2017 is drawing to a close, marking the end of a year that saw ASN Communities hit its stride within the nephrology social media landscape. Providing an interactive learning experience for nephrologists around the world has become the primary strength of ASN Communities. Interacting on Communities reminds many practicing nephrologists of the iterative case conferences they had in residency. Both complicated and mundane discussions provide a springboard for nephrologists to finding their own answers and improving their own knowledge base.
None of these conversations would be possible without you.
During 2017, 1,109 kidney care professionals contributed 10,074 posts to 1,296 threads across 15 communities led by 35 volunteer Community Leaders. Thanks to the thousands of you who read daily digests every day and contribute your thoughts. Because of you, ASN Communities serves its purpose of leading and engaging the kidney community around the world.
2017 ASN Communities Highlights
Events
This year we embarked upon a new initiative, hosting member led events on Communities. 
In 2017 ASN Communities hosted 8 ASN Councilor interviews, 4 Ask Me Anythings nd 4 Journal Chats.
Case Conversations
Patient treatment questions are the most common discussions on Communities.
Here is a top five most common search terms from this past year:
1. Membranous Nephropathy
2. IgANephropathy
3. Hyponatremia
4. Lupus Nephritis
5. Contrast Nephropathy
Hot Topics
Patient cases were not the only thing you talked about this year. From new regulations to a tumultuous political climate, the Communities was the venue for a variety of discussions on issue impacting nephrology. Here are my picks for the best non-patient case threads of the year:
- @Klemens Meyer brought the plight of International Medical Graduates trying to enter or exit the United States to forefront in this conversation titled “Immigration Ban”, this was the beginning of the society’s intense advocacy work around this issue, marking the beginning of an intense year of advocacy in DC.
- Defining the role of nephrology is a critical issue for ASN and this conversation about whether or not we should cross credential non nephrologists to administer CRRT grounded the debate in a practical discussion about procedures and who should do them.
- What is the biggest public policy challenge facing nephrology? @Terrence O'Neil argues that the field will not move forward while care models are oriented around ESRD, rather we should create a system of less silos and more care coordination. With both legislative and regulatory solutions to these questions in the public arena, this might be the most farsighted conversation of the year.
- During his 2015 President’s Address, @Jonathan Himmelfarb made what he called a controversial assertion, nephrology needs to rethink CKD staging. This debate over whether or not CKD staging has improved the practice of medicine continued this year with CJASN featuring contrasting editorials and a lively discussion on Communities.
International Participation
One of ASN’s strategic goals that Communities uniquely serves is 
“Encouraging every kidney health professional in the world to
contribute to and benefit from ASN”. ASN Communities has enjoyed
unique engagement from the international community, providing
unique perspectives, innovative solutions to problems facing kidney
patients, and a quarter of all posts.
Thank You
So much more has happened on the site than I have covered here. I look forward to continuing to evolve ASN Communities to better serve the worldwide kidney community in 2018. If you have any ideas for things you would like to see, please let me know via the Contact Us page.
See you online next year!