CALL US: 702-877-1887 
May Newsletter 2025
Practice Updates
Upcoming Office Closures:
May 16, 2025 (Staff Development Day)
May 26, 2025 (Memorial Day)
Please note that you can reach our office by calling 702-877-1887 during these times.
Effective April 1, 2025 – Dr. Asima Raja has relocated to our Southern Hills office.
KSOSN Office Hours are Mon-Thur 8:00a – 5:00p. Fri 8:00a to 12:00p.
Surgical Center Hours are Mon-Sat 7:30a – 4:30p.
Kidney Health Tip of the Month
Monitor Your Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a leading cause of kidney disease.
Keep your blood pressure under control by maintaining a healthy weight, limiting sodium, and managing stress.
Kidney Friendly Recipe of the Month
Chicken Seafood Gumbo
Dinner, Ethnic, Soups, Low Phosphorus, Low Potassium, Low Sodium
Ingredients
Based on 12, one cup servings per recipe.
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 2 skinless chicken breasts, chopped
- 8 ounces lean smoked turkey sausage, sliced
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 tablespoon salt-free Cajun seasoning
- 2 quarts low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 pound cooked shrimp
- 6 ounces canned crab, drained
- 3 cups frozen okra, chopped
Nutritional Information per serving
- Calories 240
- Carbohydrates 19 g
- Protein 10 g
- Dietary Fiber 14 g
- Fat 2 g
- Sodium 320 mg
- Potassium 426 mg
- Phosphorus 156 mg
Preparation
- Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a 4.5 quart or larger pot over medium heat.
- Add celery, onion, bell pepper, chicken, and sausage and cook for 10 minutes.
- Remove the mixture from the pot and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium.
- Add 1/2 cup canola oil and stir in flour to make a roux.
- Stir in Cajun seasoning and let cook for a minute or more, depending on how dark you want your gumbo to be.
- Very slowly stir in chicken broth, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
- Increase heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil, and let boil for about 10 minutes or until it starts to thicken slightly.
- Reduce heat to medium and add shrimp, crab, and okra, and add chicken mixture back into pot as well.
- Cook for 10 minutes or until heated through.
About This Recipe
The base of celery, onion, and green pepper is called the “holy trinity” in Cajun cooking.
Meet Our Care Team
Dr. Taurino Avelar, M.D.
Specialty: Nephrologist
Dr. Avelar earned his medical degree from The Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA and completed his Nephrology fellowship from Harbor UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA. He was driven to this field due to diversity and complexity of the conditions that can lead to kidney disease and the yearning to learn more about them and their management.
He chose to work at KSOSN because the KSOSN team provides excellent patient care for patients with all types of kidney disease, such as the kidney support service program for the CKD patients, multiple dialysis centers and its own vascular access center for ESRD patients, and having its own transplant nephrologists. He was raised in Southern Nevada and a graduate of UNLV, he always imagined himself returning to Southern Nevada after completing his medical education.
Dr. Avelar believes that effective communication is key as it is only through a clear understanding of their kidney disease that patients will be able to take charge in their care and implement the treatment plans that are formulated together. He has received extensive training in the management of patients with various forms of kidney disease and their wide spectrums of disease manifestation. He gained extensive training in critical care nephrology as he trained in the only trauma center in Los Angeles’ South Bay region.
Dr. Avelar believes that nephrology is a field that is intricately connected with every other field in medicine. As such, a nephrologist is an invaluable member to patients care as kidney disease is often a manifestation of a system disease process for which a nephrologist would have extensive training in managing.
He is a member of American Society of Nephrology, American College of Physicians and American Medical Association. He is an avid fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers and UNLV Rebel basketball. He enjoys hiking and traveling. He is a first generation Mexican American and fluent in Spanish.
What are your hobbies or what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Going to concerts
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
You’re here for a good time, not a long time.
If you could swap lives with a fictional character for a day, who would it be and why?
Jon Snow so I can ride a dragon
Jenna Hale
Access Coordinator at Kidney Specialists Surgical Center
What are your hobbies or what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Bowling is my hobby. I have been doing it since I was 5 years old. My dad was the one who got my brother and me into it. My highest score is 290. I am still trying to get that perfect score of 300! That is my dream to say that I was able to get a perfect score in bowling. I enjoy watching any type of sports like basketball, baseball, football, and hockey. I’m a big fan of sports.
If you could relive one day of your life, which would it be and why?
If I could relive one day of my life, it would be my wedding day. Everything about that day was amazing. We are about to hit the milestone of 5 years this year.
What’s one accomplishment that you’re proud of?
One accomplishment that I’m proud of is being a homeowner in my 20s. I know a lot of people don’t have the opportunity to say they are homeowners, and I don’t take that for granted. I am very grateful that I was able to accomplish this at a young age.
Jenna will be celebrating her 8th anniversary with KSOSN this Month!
Yes, family history plays a role in kidney disease, particularly
conditions like polycystic kidney disease and other genetic
disorders. If kidney disease run in your family, it’s important
to monitor your kidney function regularly.
Words of Encouragement
Embrace each day as a gift; your journey as a kidney patient is a testament to resilience and hope.
Your journey as a kidney patient illuminates the path for others seeking strength in their own battles.
Dialysis is a chapter in your life, not the whole story. Keep writing a narrative of strength and resilience.
National Doctors Day – March 30th
On March 30th, we celebrated National Doctors Day, honoring the dedication and compassion displayed daily by our doctors. Their commitment to healing, saving lives, and making a difference is truly inspiring! Check out these fun photos!
To all the doctors out there, your hard work, care, and dedication make a difference in so many lives. Thank you for everything you do!
March was National Kidney Month
In March, we celebrated National Kidney Month. It was a meaningful month filled with connection, education, and a renewed commitment to the well-being of our patients.
One of the highlights was our Spirit Week, where staff showed off their creativity and team spirit with themed dress-up days and a shared commitment to spreading awareness!
Celebrating Excellence in Healthcare
We are incredibly proud to share that KSOSN has been honored with the Exemplary Practice Award from the Renal Physicians Association (RPA) this April 2025!
This prestigious recognition celebrates a nephrology practice that goes above and beyond in embracing RPA’s recommended practices and strategic goals, all while making a meaningful impact on the community. We’re grateful for this acknowledgment and even more thankful to the patients, staff, and partners who help make this possible every day.
Here’s to continuing innovation, compassion, and excellence in kidney care!
We are incredibly proud to announce that Dr. Nauman Tahir has been honored with the 2025 Greatest of All Time Physician Award from Southern Hills Hospital!
This award recognizes Dr. Tahir for his unwavering dedication and exceptional care. Dr. Tahir made an incredible impact on the lives of countless patients, and this recognition is a testament to his passion and commitment to improving healthcare. Join us in congratulating Dr. Tahir for this well-deserved achievement and for setting the gold standard in patient care.
We’re lucky to have such a talented and compassionate physician on our team. Here’s to many more years of inspiring excellence in healthcare!
We are excited to recognize Dr. Ayoola Adekile for his important role as a collaborator in the recently published study in Transplantation Journal, titled “Elevation of Donor-derived Cell-free DNA Before Biopsy-proven Rejection in Kidney Transplant” (September 2024). This groundbreaking research sheds light on the potential of donor-derived cell-free DNA as a biomarker for the early detection of rejection in kidney transplant recipients, paving the way for more effective monitoring and intervention.
Dr. Adekile has demonstrated exceptional expertise and dedication throughout this study, and we are proud to have him as part of our team. His contribution is a significant step forward in the field of transplant medicine, and we look forward to his continued impact on improving patient outcomes.
Congratulations, Dr. Adekile, on this remarkable achievement!
