Review of office visit with Marc Brazie, MD…read more
In May 2026, my primary care provider recommended an office visit with a nephrologist, specifically naming Mark Brazie, MD. Perfect choice, as it turned out.
At 70, I assumed that at some point I would need to consult with a nephrologist. Earlier in 2025 my PCP indicated that blood screens identified chronic kidney disease at its earlier stage (3a). Time enough to make changes if I needed to.
I don't know what path my PCP took that led us to Dr. Brazie, but after a full hour visit with him I was convinced that my PCP knew what she was doing - Dr. Brazie was a solid and well-informed kidney specialist.
The medical orders and history needed for this consultation were all available to Dr. Brazie, even though I had nothing to do with making sure these records were available before our appointment. Ever since venture capitalists started acquiring medical practices, I've been concerned that the emphasis for such practices would start to shift from providing first-rate medical care to providing first-rate returns on investments for venture capitalists. If that has already occurred at Metropolitan Nephrology Associates, it is well hidden.
The problem is that the sport of poaching practices like this is prolific for venture capitalists - we've seen it in its worst iteration by the way VCS consumed and then spit out nursing homes before and then during the pandemic. Lowest common denominators dominate the field under the influence of VC profit-taking, and I remain concerned that a practice like MNA would be an attractive addition to whatever cut-rate and cost-cutting VC firm that looks for bargains in medical practices.
That all did not seem to factor in this case. I could be wrong, as VCs are notorious for skimming any profit available and doing so in a way that is impossible for outsiders to detect, leaving practices bereft of the soul, ethics, and integrity that led the medical group to be formed in the first place.
From the website, I learned that all MNA's physicians are board certified in nephrology, andn that members of the group have been recognized on multiple occasions in the Best Doctors issues of Washingtonian Magazine, Northern VA Magazine, and Virginia Living Magazine.
Regardless of my concerns about VCs, I encountered first-rate service throughout the process of becoming a patient with MNA. My PCP specifically recommended Dr. Brazie and did so based on solid experience.
Dr. Brazie clearly had reviewed my records before we met - and at 70 years, my records take a moment to absorb. We spent a solid hour reviewing my medical history, while Dr. Brazie briefed me on what he saw in my existing medical history. He supplemented this discussion with observations about what triggering or warning signs I should be keeping in mind. By the end of the hour, I had a significantly improved understanding of my health.
Happily, the in-depth medical history presented no red flags - just areas where I should be watching to check against deterioration of my systems. We agreed to meet again in the following year, and we were done.
Note that it's not clear whether the office is Metro or ART friendly - this was one of the rare times I elected to drive to the doctor's office from Old Town, Alexandria. It's not a reflection on Dr. Brazie's practice, but I found the location difficult to find, even using GPS. I also found the patient portal used by MNA to be non-functional each of the three times I tried to access it, so I was not able to use the site to provide my medical history in advance of my office visit, despite repeated efforts.
Still, quality of care ranks highest in my mind, and I am confident that the advice I received from Dr. Brazie was above and beyond the best care available. Dr. Brazie is a keeper.
