Julia Steinke, MD, MS

Dr. Julia Steinke is a distinguished Pediatric Nephrologist with over two decades of experience in the field of nephrology. She currently serves as the Medical Director of the Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program at Texas Children’s Hospital, where she has become a nationally recognized leader in pediatric kidney transplantation.

Driven by a deep commitment to equity in health care, Dr. Steinke is passionate about expanding access to life-saving transplants for children, particularly those facing socioeconomic barriers. Her clinical expertise includes the implementation of desensitization protocols for highly sensitized patients and the promotion of paired kidney donation to reduce wait times for pediatric recipients.

Dr. Steinke has played an instrumental role at the national level in advocating for increased pediatric priority in kidney allocation policies. Her work has helped shape more inclusive and child-centered transplant practices across the country.

In addition to her clinical and advocacy work, Dr. Steinke holds a master’s degree in clinical research and is actively engaged in research focused on improving quality of life outcomes for pediatric transplant recipients. A key area of her scholarship centers on the transition of care from pediatric to adult medicine, ensuring continuity and support for young patients as they navigate complex medical systems.

Dr. Steinke’s career reflects a rare blend of clinical excellence, research innovation and compassionate advocacy, making her a vital force in the advancement of pediatric kidney care.

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I am deeply committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based care to every patient I serve, regardless of their background or circumstances. As a pediatric specialist, I consider it both a privilege and a responsibility to advocate fiercely for children – especially those who are medically complex and often face the greatest challenges in accessing care.

I believe that health care is not a one-way street; it is a partnership built on trust, respect and collaboration. My approach centers on active listening and meaningful engagement with patients and their families. I strive to ensure that every voice is heard and every concern is addressed, because I know that families are the most important members of a child’s care team.

Collaboration is also essential beyond the clinic walls. I work closely with primary care physicians and other specialists to ensure that care is coordinated, comprehensive and tailored to each child’s unique needs. My goal is always to deliver care that is not only medically sound but also compassionate, equitable and empowering.

Intereses Clinicos

Rejection treatment, desensitization, paired kidney donation, BK nephropathy

Educacion

Organizaciones

Board Certifications

American Society of Transplant, Fellow, FAST

American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatric Nephrology

Honors and awards

2020

Fellow, American Society of Transplant Society

2015-2023

West Michigan’s Top Doctor Award, Grand Rapids Magazine 

2018

Gift of Life Award, National Kidney Foundation of Michigan

* Texas Children’s Hospital physicians’ licenses and credentials are reviewed prior to practicing at any of our facilities. Sections titled From the Doctor, Professional Organizations and Publications were provided by the physician’s office and were not verified by Texas Children’s Hospital.

Research interests

Improving outcomes for pediatric kidney transplant patients, reducing incidence of rejection

Reynolds ML, Oliverio AL, Zee J, Hendren EH, O’Shaughnessy MM, Ayoub I, Almaani S, Vasylyeva TL, Twombley KE, Wadhwani S, Steinke JM, Rizk DV, Waldman M, Helmuth ME, Avila-Casado C, Alachkar N, Nester CM, Derebail VK, Hladunewich MA, Mariani LH.  Pregnancy History and Kidney Disease Progression Among Women Enrolled in Cure Glomerulonephropathy. Kidney International Reports. 2023 Feb 1;8(4):805-817

Schwartz S, Aldrich A, Kessler E, Abulaban K, Steinke JM. Disseminated Ureaplasma polyarthritis in a renal transplant recipient. Pediatric Transplantation. 2023 May 6; e14538. doi: 10.1111

Yousif ZK, Koola JD, Macedo E, Cerda J, Goldstein SL, Chakravarthi R, Lewington A, Selewski D, Zappitelli M, Cruz D, Tolwani A, Joy MS, Jha V, Ramachandran R, Ostermann M, Yang L, Pandya B, Acharya A, Brophy P, Ponce D, Steinke J, Bouchard J, Irarrazabal CE, Irarrazabal R, Boltansky A, Askenazi D, Kolhe N, Claure-Del Granado R, Benador N, Castledine C, Davenport A, Barratt J, Bhandari S, Riley AA, Akcan-Arikan A, Davis T, Farmer C, Hogarth M, Thomas M, Murray PT, Robinson-Cohen C, Nicoletti P, Vaingankar S, Mehta R, Awdishu L, Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Drug-Induced Acute Kidney Injury Cases. Kidney International Reports (2023), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ekir.2023.07.037

Steinke JM, Goebel J. Young Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipients: Bigger May Not Be Better! Transplantation. 2022 Mar; 106 (3); 457

Bissonnette P, Lussier Y, Matar J, Leduc-Nadeau A, Da Cal S, Arthus MF, Unwin RJ, Steinke J, Rangaswamy D, Bichet DG. Further evidence for functional recovery of AQP2 mutations associated with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Physiological Reports. 2021 June; 9 (11): e14866

Barton KT, et al on behalf of NAPRTCS investigators. (Steinke JM is listed as NAPRTCS investigator). Late first acute rejection in pediatric kidney transplantation: A North American Pediatric Renal Trials and Collaborative Studies special study. Pediatric Transplant. 2021 Aug; 25 (5); e13953