Dr. Penny Elizabeth DeFranco, MD

Expert Publications

• Solitary hepatic abscess with associated glomerulonephritis in a neonate.

Media Releases

Get to know Nephrologist Dr. Penny Elizabeth DeFranco, who serves patients in Belleville, New Jersey.

Dr. DeFranco is a board-certified nephrologist who is currently serving patients at South Mountain Nephrology in Belleville, New Jersey. She is also affiliated with several medical centers in the area, including Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center, Clara Maass Medical Center, and St. Barnabas Medical Center. 

Dr. DeFranco earned her medical degree from the Santiago University of Technology in 1985. She then went on to complete her internship and residency at St Luke’s Hospital, followed by her fellowship in nephrology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine in 1995. 

Dr. DeFranco is board-certified in nephrology by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The ABIM is a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world. In addition to English, Dr. DeFranco speaks Russian and Spanish. 

Nephrology is a specialty of medicine and pediatrics that concerns itself with the kidneys, including the study of normal kidney function and kidney disease, the preservation of kidney health, and the treatment of kidney disease, from diet and medication to renal replacement therapy. A nephrologist, like Dr. DeFranco, is also called a kidney doctor. They commonly treat chronic kidney disease (CKD), polycystic kidney disease (PKD), acute renal failure, kidney stones, and high blood pressure. They are also educated on all aspects of kidney transplantation and dialysis.

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