About the Division of Nephrology

Clinical Associate Professor;
Associate Program Director, Nephrology Fellowship

Associate Professor, Research

Professor;
Nephrology Section Chief, Veteran's Affairs

Dr. Kent is a board-certified physician specializing in Nephrology. He received his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University. He completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at Bridgeport Hospital - Yale School of Medicine, and fellowship in Nephrology at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Dr. Kent provides general nephrology care in the office, hospital, and outpatient dialysis settings, including home dialysis therapy. He is dedicated to his patients and their success. Dr. Kent is also passionate about medical education and research.

Dr. Semenikhina earned a Ph.D. in 2020 from the Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology in Ukraine, focusing on GPCR signaling in disease development. Joining Dr. Palygin's lab at MUSC in 2021, Rita has since led research on redox signaling in podocyte pathophysiology and its role in glomerular diseases, particularly in diabetes. Dr. Semenikhina has published 17 peer-reviewed papers and received multiple awards, including recognition for work on nitric oxide signaling in podocytes from the American Physiological Society, American Heart Association, and Women in Nephrology. She is focused on molecular mechanisms of renal filtration barrier dysfunction and aims to translate her findings into innovative therapeutic strategies for kidney diseases in the US.

Awards:

Poster Award from American Heart Association (2024 Hypertension Scientific Sessions)

Excellence in Research Award from AJP Renal (2023 International Podocyte Meeting)

Woman in Nephrology (WIN) Presentation Award (2022 WIN Leadership Conference)

Renal Section Research Recognition Award (2022 American Physiological Society)

Woman in Nephrology Leadership Conference Travel Award (2022)

Division Administrator
greenena@musc.edu
843-792-5589