SHERWOOD, Ore. — For many patients, a referral to a kidney and high blood pressure specialist comes late — after years of quietly worsening numbers, a blood pressure that never quite came down, or a diabetes diagnosis that went unmanaged for too long.
Dr. Marilia Campos wants to change that.
Campos is a board-certified nephrologist and the founder of Optima Kidney Care in Sherwood, a practice built on a model she describes as more available, more responsive, and more focused on catching problems before they become crises. Her clinic is accessible to patients throughout the region, including those in the Newberg and Dundee area.
“What I felt was missing was time, access, and a prevention-focused approach,” Campos said. “Many patients only see a kidney specialist once a disease is already advanced. I wanted to create a model where we intervene earlier and build real relationships.”
Campos grew up in Costa Rica, completed medical school there, and went on to train in internal medicine in Minneapolis before completing her nephrology fellowship at Oregon Health & Science University. She was drawn to kidney medicine, she said, because of how deeply it connects to other aspects of health — blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic function.
At Optima Kidney Care, appointments run 30 to 60 minutes — longer than what most specialty practices offer. Campos sees patients without an in-person medical assistant present, keeping the visit focused on direct education and conversation.
Central to her model is the idea that patients should be able to reach their doctor without friction. Campos gives patients the option to contact her directly by call or text and typically responds within a few hours — a sharp contrast to the phone trees and days-long waits that characterize many specialty practices.
“Today, it can be very hard to get a hold of your doctor, and I wanted to change that,” she said. “By keeping a smaller patient panel through my low-cost membership model, I’m able to be more available.”
She also holds the last appointment slot of the day open when possible to accommodate urgent needs and aims to offer urgent appointments within about one week.
The practice focuses on three core clinical areas: chronic kidney disease and protein in the urine, resistant and complex hypertension, and metabolic health and weight management. The last category includes physician-led medical weight loss with GLP-1 medications — an approach Campos distinguishes from what patients might encounter through online programs.
“My approach is medical, personalized, and focused on long-term health — not just the number on the scale,” she said. “I look at labs, blood pressure, kidney function, nutrition, side effects, and sustainable habits.”
The practice is a fit for adults managing high blood pressure, kidney disease, protein in the urine, kidney stones, or diabetes-related kidney concerns, as well as those with a family history of kidney disease, stroke, or heart attack.
Optima Kidney Care offers a Care Enhancement Membership for $35 per month or $360 per year. The membership includes direct, secure messaging with Campos, preventive risk discussions and advanced cardiovascular lab review, personalized lifestyle and nutrition guidance, and appointments within one to two business days.
Medical visits are billed to insurance; the membership fee itself is not covered. The practice accepts a range of insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Health Care, Moda, and Medicare, among others.
Discounted cash pay rates are available for patients who are uninsured or out of network.
Campos emphasizes that kidney disease often develops without obvious symptoms — foam or bubbles in the urine, fatigue, and headaches can be early signs, but many patients feel normal while damage is occurring. That reality, she said, makes regular screening and early specialist access especially important.
“People may feel normal while damage is happening,” she said. “That’s why regular screening matters.”
For locals considering a more proactive approach to kidney and metabolic health, Campos said the timing rarely works in a patient’s favor when they wait.
“In most cases, reaching out earlier is better than waiting until problems become more advanced.”
To learn more, schedule an appointment online at optimakidneycare.com, or reach Dr. Campos directly by phone or text at 503-749-9939.
