About Us
Experienced and Compassionate Care You Can Rely On
At Kidney Associates of the Tristate, we strive to give you the best medical care in the tri-state area. Whatever your medical renal needs are, we treat you with compassionate, professional expertise and always keeping your best interest at heart. Our doctors and staff are devoted to providing the most advanced diagnosis and treatments for kidney diseases and end-stage renal failure. We have been treating our patients with great success since 2012.
Dr. Tran and Dr. Rafi have been serving the tri-state region -Northern KY, Ohio and Indiana, since 2012 and 2014 respectively. They began their small duo practice in May 2020, with the desire to serve their patients in a personal way, taking time to know each patient well.
Dr. Tran and Dr. Rafi see patients at all the St. Elizabeth Hospitals- Edgewood, Florence, and Fort Thomas, as well as Encompass, Gateway and Select Rehabilitation Hospitals.
Kidney Diseases and Conditions
Chronic kidney disease including Diabetic Nephropathy u0026amp; Polycystic Disease
Acute kidney disease
Anemia of chronic kidney disease
Electrolyte imbalance
Hematuria (blood in urine)
Kidney Stones
Proteinuria (protein in urine)
Hypertension
Frequently Asked Questions
What does your kidney do?
Kidneys are very important organs. Their job is to filter out all the toxins, drugs and waste products into your urine. They are also regulators of electrolytes, fluid, blood pressure.
What are signs and symptoms of acute kidney diseases?
Acute kidney disease occurs when your kidney suddenly does not do its job of filtering out waste products from your blood, causing these toxins to unsafely accumulate within your body. Possible symptoms are fluid retention, swelling, shortness of breath, fatigue and for a few people, low appetite.
What is chronic kidney disease (CDK)?
CKD is when your kidney functions decrease over a long period of time and are unlikely to improve. Diabetes and high blood pressure tend to lead towards CKD. Routine bloodwork, showing increasing high creatinine level (lower kidney functions), blood or protein in your urine, and high blood pressure are some of the indicators pointing towards CKD. Some ways to help prevent CKD are controlling your blood pressure and living a healthy lifestyle through low salt, low sugar and low fat diet and exercising.
What if I have kidney stones?
Depending on the size of your kidney stones, you may feel pain in your back, abdomen or while urinating. You may also have blood in your urine. Increasing intake of water, along with taking pain medication, may allow the kidney stones to pass through. However, if the kidney stones are too large, other treatment methods such as shock wave lithotripsy and surgery are used to remove the kidney stones. For people who tend to produce more stones, medication may reduce kidney stones formation.
Why is it important to treat hypertension?
Hypertension, if left untreated may lead to kidney failure. It may also lead to heart failure, coronary arterial diseases and increase your chance of stroke.
What is dialysis and what type of dialysis are there?
End Stage Kidney Failure (ESRD) is when the kidney has reached a stage where its function is too low and needs intervention. Dialysis is the treatment for End Stage Kidney Failure. ESRD. Dialysis replaces the kidney in filtering toxins and electrolytes out of the blood. One type of dialysis is hemodialysis, in which blood is removed through needles and then is filtered through a machine and is returned to your body. Peritoneal dialysis, another type of dialysis, uses a machine to place fluid in the abdomen for several hours and then remove the absorbed toxins/electrolytes and water from the blood.
Kidney transplantation is the ultimate goal in treating ESRD, however not all patients can undergo this type of treatment.
For more information, please learn more at
Call for Appointment
Meet Our Staff
Dr. Rafi and Dr. Tran and staff are happy to welcome you to our office and
hope we can help you in finding a path towards better health and comfort.
Dr. Muhammad Rafiuddin
Internal Medicine and Nephrology
Dr. Muhammad Rafiuddin graduated from Allama Iqbal Medical College. He finished his Internal Medicine and Pediatrics residency at Michigan State University and then went on to private practice as a hospitalist. He later completed his Nephrology fellowship at the University of KY and continued on as assistant professor of Internal Medicine and Nephrology. In 2014, he decided to move to Northern Kentucky to work for St. Elizabeth Healthcare. He then later joined Dr. Tran to open their private practice. Along with being a respected member of the American Society of Nephrology, Dr. Rafi is highly regarded by peers and patients alike. Dr. Rafi’s attentive, caring nature makes patients feel well-cared for. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time relaxing with his wife and children.
Dr. Ai Tran
Internal Medicine and Nephrology
Dr. Ai Tran graduated from University of Kentucky College of Medicine and completed his Internal Medicine residency and Nephrology fellowship at UK. During his time in Lexington, he was assistant professor at the University of KY Chandler Medical Center and Internal Medicine/Nephrology attendant at UK College of Medicine and VA Medical Center. In 2012, he decided to return to the Northern KY area, where he grew up. He worked for St Elizabeth Healthcare before finally starting private practice with Dr. Rafi. Dr. Tran is a highly respected member of the American Society of Nephrology and in Greater Cincinnati. Known for his jovial and professional manner, Dr. Tran is well-liked by his patients. When not tending to the welfare of his patients, he spends time with family and his dog and cats.
Sara
Medical Assistant
Sara graduated in 2014 from Ivy Tech and started her career as a Certified Medical Assistant in Nephrology with Dr. Rafi. She loves to interact with patients and their families to give them a happy experience at the doctors’ office. She takes time to make sure that all of the patients’ needs are met and they are well cared for. Patients enjoy her cheerful smiles and welcoming personality. She resides in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband Phillip and her dog, Shelly. Sara enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, sporting events, and leisure walks with Shelly.
Joyce
Medical Assistant
Joyce has been Dr. Tran’s Registered Medical Assistant since 2012. Joyce’s previous career in hospitality is a great asset in dealing with the very sick patients in Nephrology, who not only need excellent medical advice but someone to listen to them. She patiently answers questions and assures patients about their health and future. Patients enjoy her nurturing personality and sense of humor. Being mother to three and grandmother to five keeps her young at heart. Music is a big part of her life, having played piano since she was 9. Joyce and her husband are active in the Praise Band at their church. Besides spending time with their german shepherd and collie, Sam and Lilly, their favorite hobbies are landscaping and gardening.
Myle
Practice Manager
Myle graduated from the University of Louisville Speed School in 1990 and after working for a few years, decided to stay home with her four boys. In 2020, after her sons have grown, she helped her brother started the new practice and became practice manager at Kidney Associates of the Tristate. She enjoys her new career, working with her co-workers in the office, and meeting the many patients. She does her best to manage the operation of the practice and assists staff in exceeding patients’ satisfaction. Her family has grown with the addition of two young daughters whom they met in 2016. Outside of work, Myle and her husband are busy with the girls and keeping up with her grown sons who moved to different areas in the U.S.
Amberly
Nurse Practitioner
Amberly R. Lauer is a Nephrology Nurse Practitioner and has been a member of the Kidney Associates of the Tristate group since February 2021. Amberly graduated from Northern Kentucky University’s Master of Science in Nursing- Family Nurse Practitioner Program. Amberly is a dedicated and patient-focused Nephrology Nurse Practitioner with proven strengths in acute patient care, staff development, and patient advocacy. She displays an exceptional ability for delivering positive patient outcomes in a fast-paced environment while simultaneously building productive relationships. Patients speak very highly of the quality-of-care Amberly provides along with her excellent bedside manner. Amberly is patient, organized, and enjoys advocating for patients and the best outcomes. Amberly is known for her exceptional, interpersonal, and communication skills and her ability to manage competing priorities when managing patient care. Outside of work Amberly enjoys spending time with her family, quality improvement projects, outdoors, water activities, and planning events.
What Patient Say
“In past years I have seen several Nephrologist in the Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio area and then I found Dr. Tran. He is the best, he is awesome, highly intelligent and very personable, he truly cares. I’ve been seeing him for years now and will never change my kidney doctor. He is truly a gem.”
Pamela Aug 05 2020 Review for Dr. Tran: https://www.healthgrades.com/group-directory/ky-kentucky/florence/kidney-associates-of-the-tristate-md00003391
“I think Dr. Rafi is the best doctor in the world he explains everything to m very nicely and makes sure I understand he is very patient and talks calmly and gives me medicine to my kidney stone I love my doctor. “
Review for Dr. Rafi from: https://www.vitals.com/doctors/Dr_Muhammad_Rafiuddin/reviews
Get In Touch
Florence
6909 Burlington Pike Ste B, Florence, KY 41042
Ft Thomas
20 N. Grand Ave Ste 2, Fort Thomas, KY 41075
Hospitals Affiliation
