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By: Morgan Samples Published Date: Oct 29

1. Tell us a little about yourself. 
   I was born in San Francisco CA, but moved with my family to Charlottesville, VA in 4^th grade, and have been in the southeast ever since. I went to UVa undergrad, and UNC-Chapel Hill for MD/PhD. I met my wife Liz at the MD/PhD program retreat in Wrightsville Beach, NC. I took a quick career detour into Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2009, but got back on track with UNC Urology, where I met my current colleagues Jeff Nix and Patrick Selph. After residency, Liz and I went down to Houston, TX in 2016 to pursue fellowships in Urologic Oncology at MD Anderson and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Baylor School of Medicine. There I studied the molecular drivers of bladder cancer with my mentors Colin Dinney, MD and David McConkey, PhD. We and our 3 year old daughter Lane are so excited to be in Birmingham and to work with Dr. Assimos and the outstanding faculty at UAB Urology.
   
   
2. What made you want to become a physician?
   My father was (and still is) an OB-GYN with a focus on Maternal-Fetal Medicine. His enthusiasm for medicine and science had a huge impact on me. He and my Biochemistry professor at UVA (Charles Grisham) sparked an interest in explaining life and disease at the molecular level, which still drives me today. Matt Coward (then a Urology intern, and now a Urologist at UNC) was singularly responsible in showing me how amazing Urology is and how grateful our patients are. He embodied the “thoughtful-surgeon” which I think is very prevalent in Urology in general and UAB Urology in particular.
   
   
3. What is the best part of your job?
   Being entrusted by patients to help them navigate the peaks and valleys of a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
   
   
4. What does the future of medicine look like in your area of interest?
   It’s an exciting time in bladder cancer. We’re starting to understand that there are biologically unique molecular sub-types of bladder cancer and that these subtypes behave differently and respond differently to treatments. New bladder-instillation therapies are being developed for early bladder cancer, and for advanced non-metastatic bladder cancer I think we’re a few years away from considering bladder preservation in select patients. Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment options in the metastatic setting, and if we can harness or amplify this effect in early bladder cancer, we could really improve the quality of life for our patients.
   
   
5. How do you like spending your time off? Any other interesting facts you’d like to share?
   We’ve really been enjoying exploring in and around Birmingham since we got here in July. We’ve been to great restaurants (yes, we’ve already been to Highlands – twice!), to hikes at Red Mountain, Oak Mountain and Ruffner Mountain, boating on Logan Martin Lake, Sloss Furnaces, 16^th Street Church, Pepper Place, the Birmingham Zoo, Botanical Gardens – the list goes on.
   
   We’ve got a son on the way (Liz is due Valentine’s day 2019), so we’re busy getting the nursery ready. Lane was convinced she was having a sister before our anatomy ultrasound, and when the ultrasonographer told her she was having a little brother she cried out “But I want a sister!” She’s coming around now, but when brainstorming for names, “Sally” and “Margaret” are two of her favorites…

By: Morgan Samples Published Date: Jul 18

The Department of Urology enjoyed a wonderful evening at the Birmingham Country Club celebrating the graduation of our three PGY-5 residents and two fellows.

• Dr. Patrick James Guthrie is headed to north Alabama to work at Decatur Morgan Hospital.
• Dr. Win Shun Lai is moving to Austin, Texas to practice at Baylor, Scott and White Medical Center.
• Dr. Erik Lars Wallin III is also headed to north Alabama and will be working at Cullman Regional Medical Center.
• Dr. Jubilee Tan is headed back to practice in Peoria, Illinois.
• Dr. Kyle Wood also completed his fellowship at UAB and will remain with the Department of Urology focusing his research and clinical endeavors on kidney stone disease.

Dr. Sunil Sudarshan won the Urology Faculty Teaching award for 2017-2018, and Dr. Vidu Yarlagadda (rising PGY-5) recieved the Resident Research Award. Congrats!

All of our graduated PGY-5 residents will be greatly missed. We wish them the best of luck on their future endeavors.

By: Morgan Samples Published Date: Jul 18

The 2018 American Urological Association conference was an eventful one for the UAB Department of Urology. Our faculty spent four days in San Francisco participating in innovative and educational programs that provided access to groundbreaking research, the latest clinical guidelines and the most advanced technologies in urology.

On Saturday evening, the department hosted an alumni reception at the Marriott Marquis where faculty and alumni enjoyed network over drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

Several of our faculty, residents and medical students presented posters, moderated sessions and provided key takeaways. Below are some highlights:

Dr. Dean Assimos presentations, posters, moderated sessions, etc.:

• Stone Disease: Basic Research & Pathophysiology II (co-moderated with Dr. Tanecia Mitchell)
• Surgical & Medical Stone Guidelines Update: A Case-Based Approach
• Session 5: The Future is Bright (ROCK Society)
• Gotta Wear Shades (ROCK Society)

 Dr. Peter Kolettis presentations, posters, moderated sessions, etc.:

• Infertility: Therapy I

 Dr. Tanecia Mitchell presentations, posters, moderated sessions, etc.:

• Stone Disease: Basic Research & Pathophysiology II (co-moderated with Dr. Dean Assimos)
• Take Home Messages: Basic Science (Benign)

Dr. Soroush Rais-Bahrami presentations, posters, moderated sessions, etc.:

• US Fusion Guided Prostate Biopsy: Integrating MP MRI and Biopsy into Your Urologic Practice for Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

Dr. Patrick Selph presentations, posters, moderated sessions, etc.:

• Conservative and Endoscopic Management of Urethral Trauma 

Dr. Tracey Wilson presentations, posters, moderated sessions, etc.:

• Take Home Messages: Female Urology/Incontinence

 Dr. Kyle Wood presentations, posters, moderated sessions, etc.:

• RNA interference of Hepatic Lactate Dehydrogenase Reduces Urinary Oxalate in a Mouse Model of Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 1
• Association of Obesity with Increased Endogenous Oxalate Synthesis
• Urinary Oxalate Excretion in Obese Mouse Model

Dr. Luke Ellenburg (PGY-3) posters, moderated sessions, etc.:

• The Use of Formalin as a Fixative for Testicular Biopsies

Carter Boyd (3^rd year UAB MD/MBA student) posters, moderated sessions, etc.:

• Screening for Primary Hyperparathyroidism in a Tertiary Stone Clinic, a Useful Endeavor
• An Intervention to Increase 24-hour Urine Collection Compliance
• **Carter Boyd was also awarded the Urology Care Foundation Summer Medical Student Fellowship for “Endogenous Oxalate Synthesis in a Diet-Induced Obese Mouse Model”**
  
  

By: Morgan Samples Published Date: Jul 18

The UAB Department of Urology sponsored the 2018 Gulf Coast Urology Seminar in beautiful Destin, Fla., July 13-15. The thought-provoking program made for a weekend of quality urologic education, networking with colleagues and enjoying one of the most beautiful beaches in the country.

Attendees had the opportunity to take part in many programs and sessions.

To kick off the weekend, the Men’s Health and Prosthetic Surgery session was moderated by Dr. Patrick Selph. UAB Urology faculty topics in this session included:

• "Modern Management of Peyronie’s Disease" by Dr. Patrick Selph
• "Supplements and Male Infertility" by Dr. Peter Kolettis

After a quick Q&A and case presentations, Dr. Sunil Sudarshan moderated the first oncology session which included presentations by several UAB Urology faculty.

• "Bladder Preservation for High Grade Bladder Cancer" by Dr. Jeffrey Nix
• "Prostate Cancer Screening: Update by the US Preventive Services Task Force" by Dr. Sunil Sudarshan
• "Fluciclovine F18 and PSMA PET Imaging for Prostate Cancer" by Dr. Soroush Rais-Bahrami

The first day concluded with a networking reception that included attendees, spouses and guests.

Saturday began with a session on Endourology/Nephrolithiasis moderated by Dr. John Burns. UAB Urology faculty presentations included:

• Dr. Kyle Wood on "Missed Diagnoses in the Management of Kidney Stone Disease and Management of the Encrusted Ureteral Stent"
• Dr. Dean Assimos on "Complications of PCNL"

The next session was moderated by Dr. Patrick Selph and focused on Health Policy. Dr. Patrick Selph also presented “Experience with Urology in Europe: The EAU-AUA Scholar Exchange Program” during this session.

On Saturday evening, attendees gathered for a nice dinner at the Marlin Grill in Baytowne Warf.

A second oncology session moderated by Dr. Patrick Selph kicked off the final day of the conference. Sessions by UAB Urology faculty included:

• "Surgery for Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer" by Dr. Jeffrey Nix
• "Expanding Indications for Prostate Cancer Surveillance" by Dr. Soroush Rais-Bahrami

The day ended with a session on Andrology and Pediatric Urology moderated by Dr. Patrick Selph with presentations by:

• Dr. Peter Kolettis giving an "Update on Vasectomy"
• Dr. Pankaj Dangle on "The Use of Robotic-Assisted Surgery in Pediatric Urology"

By: Morgan Samples Published Date: Jul 18

Where are you headed now that you've graduated?
General urology position with Baylor, Scott and White in Austin, Texas. 

What are your clinical and research interests? 
Robotics and reconstruction.

How did you choose to practice this area of urology? 
In terms of robotics, by the end of residency I felt the most comfortable and confident on the console of the robot compared to open procedures; I really am fascinated by how technology has changed urology and look forward to participating in its advancement of the field. Reconstruction was the area of urology that most interested me during residency. 

What aspect of your time at UAB do you believe was most valuable as you started your career? 
The number and diversity of the cases that I participated in definitely gives me confidence in terms of starting out. UAB urology has all the sub-specialties covered, which, in addition to a large volume of trauma and emergent cases while on call, I feel has prepared me well for what lies ahead.

Did you have a particular mentor while at UAB? If so, why were they a good mentor? 
Research wise I worked with Dr. Rais Bahrami and Dr. Assimos. They both have tremendous enthusiasm for research and numerous novel ideas; their guidance allowed projects to easily turn into publications in reputable journals.

Surgically I really admired Dr. Sudarshan and Dr. Nix. They were both excellent surgeons and technically proficient. Both gave an appropriate balance of independence and instruction in the OR, which ultimately is what allowed me to develop confidence in my surgical skills. 

What is one of your fondest memories from UAB?
The graduation ceremony was a great way to end residency. It gave me an opportunity to thank my family, the faculty and co-residents for everything they’ve done to get me to this point. Other than that, the daily interactions with my co-residents and the inside jokes and bonds we developed over the years will stick with me the most.

Give one piece of advice for current residents. 
When you do well, praise each other; when you fail, support each other; in time you’ll come to respect and love each other.

What do you like to do in your free time? 
Currently, lounging by the highest pool in the state of Texas, reuniting with old friends and playing with my dog. Also I started painting portraits of clowns.

By: Morgan Samples Published Date: Jun 21

Assistant Professor Dr. Kyle Wood was recently awarded a K08 grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

The K08 grant is a 5 year NIH mentored clinical scientist research career development award titled “Obesity ad Endogenous Oxalate Synthesis”. There has been increasing prevalence in both kidney stone disease and obesity throughout the United States, especially in the Southeast, and this grant will evaluate the role of oxalate, a main component of the most common type of kidney stone.

The Department of Urology's Kidney Stone Research Laboratory has demonstrated that with increasing BMI, there is an increase in the body’s creation of oxalate. Understanding these associations and mechanisms may lead to future therapies.

Dr. Wood's mentors and collaborators include Barbara Gower, PhD; Ross Holmes, PhD; Dean Assimos, MD; Jennifer Pollock, PhD; Robinna Lorenz, MD, PhD; Sunil Sudarshan, MD; and John Knight, PhD. All are distinguished faculty at UAB.

By: Morgan Samples Published Date: Apr 24

Dr. Patrick Selph was chosen to be a part of this year’s American Urological Association (AUA) and European Association of Urology’s (EAU) Academic Exchange Program. The program is designed to provide young urology faculty with an international perspective on urologic medicine and allows the sharing of knowledge and experience between the AUA and EAU.  Dr. Selph spent 18 days visiting European institutions and attended the EAU annual meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

Dr. Selph writes about his experience:

"The trip began in Sheffield, England where I met with Christopher Chapple, the secretary general of the EAU. There, I learned about the nuances of the NHS in England, including how the government system has allowed them to perform many randomized trials on MRI and treatments for prostate cancer. Treatment for patients in NHS have a benign problem and can be many months from the time of diagnosis, but a private healthcare system exists that gives patients the opportunity to get surgeries done quicker but at a cost. I also observed multiple surgeries in England including robotic prostatectomy (they only have the S I robot) and a prone urethral diverticulectomy.

After visiting England, I moved on to Milan, Italy where I spent time with Dr. Francesco Montorsi at San Raffaele Hospital. While Italy also has a nationalized healthcare system, San Raffaele hospital is purely private. Patients come here for surgery and they pay out-of-pocket for cost. The surgeons were very technically gifted, but for lower rate prostate cancer’s you may have to wait one year for surgery.

The next stop on the trip was Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Their healthcare system is nationalized and there is no private insurance whatsoever. Again, this afforded accessibility for patients but benign surgical conditions would usually be operated on in 4 to 6 months. Radboud University Medical Center is also the site of some of the original prostate MRI development, and is a leader in the creation of the PIRADS system. Here, patients had shared rooms with and they often sit at tables talking to each other. While in the U.S. everyone seems to demand a private room, in Europe the patients seemed happy to talk/commiserate with each other during their admissions. Perhaps we will see something similar soon in the U.S.!

The final stop was at University in Copenhagen, Denmark which has the largest urology department in Europe with 95 urologists. They have two separate hospitals, one of which does benign surgery and the other that does cancer surgery. This allowed patients to get their operations sooner than they otherwise would. They largely did all their oncology cases robotically including over 450 intracorporeal urinary diversions.

Overall, it was a great experience to learn the differences between healthcare systems. They were certainly fascinated by the talks I gave on GU trauma (gunshot wounds don’t happen often in Europe!) and the discussion surrounding obesity and how it affects the way we do surgery here versus in Europe. I was able to make some lasting friendships with urologists from the U.S. with whom I traveled as well as relationships with the European centers. I’d highly encourage going to the EAU at least once in your career to see how differently Europeans sometimes think about the same conditions we treat here in the U.S. Last but not least, I’d like to thank Dr. Assimos for letting me travel for almost a month to be able to have this experience!"

By: Morgan Samples Published Date: Apr 20

The Department of Urology is excited to welcome our new residents to UAB! We have three new PGY-1 residents joining the team, and are also excited to add two new PGY-2 residents this summer. Meet the team:

Andrew Fang attended McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas at Houston. He’ll be joining UAB Urology as a PGY-1 this summer.

Joseph Fougerousse comes to UAB as a PGY-1 from Louisiana State University School of Medicine New Orleans.

Jennifer Rosen completed medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and will be joining UAB Urology as a PGY-1.

Robin Iriele will be joining UAB Urology as a PGY-2. After completing medical school at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, she completed an internship at University Hospital in Cleveland Medical Center.  

Michael Kongnyuy attended the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine for medical school. After completing his internship at New York Presbyterian in Queens, NY., he will join UAB Urology as a PGY-2. 

By: Morgan Samples Published Date: Jan 23 University of Alabama at Birmingham doctors make up more than half of Alabama physicians named Best Doctors in America 2017-2018, with 350 from the UAB Health System peer-selected to the list. The Department of Urology is especially proud of six physicians that are included in the list.

Congratulations to Dr. Dean Assimos, Dr. James Bryant, Dr. David Joseph, Dr. Peter Kolettis, Dr. Keith Lloyd and Dr. Jeffrey Nix. 

Best Doctors in America recognized UAB doctors from 39 specialties and 179 subspecialties, with the total number of national physicians included reflecting only 4 percent of doctors in America. The only way for a physician to be selected is to be peer-nominated and voted in by current Best Doctors winners. 

Best Doctors is a global benefits provider and medical information services company that connects individuals facing difficult medical treatment decisions with the best doctors, selected by impartial peer review in more than 450 subspecialties of medicine, to review their diagnosis and treatment plans. Best Doctors prides itself on having more than 40 million members worldwide. 

For more information, please visit BestDoctors.com.

Dr. Dean AssimosDr. James BryantDr. David JosephDr. Peter KolettisDr. Keith LloydDr. Jeffrey Nix

By: Morgan Samples Published Date: Jan 19

The UAB Department of Urology continues to be a leader in kidney stone research. As the department continues to expand its clinical and translational research, we hope you’ll check back often for updates.

Read more

By: Morgan Samples Published Date: Jan 09 When did you graduate from the UAB Urology residency program?
I graduated in 2015. 

Where are you now? 
Ann Arbor, Michigan 

What made you decide to be a urologist? 
My grandfather battled with prostate cancer for 20 years before succumbing to it right before I started medical school.  After that, I initially intended to go into urologic oncology to help men and families facing a similar diagnosis.  But during residency, I found myself drawn to the pediatric population, and in particular those patients with physical disabilities such as spina bifida.  My mom is a physical therapist with a passion for helping patients with physical disabilities and growing up I spent a lot of time in her office.  I didn’t realize the impact that had on me until I got to residency. 

What is your current practice and how did you choose to practice this area of urology? 
I am currently completing my third year of a combined pediatric urology and health services research fellowship at the University of Michigan.  My research is focused on transitions of care for patients with spina bifida and I am also working to create a transitional care clinic here (but we have a long way to go to catch up with UAB’s spina bifida clinic!).  I am particularly passionate about helping these patients get the sexual and reproductive health care and education they need.   

What aspect of your time at UAB do you believe was most valuable as you started your career? 
UAB gets some of the craziest and most extreme pathology, which has been immensely helpful when I think about how I will evaluate and treat a patient with an unusual presentation or advanced disease.  So far I haven’t seen anything I hadn’t seen before in residency. 

Did you have a particular mentor while at UAB? If so, why were they a good mentor? 
During every case, at some point I always tell the resident, “when I was resident, I had an attending who…”  I’ve truly learned so much from each attending and have incorporated what they do into my own practice.  I am so grateful to all of the faculty for all they taught me.   I am sure Dr. Joseph thought he’d be done with me when I moved to the great white north, but I still call and email him for advice.  He patiently taught me operative skills, encouraged me both clinically and in research, gave thoughtful advice and feedback, always made time to meet (which he still does), and was always ready with a witty comment at just the right time.  He also taught me that much of the healing we can do as physicians comes not from what we do in the OR, but from how we care for patients and families through our words and interactions. 

Give one piece of advice for current residents. 
Drink lots of O’Henrys coffee.  Eat as much Saws as possible.  And salted chocolate chip cookies from Woodlawn Cycle.  Walk outside between the OR and floor when you can—the sunshine helps.  Make time to hang out with your coresidents and be there for them. And keep a journal.  Draw out and write down the steps of every surgery with the different attendings.  Remember the details.  Write down new observations you make each time.  Write down what you learn from intra-op and post-op complications.  Write down new things you learn during conferences.  One of my high school teachers used to always say “you are responsible for your own education.”  I used to think that was bogus, but it couldn’t be more true.  These 5 years are so hard and can seem so very long, but I promise they will end.  And the details of procedures you used to do all the time will become hazy very quickly.  This is the only time you have when so many experts are focused on teaching you all aspects of urology—you will need that knowledge at some point, so make the most of your time now. 

What do you like to do in your free time? 
My husband and I love to explore—backpacking, kayaking, traveling, generally trying anything new, and brining our dog along whenever possible.  I also love to run, but with the way this winter is going, I may have to take up cross-country skiing instead.

By: Morgan Samples Published Date: Nov 29 The UAB Department of Urology, in partnership with the UAB Department of Pathology, recently hosted a Movember Celebration at the UAB Cancer Center. Movember is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness about men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.

Participants enjoyed a night of food, drinks, networking and raffle prizes while discussing how UAB could make a difference in the way health services reach and support men.

The two departments also joined to create a fundraising team, UAB-Movember, with the Movember Foundation, the only multinational charity that aims to raise awareness and funds for research into men’s health issues. The team raised more than $1,000.

If you wish to get involved, it’s not too late! Please consider making a donation to team UAB-Movember by November 30th. Any amount will help change the face of men’s health. 

By: Morgan Samples Published Date: Sep 06 The UAB Department of Urology continues to be a leader in kidney stone research. The department’s research focuses on endogenous oxalate synthesis, and has been leading the field in using state-of-the-art technology, including RNA interference, to modify the pathways involved in oxalate synthesis. This research has led to clinical treatment studies in a hereditary kidney stone disease, primary hyperoxaluria. Further, the department continues to expand its clinical and translational research with a focus on the role of obesity, diabetes and liver disease in kidney stone disease. 

Tanecia Mitchell, Ph.D. and Sonia Fargue, Ph.D. have received NIH K01 grants, and John Knight. Ph.D. received a RO1 grant in the last year. Kyle Wood. M.D. was added as faculty last year and has research grants from the American Urological Association, Rare Kidney Stone Consortium and intramural grants from the Nutrition and Obesity Research Center. 

John Knight, Ph.D., was recently the senior author of an article February 2017 in Journal of the American Society of Nephrology titled An Investigational RNAi Therapeutic Targeting Glycolate Oxidase Reduces Oxalate Production in Models of Primary Hyperoxaluria. This article lead Alnylam Pharmaceuticals to begin clinical trials using this target in the treatment of patients with primary hyperoxaluria. This partnership has led to the investigation of other targets, with Kyle Wood, M.D., as the project leader, that could be used to treat kidney stone disease.

Recently, the group presented on the effects in mice of targeting lactate dehydrogenase in the liver using RNA interference. They demonstrated a more than 75 percent decrease in urinary oxalate excretion in a mouse model of primary hyperoxaluria type I, which represents a complete correction of the hereditary abnormality. Primary Hyperoxaluria is a rare genetic disease that results in recurrent kidney stones and ultimately end-stage renal disease. Currently, the only reliable treatment is a kidney/liver transplant.

Billy Tingle, BSRN recently joined the group and has focused on patient recruitment for studies focusing on the role of the microbiome and obesity in kidney stone disease.  Studies are ongoing to determine if subjects can be colonized with Oxalobacter formigenes, a bacterium that is capable of degrading oxalate in the gastrointestinal tract. Colonization with this may reduce kidney stone disease.

By: Morgan Samples Published Date: Aug 30 UAB Urology’s Dr. Nix highlighted the role of ERAS in radical cystectomy and also showed his tips and tricks in robotic-assisted surgery. Dr. Soroush Rais-Bahrami went over fundamental information that any urologist performing MRI/US fusion biopsy of the prostate should know. Dr. Jennifer Gordetsky from the UAB Department of Pathology updated everyone on the new prostate cancer and renal cell carcinoma pathologic grading systems. Dr. Patrick Selph reviewed the latest changes in genitourinary trauma management and demonstrated techniques for robotic-assisted ureteral reconstruction. Dr. Tracey Wilson broke down the new AUA/SUFU guidelines on stress urinary incontinence, and Drs. Dean Assimos and Kyle Wood discussed the surgical treatment of obese patients with kidney stones, as well as the management of large volume stones. Dr. James Bryant reviewed his experience with the HoLEP learning curve, and Dr. Peter Kolettis discussed the evaluation and management of infertility in men with cancer. Last but not least, Dr. Pankaj Dangle educated attendees on how to manage pediatric stone disease and voiding dysfunction.