Faculty

Sean Armstrong, MD
Activity Director, PD University Program
Manitoba Renal Program, Seven Oaks Hospital
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
Dr. Sean Armstrong is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Section of Nephrology at the University of Manitoba and the Medical Director for the Seven Oaks Renal Program. Dr. Armstrong, with the help of a caring and talented team, have created one of the largest home modalities programs in North America. These home dialysis programs allow patients throughout Manitoba and Nunavut to receive treatments in their homes allowing them to remain with their families and communities. As well, he is the creator and Director of the Interventional Nephrology Program for Manitoba.
Dr. Armstrong has degrees in Internal Medicine and Nephrology from the University of Manitoba, as well as a Masters in Medical Education from the University of Dundee. He is presently the Chair of the North American Peritoneal Dialysis University Program for Interventional Nephrologists and Radiologists. He has trained physicians from Canada, USA, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. Dr. Armstrong has also traveled extensively teaching interventional nephrology throughout China.
During the COVID 19 Pandemic there was a rise in kidney failure requiring initiation of dialysis. Dr. Armstrong trained American and Canadian radiologists and surgeons on the insertion of catheters for peritoneal dialysis, a gentler option for renal replacement therapy compared to hemodialysis. Dr. Armstrong also created a Palliative Catheter Program to allow patients and their families to manage malignant ascites in their homes. This has resulted in increased comfort, as well as fewer uncomfortable procedures in emergency departments and medical clinics.

Ahmed Kamel Abdel Aal, MD, PhD, FSIR
Professor of Interventional Radiology
Chief, Section of Interventional Radiology
Vice Chair of Radiology
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
McGovern Medical School
Ahmed Kamel Abdel Aal, MD, PhD, FSIR is Professor of Radiology and Internal medicine, Chief of Vascular and Interventional Radiology and Vice Chair of Radiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, and Director of Interventional Radiology at LBJ Hospital in Houston. Dr. Kamel is American board certified in Radiology and Interventional Radiology. He received fellowship training in Vascular and Interventional Radiology as well as Neuroradiology at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Kamel holds Masters of Science and PhD degrees in Radiology. He was awarded the "Top ten faculty award for excellence in resident education", the "Certificate of Merit Award" from the Radiological Society of North America, the "Certificate of Merit Award" from the American Roentgen Ray Society, the "Certificate of Outstanding performance in Veterans Affairs Radiology Service" and the "Louisville Slugger Award for best Board reviewer". His areas of clinical interest are dialysis interventions, interventional oncology and portal interventions.

John H. Crabtree, MD
Consultant, ISPD's PD University
Visiting Clinical Faculty, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA
Dr. Crabtree is a general surgeon. He completed his medical training and residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Campus in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. Crabtree currently serves as Visiting Clinical Faculty at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. His clinical research interest focuses on issues related to peritoneal dialysis access. He pioneered modifications and enhancements to the laparoscopic placement of peritoneal dialysis catheters resulting in greatly improved catheter outcomes for peritoneal dialysis patients. Dr. Crabtree has authored numerous articles covering dialysis catheters, implantation techniques, and resolution of dialysis access complications. Currently, Dr. Crabtree is the Chairperson for PD University for Surgeons in North America, part of a global education effort sponsored by the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis. He is a consultant for ISPD-sponsored surgeon education programs in Europe.

Stephen P. Haggerty, MD, FACS
Chair, PD University for Surgeons
Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Division of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery
NorthShore University Healthsystem, Evanston, IL
Dr. Haggerty is senior attending surgeon, Northshore University HealthSystem in Evanston, Illinois and has an academic affiliation with the University of Chicago with the title of Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery. He has had special interest in laparoscopic PD catheter surgery for 20 years and has given many presentations, published several peer reviewed articles and guidelines and edited one book on the subject. He received his medical degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, completed general surgery residency at Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago and is in an academic group practice involving clinical research, resident and student education and high volume minimally invasive surgery. Currently, he serves as Vice Chairman of Education for the Department of Surgery and Associate Program director for the general surgery residency. He is an active member of the American College of Surgeons, Association for Surgical Education, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, American Hernia Society, and American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons.

Arsh Jain, MD, FRCPC, MSc
Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada
Nephrologist, London Health Sciences Centre
Dr. Arsh Jain is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Western Ontario. He is a practicing Nephrologist at the London Health Sciences Centre and his clinical expertise is in the area of Peritoneal Dialysis. Dr. Jain conducts clinical and health services research to improve health outcomes for patients with kidney diseases. He is the lead physician for the Peritoneal Dialysis Access Program and is Program Director for the Home Dialysis Fellowship.

Venkat Krishnamurthy, MBBS, MD
Chair, Department of Radiology, MetroHealth Medical Center
Professor of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University
MetroHealth Medical Center
2500 MetroHealth Drive
Cleveland, OH 44109
Dr. Krishnamurthy is Chair of Radiology and Professor at Case Western Reserve University. He is engaged extensively in education and research with special interests in vascular interventions. Dr. Krishnamurthy’s expertise includes image-guided implantation of peritoneal dialysis catheters. Along with other thought leaders in peritoneal dialysis access, he is involved in developing best practices for catheter insertion by interventional radiologists. He has authored and coauthored numerous scientific articles and book chapters on a variety of topics in radiological interventions.