
Published on 11/5/2025Rizzolo K, Schold JD, Noreen SM, Toll A, Powe NR, Cervantes L. Citizenship Status and Deceased Organ Donation in the USA. Kidney Int Rep. 2026 Feb; 11(2):103668. PMID: 41502801.
Published on 11/3/2025Rizzolo K, Ressalam J, Robledo K, Juarez-Colunga E, Powe NR, Flythe JE, Glasgow RE, Manson SM, Hasnain-Wynia R, Chonchol M, Furgeson S, Jaure A, Ndumele CE, Camacho C, Cukor D, Golestaneh L, Tuot DS, McBeth L, Cervantes L. Participant Experiences in a Kidney Failure Care Intervention in the Navigate-Kidney Study. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Nov 03; 8(11):e2548506. PMID: 41203231.
Media Mentions
Published on 9/23/2024
Patient education, tailored support can promote home dialysis in certain adults
Published on 2/29/2024
Transplant recipients of undocumented immigration status face health insurance barriers
Published on 12/4/2023
Barriers to home dialysis and kidney transplantation for socially disadvantaged individuals.
View full list of 3 media mentions.