Dr Lipkin trained at Leeds General Infirmary, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London and University Hospital Birmingham and has specialised in renal medicine for well over 30 years. He is Past President on the UK Kidney Association, a National Co-Chair for Renal GIRFT and co-author of National Renal QI Report and Chair of Board of Kidney Care UK. He led the development of the Birmingham Centre for Rare Disease. and has been clinical Director of Renal Medicine at University Hospital of Birmingham Foundation NHS Trust (UHBFT).

His special clinical interest is chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, dialysis, kidney transplantation and rare kidney disease. His research interests are in pregnancy in patients with CKD and kidney transplantation. He has published over 80 research articles and multiple book chapters.