Kidney Care & Transplant Services of New England
Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Contact: (413) 733-0010
Dr. Marat Abdullin, born in Kazan, Russian Federation, received his medical degree from Kazan State Medical University in Kazan, Russia. After completing a Cardiology Fellowship at Kazan State Medical University, he obtained a PhD degree at the Institute of Clinical Cardiology of the Cardiology Research and Production Complex in Moscow, and began his career as a cardiologist in Russia. After 3 years, Dr. Abdullin moved to New Haven, CT where he trained in Internal Medicine at Saint Raphael Hospital. A move to Springfield led to a Nephrology Fellowship at Baystate Medical Center where he has continued his career as a kidney doctor. Dr. Abdullin is married, has three children, and loves skiing and tennis.
Dr. Abdullin practices at our Springfield, MA, West Springfield, MA, and Westfield, MA locations.
Dr. Gregory Braden leads the clinical, academic and research missions at Kidney Care. Born in Canton OH, he attended college at the University of Cincinnati and then medical school at Ohio State University. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, and completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Michigan Hospitals followed by his nephrology fellowship at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Practicing nephrology in the Pioneer Valley since 1981, Dr. Braden served as the Chief of the Renal Division at Baystate Medical Center until 2018, continues as Program Director for the Baystate Renal Fellowship and is a member of the Dialysis Advisory Group for the American Society of Nephrology. He is married, has two children and grandchildren.
Dr. Braden practices at our Springfield, MA location.
Dr. Arley Diaz hails from Bogota, Colombia where he completed his undergraduate and medical school education at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Immigrating to the United States, Dr. Diaz trained in Internal Medicine at Metro West Medical Center in Framingham, MA and in Nephrology at Boston University in Boston, MA. With a clinical interest in diabetes, glomerular disorders, and advanced chronic kidney disease, Dr. Diaz practices throughout the Pioneer Valley. Dr. Diaz serves as the President of the Medical Staff at Baystate Medical Center. Married with a daughter in college, Dr. Diaz is an avid cyclist, yoga enthusiast, runner and photographer.
Dr. Diaz practices at our Northampton, MA, Springfield, MA, South Hadley, MA, and West Springfield, MA locations.
Dr. Spencer Hodgins, originally from Toronto, Canada, completed his undergraduate education at Queen’s University at Kingston and received his medical degree from University of Limerick, Ireland. After moving to Springfield, Dr. Hodgins trained in Internal Medicine and Nephrology at Baystate Medical Center. He has fallen in love with Western Massachusetts and all it has to offer. Dr. Hodgins has a keen interest in teaching the future practitioners of nephrology and is an expert in renal and point of care ultrasound. In 2021, Dr. Hodgins was selected as an Associate Program Director for the Renal Fellowship Program at Baystate Medical Center
He is an avid fly-fisherman and golfer and enjoys spending time with his wife and their 2 retired racing greyhounds.
Dr. Despina Hoffman is a Western Massachusetts native who was born and raised in Springfield, MA. After obtaining her undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Biology at Elms College in Chicopee, MA, Despina worked as an investigator in clinical research studies at Baystate Medical Center in between college and medical school. She then attended the University New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford Maine and returned to Baystate to complete her internal medicine and nephrology training in 2015. Her initial practice opportunity in Los Angeles served her well before returning home to serve her community.
In her spare time, she enjoys swimming and cooking.
Dr. Despina Hoffman practices at our Keene, NH and Greenfield, MA locations.
Dr. Daniel Landry is native to Massachusetts. He was born in Worcester and attended college at The College of the Holy Cross. After completing his osteopathic education at the University Of New England College Of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford ME, Dr. Landry trained in Internal Medicine at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, VA. After 7 years of service to the navy, he returned to Massachusetts and performed his fellowship training in Nephrology at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. He continues his career in kidney medicine here in the Pioneer Valley. As Director of the Acute Dialysis Program at Baystate as well as medical director of outpatient and home dialysis facilities in the area, Dr. Landry is a leader in ensuring the delivery of quality care to those with acute and chronic kidney disease. An outstanding teacher, Dr. Landry has been recognized by colleagues and trainees as a valuable educator. Dr. Landry serves as the Chief of the Renal Division at Baystate Medical Center since 2018. Married with a daughter, Dr. Landry enjoys trips to Maine with his family and is an avid runner.
Dr. Landry practices at our Longmeadow, MA and Springfield, MA locations.
Dr. Michael Plager serves as medical director of the Yankee Family Dialysis Unit in Greenfield, MA and Monadnock Dialysis Center in Monadnock, NH. Born in Rochester, NY, he matriculated at Amherst College, received his Master’s Degree in Physiology at Boston University and then his medical degree at SUNY Buffalo. A move to Providence, RI allowed him to complete his Internal Medicine and Nephrology training at Rhode Island Hospital. Settling in the Greenfield area, Dr. Plager is now the senior Kidney Care partner servicing the northern MA and southern VT and NH regions. A married father of two, Dr. Plager enjoys golf, gardening, and playing the piano.
Dr. Plager practices at our Greenfield, MA, Brattleboro, VT, and Keene, NH locations.
Dr. Anthony Poindexter is a native of Springfield, MA. He attended Springfield College for undergraduate education and Tufts University School of Medicine where he received his MD degree. Returning to Springfield, Dr. Poindexter trained in Internal Medicine at Baystate Medical Center. He then returned to Boston and completed a clinical nephrology fellowship at New England Medical Center. As an Associate Program Director of the Nephrology Fellowship at Baystate Medical Center, Dr. Poindexter is intimately involved with the education and training of the next generation of Kidney Specialists and Advanced Practitioners. An expert in kidney ultrasound, Dr. Poindexter provides in-office renal imaging to all Kidney Care patients. Married with 3 children, Dr. Poindexter enjoys traveling, cooking, and sports.
Dr. Poindexter practices at our Springfield, MA and Palmer, MA locations.
Dr. Shirley Whitaker, born in Waycross, GA, completed her undergraduate degree at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA where she majored in Biology. After deepening her commitment to community wellness with a Master of Public Health from Yale University in New Haven, CT, Dr. Whitaker returned home to attend Emory University School of Medicine. A move west after an internal medicine residency at Eastern Virginia Medical Authority led Dr. Whitaker to a nephrology fellowship at the University of California- Davis followed by training in transplant nephrology at Oregon Health Science University. Practicing in Springfield since 1996, Dr. Whitaker is married with a son in college. In her spare time, she enjoys the creative arts, especially oil painting, etching and photography.
Dr. Whitaker retired from practice on June 30, 2020.
Dr. Jiuming Ye was born in Beijing, China and after completing his medical school education at the Capital Institute of Medicine, he moved to the United States where he was awarded a PhD at SUNY Buffalo in Immunopathology and Biochemistry. At Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, Dr. Ye completed his Internal Medicine residency and trained in kidney disease at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Practicing in the Springfield area since 2000, Dr. Ye is married, has twin boys and enjoys reading and exploring New England’s natural beauty.
Dr. Ye retired from practice on June 30, 2020.
Dr. Mohamed Kamel served as the Medical Director of Nephrology at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, MA. Born in Cairo, Egypt, he completed his undergraduate and medical school degree at Cairo University. After moving to Worcester, Massachusetts, Dr. Kamel trained in Internal Medicine at Saint Vincent’s Hospital and in Nephrology at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Board certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Dr. Kamel provided kidney care in the Northampton region where he served a pivotal role as medical director of the Hampshire County Dialysis Unit. Married with 3 children, Dr. Kamel is a world traveler and enjoys reading in his spare time.
Dr. Kamel retired from practice on December 31, 2023.