Meet Our Physicians

Our providers specialize in the kidney and provide a wide range of services including treatment for hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, kidney stones and kidney failure. Our providers also provide care to patients by using dialysis or kidney transplantation.

Board Certification - American Board of Internal Medicine, Nephrology, and Hospitalist Physicians
Fellowship - University of Miami Hospital
Residency - Wright State University in Dayton, OH
Medical School - Nephrology training at Miami University School of Medicine in Miami, FL
Internal Medicine training at Wright State University in Dayton, OH and University of El Salvador School of Medicine in San Salvador, El Savador
College - University of El Salvador in San Salvador, El Savador

Dr. Rafael Lopez has been practicing medicine for over 20 years. He has published several research papers over the years.

Rafael A. Lopez, MD

Board Certification - Nephrology and Internal Medicine
Fellowship - University of Alabama Hospital
Residency - University of Alabama Hospital
Medical School - University of Alabama College of Medicine in Birmingham, AL for Nephrology and Internal Medicine
College - University of Alabama in Birmingham, AL

Dr. Charles Thomas' interests are in Hypertension, Glomerular diseases, Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis (especially home dialysis) and Transplantation. Dr. Thomas enjoys spending time with his family, reading and golfing in his spare time.

Charles Thomas, MD

Board Certification - Nephrology and Internal Medicine
Fellowship - Brown University School of Medicine for Nephrology and Hypertension in Providence, RI
Residency - St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital in Ypsilanti, MI
Medical School - Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Kadapa, India

Dr. Rakesh Kanipakam is one of our newest providers, joining us from Michigan. He has an interest in taking care of patients with kidney stones and Glomerular disease.

Rakesh Kanipakam, MD

Board Certification - Nephrology and Internal Medicine

Apoorv Deotare, MD

Board Certification - Nephrology and Internal Medicine
Fellowship - University of St. Louis in Missouri
Residency - Nephrology Training completed at St. Louis University Hospitals in St. Louis, MO
Internal Medicine Training completed at St. Lukes Hospital in Chesterfield, MO
Medical School - Nalanda Medical College and Hospital in Patna, India
College - Union Christian College and Kerela University in Kerela, India

Dr. Jogy Varghese has been in practice for Nephrology for more than 20 years. He is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System-Montgomery, Baptist Hospitals and Jackson Hospital in Montgomery.

Jogy Varghese, MD

Board Certification - American Society of Nephrology Specialists in Clinical Hypertension and Internal Medicine
Residency - University of Alabama Hospital
Medical School - Nephrology Training completed at Augusta University (formerly Medical College of Georgia) in Augusta, GA
Internal Medicine Training completed at UAB Montgomery in Montgomery, AL

Dr. Hari Garapati, MD has over 19 years of experience in the medical field. He is affiliated with Baptist Hospitals and Jackson Hospital in Montgomery.

Hari Naga Garapati, MD

Board Certification - Dual certification through AANP and ANCC
College - Bachelor and Associates Degree in Nursing From Auburn University at Montgomery, Masters in Nursing for Family Nurse Practitioner at Auburn University at Montgomery

Katelyn Pike has been a registered nurse for 10 years. Her previous work experience included trauma and emergency medicine as well as family medicine. Nurse Practitioner Pike has been with Montgomery Kidney Specialists since 2020. She is head of the RPM, CKCC, and TCM programs.

Nurse Practitioner Pike is happily married with two children and enjoys spending time with her family. Her goal as a provider is to provide optimal care for the patients along with improving valued base care.

Katelyn Pike, CRNP

Board Certification - Certification through AANP
College - Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL, Masters of Science in Nursing and Family Medicine from Troy University in Troy, AL

Nurse Practitioner Vaughan has been with Montgomery Kidney Specialists for several years. She is a certified hypertension clinician.

Karen Vaughan, CRNP

Board Certification - Certification through ANCC
College - Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Auburn University at Montgomery, Master ofScience in Nursing with specialization in Acute Care Adult Gerontology Medicine fromUniversity of South Alabama in Mobile, AL

Gabrell Felder has been practicing in the nursing field for over 15 years and has an area ofinterest in acute care-complex patients. She has been with Montgomery Kidney Specialist since2022. Nurse Practitioner Felder is affiliated with Baptist Hospitals and Jackson Hospital inMontgomery.

Gabrell Felder, CRNP