Item-Writer Spotlight | Emmy Bell, MD, MSPH
ABIM is proud to spotlight members of the Item-Writing Task Forces, which are responsible for writing all of the content for assessments in each discipline of internal medicine. Learn more about the Item-Writing Task Forces and how ABIM creates assessment questions on the ABIM Blog. If you are interested in applying to serve as an Item-Writer, view current openings.
Emmy Bell, MD, MSPH | Nephrology Item-Writing Task Force
Dr. Bell is a clinical nephrologist at the University of Alabama in Birmingham where she cares for patients in the hospital, clinic and associated dialysis units. In her current role, she teaches medical students, residents and nephrology fellows in these settings and collaborates with colleagues, using root cause analysis to develop and implement better practices and protocols to improve the quality and safety of hospital care provision for patients with kidney disease. Dr. Bell is the director of the Division of Nephrology’s weekly accredited Kidney Biopsy Conference where she organizes and leads weekly sessions that correlate kidney pathology with pathophysiology and patient care decisions, and offers an opportunity for trainees and experienced attending physicians to discuss clinical pathological relationships and disease treatment options. She created a Kidney Biopsy Conference Primer to help educate trainees.
Dr. Bell has a role in a pilot research project that investigates the molecular mechanisms of hypertension-associated arterionephrosclerosis, a leading cause of kidney failure that disproportionately affects African Americans. The researchers use digital spatial profiling to investigate the feasibility of mapping gene expression in arterioles and small arteries in standard preserved kidney biopsy samples in the physical context of their location within tissue. This spatial approach allows for comparison between how gene activity changes in specific diseased areas versus healthy ones. The primary goal is to determine whether high-resolution genetic mapping is feasible for such small vessels to identify molecular biomarkers that predict disease progression. This technique may allow comparing patients with hypertensive arterionephrosclerosis with “progressive” versus “nonprogressive” kidney function decline. The study may be a first step for uncovering why some individuals reach kidney failure despite blood pressure control, while others remain stable. Ultimately, the information could be used to develop more accurate diagnostic tools and personalized treatments.
Dr. Bell has been on the Nephrology Item-Writing Task Force for two years. When discussing her role on the Item-Writing Task Force, she noted, “Serving on the task force has challenged, reaffirmed and strengthened my knowledge base in nephrology. And my work with the Item-Writing Task Force has helped me develop new skills that are strengthening my approach to teaching residents and nephrology fellows.” Dr. Bell advises new Item-Writers that “familiarity with and adherence to the recommended steps simplify question writing and prevent process redundancy. The in-person task force meeting was invaluable for item writing analysis and personal development. It is also an excellent opportunity to meet ABIM Item-Writing Task Force leaders and to network with colleagues.”
In her free time, Dr. Bell enjoys reading, traveling, exercising, visiting with friends, listening to music, dancing, cooking and entertaining.
