Compassionate and Personalized Kidney Care

Nephrology Associates provides patients with a compassionate and personalized healthcare experience which is dynamic and innovative. Personalization begins with fully understanding patient and caregiver needs, expectations, and preferences. With considerable empathy, it responds with information, treatments, and superior care in a timely and expeditious manner. 

Three Board Certified Nephrologists

Nephrology Associates also consult and treat patients with difficult to control hypertension, anemia related to chronic kidney disease, past kidney transplants, kidney stones, and various metabolic abnormalities related to kidney disease. Three board-certified Nephrologists, a board-certified Nurse Practitioner, and support staff comprised of RN's and a Clinical Pharmacist to serve patient needs.

Serving Columbus, Starkville, Aberdeen, Macon, and Louisville

Nephrology Associates has clinics in Columbus and Starkville. Its providers are the Medical Directors of Dialysis at the Fresenius Dialysis (FMCNA) units in Aberdeen, Columbus, Starkville, Macon, and Louisville, Mississippi. Nephrology Associates providers work with patients' primary care physician to provide optimal care for patients with Nephrology related disorders. As a convenience to our patients, we also provide lab services at our Columbus office.

Doctors and Professional Staff
of Nephrology Associates, P.C.

Christopher J. LeBrun, M.D.  -  Dr. LeBrun earned a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from Louisiana Tech University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.  He earned his medical degree at Tulane School of Medicine and completed his internal medicine residency at Madigan Army Medical Center and his Nephrology fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center while serving as a Major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. 

While active duty, he was awarded the Department of Medicine Teacher of the Year in two of the four years he was a staff Nephrologist at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, WA. After leaving the military, Dr. LeBrun became a staff Nephrologist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi where he served as the Nephrology Fellowship program director.  While there, Dr. LeBrun was awarded the Department of Medicine Teacher of the year in 2005. In July 2005, Dr. LeBrun joined Dr. Dunn at Nephrology Associates in Columbus, MS. 

Dr. LeBrun is board certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of various medical societies and currently serves as Assistant Chief of Medicine at Baptist Memorial Hospital Golden Triangle.

T. Jason Dunn, D.O.  -  Dr. Dunn received his bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of Southern Mississippi and his medical degree from the University of Health Sciences in Kansas City, Missouri. 

He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Alabama, Montgomery where he was voted "Resident of the Year" for 2001 - 2002.  He then completed a fellowship in Nephrology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

In the July 2004, after finishing his Nephrology fellowship with honors, Dr. Dunn joined Nephrology Associates. Dr. Dunn is board certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is a member of numerous medical societies and a former Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Baptist Memorial Hospital Golden Triangle.

Angela M. Riley, M.D.  -  Dr. Riley received her bachelor’s degree in Biology at Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi.  She earned a medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and went on to complete an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee, where she was the Chief Medical Resident.  While in residency, Dr. Riley worked at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where she was a part of the Pediatric Oncology Education Program and assisted the administration of anesthesia to patients undergoing procedures.  Dr. Riley remained at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center to complete her fellowship in Nephrology. 

Upon graduation, Dr. Riley began her practice in Nephrology at Oxford Nephrology Clinic in Oxford, Mississippi.  In 2010, Dr. Riley created the Oxford Nephrology and Hypertension Clinic where she practiced through 2014.  While in Oxford, she was an active member of the staff of Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi and served in a leadership role on several committees including the Performance and Quality Improvement Committee and the Ethics Committee.  She was Assistant Medical Director for Baptist Memorial-North Mississippi Hospice from 2012 through 2014.  In January 2015, Dr. Riley moved to Columbus, Mississippi and joined Nephrology Associates, P.C.   

Dr. Riley has a heart for volunteer service and community.   She has a history of providing health education and screenings for various organizations, has provided mentoring and tutoring for area youth through organizations such as Into the Streets and ECHO.  She is a long-time volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. 

Dr. Riley is board certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She is a member of the National Nephrology Association for Renal Practitioners, American Society of Nephrology, and National Kidney Foundation. Dr. Riley complements Baptist Memorial Hospital where she serves on several committees.  She also provides consultation services to Oktibbeha County Hospital and Noxubee General.

Candi Frank, RN

Philanshia Shambley

Receptionist

Pam Poston

Billing Manager

Nicole Hollis

Medical Assistant

Melissa Cockrell

Medical Assistant

Laura H. Ferguson, CFNP  -  After attending Mississippi State University for two years in the pre-nursing program, Ms. Ferguson earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mississippi University for Women.   Ms. Ferguson furthered her education by receiving a Masters of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Mississippi University for Women in 2015.  In August of 2015, she earned her certification through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.    

Ms. Ferguson joined Nephrology Associates in October 2015.  Before that, she worked as a Registered Nurse in the Critical Care Unit at Baptist Memorial Hospital Golden Triangle.  She worked at Mississippi Baptist Health Systems in Jackson, Mississippi in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit for four years before moving to Columbus. 

Ms. Ferguson is a member of the Mississippi Nurses Association, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American Nurses Association, and American Nephrology Nurses Association.

Trip Hairston, Administrator  -  Trip attended the University of Mississippi and achieved a Bachelor of Business Administration, Banking and Finance degree in 1994.  While at Ole Miss, he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, where he served as House Chairman and as Vice President.  He was active in Reformed University Fellowship, Student Advisory Committee, and the Financiers’ Club.  Trip continued graduate studies and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Belhaven College in 1999.

Trip began his career as Budget Analyst for the Legislative Budget Office in Jackson, Mississippi, where he was support for the House and Senate Appropriation Committees in addition to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.  In 1999, Trip and his family moved to Rochester, Minnesota where he worked as a Senior Accounting Analyst for Mayo Clinic.  While at Mayo, Trip was a project manager, Co-Team Leader of the Research Accounting Department, and was the Financial Director for the Clinical Research Subcommittee. 

Upon returning to Columbus, Trip became the Administrator for Nephrology Associates, P.C. where he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the growing practice.  Trip also offers consultations to new startup practices and growing practices through his consulting firm, Golden Triangle Business Ventures, LLC.  

Ashli D. Dunn, CFNP  -  Ms. Dunn earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mississippi University for Women.   She furthered her education by receiving a Masters of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Mississippi University for Women in 2009 and earned her certification through the ANCC.    

Before joining Nephrology Associates in May of 2015, Ms. Dunn provided her services as a Nurse Practitioner at Allegro Family Clinic and Golden Triangle Radiology Associates.  Before earning her Nurse Practitioner certification, she worked as a Registered Nurse in the Critical Care Unit at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle for seven years.  She provided her services as a Registered Nurse at the Oral and Facial Surgical Center in Columbus, Mississippi and the Mid-South Organ Transplant Foundation in Memphis, TN. 

Ms. Dunn is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, Mississippi Nurses Association, and American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

Catherine C. Pace, PharmD, CCRC  -  Cathy earned a Bachelor’s degree and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Mississippi where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She was a member of Rho Chi Pharmaceutical Honor Society.

Cathy was a clinical pharmacist at Baptist Memorial Hospital for many years before becoming involved in clinical research. She manages protocols with Drs Dunn, LeBrun, and Riley as Principal Investigators of clinical trials in patients with chronic kidney disease as well as end-stage renal disease. Research involves both pre-dialysis patients and those receiving dialysis. Of those trials, over 12 different pharmaceutical companies have been represented in areas of anemia, diabetic nephropathy, growth hormone and nutrition, secondary hyperparathyroidism and occluded catheters.

Cathy is certified by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals as a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator. She has completed research training by the National Institutes of Health and the Western Institutional Review Board.

Cathy is a member of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, American Society of Heath-System Pharmacists and the American Pharmaceutical Association. She also serves on the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee for Fresenius Medical Care of North America.