UC IRVINE S MEDICINEurology.uci.edu/pdf/Urology_Newsletter_Fall-2012.pdf · Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery Dr. Spitz has expertise in the treatment of male infertility ...

DEPARTMENT OF UROLOGYUC IRVINE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Elspeth M. McDougall, MDProfessor of Urology Associate Dean of Simulation and ContinuingMedical EducationDirector, UC Irvine Surgical Education Center Chair, AUA Office of Education

Dr. McDougall specializes in minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of kidney stones and strictures of theureter. She did her postgraduate fellowship training inendourology and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy atWashington University Medical School, Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, Mo.For appointments and referrals, please call: 714.456.7005

University of California, IrvineDepartment of Urology

333 City Blvd. West, Suite 2100Orange, CA 92868

www.urology.uci.edu

Joel Gelman, MDAssociate Clinical ProfessorVolunteer Clinical Faculty

Dr. Gelman has expertise in the treatment of urethral stricture disease, Peyronie's disease, erectile dysfunction,hypospadias and other disorders of the urethra and maleexternal genitalia. He did his postgraduate fellowshiptraining in adult and pediatric GU reconstruction atEastern Virginia Medical Center, Norfolk, Va.For appointments and referrals, please call:714.456.2951

Aaron Spitz, MDAssistant Clinical ProfessorMale Reproductive Medicine and Surgery

Dr. Spitz has expertise in the treatment of male infertilityand sexual dysfunction. He did his fellowship training atBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.For appointments and referrals, please call: 714.456.7005

Tony E. Khoury, MDProfessor of UrologyWalter R. Schmid Chair in Pediatric Urologyand Chief, Pediatric Urology

Dr. Khoury is world renowned for his expertise in the medical and surgical management of complex pediatricurology anomalies. His services include reconstructive surgery for incontinence, genital anomalies, renal transplantation and oncology. He did his postgraduate fellowship training in pediatric urology at the Hospital forSick Children in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.For appointments and referrals, please call:CHOC Children's Urology Center: 714.512.3919For academic issues: 714.512.3914

Bernard Turbow, MDClinical Professor of Urology

Dr. Turbow specializes in general urology and supervises residents in training and medical students in the Centerfor Urological Care.For appointments and referrals, please call: 714.456.7005

Gordon A. McLorie, MDProfessor of Urology

Dr. McLorie specializes in pediatric reconstructive surgery,hypospadias repair, bladder exstrophy, incontinence sur-gery, pediatric urological oncology and renal transplanta-tion. He completed an oncology fellowship at University ofCalifornia, Los Angeles and also a fellowship in pediatricurology at Harvard Medical School, Boston.For appointments and referrals, please call: 714.512.3919

Irene M. McAleer, MDAssociate Clinical Professor

Dr. McAleer is fellowship trained and board certified inpediatric urology. She specializes in antenatal genitouri-nary conditions, medical and surgical management anddiagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux, hypospadias and inter-sex reconstruction as well as in endoscopic treatment ofpediatric stone disease.For appointments and referrals, please call: 714.512.3919

Thomas E. Ahlering, MDVice Chair and Professor ofUrology

Dr. Ahlering is well known for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy using the da Vinci Robotic SurgicalSystem®. He specializes in treatments for cancer of theprostate, bladder, kidney and testis. He did his post-graduate fellowship training in urological oncology atUniversity of Southern California, Los Angeles.For appointments and referrals, please call:714.456.6068 9 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Gamal Ghoniem, MDVice Chair and Professor ofClinical UrologyChief, Urology Service at the VALong Beach Healthcare System

Dr. Ghoniem specializes in pelvic reconstruction surgeryand voiding dysfunction. He did his postgraduate fellow-ship training in neurourology and female urology at BrownUniversity, Providence, R.I.For appointments and referrals, please call: 714.456.7005

UC Irvine Department of UrologyClinical, Volunteer and Staff Faculty

Leland Ronningen, MDClinical Professor

Dr. Ronningen provides urologic care at the VA LongBeach Healthcare System’s Spinal Cord Injury/DisabilityCenter. He also has an interest in benign diseases of theprostate. He received his urology training at LettermanArmy Medical Center, Presidio of San Francisco, and thePortsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Va.For appointments and referrals, please call: 714.456.7005

Atreya Dash, MDAssistant Professor of ClinicalUrology

Dr. Dash completed a fellowship in urologic oncologyat Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.He has experience in all areas of urologic oncology, including the advanced surgical treatment of prostate,renal, testis and bladder cancers. His patient treatmentmodalities include robot-assisted and laparoscopic surgicaltechnologies to improve the care and recovery of patientswith urologic cancers.For appointments and referrals, please call: 714.456.7005

Ralph V. Clayman, MDDean, School of MedicineProfessor of Urology

Dr. Clayman is world renowned for his clinical and labora-tory work in minimally invasive surgery. He specializes inthe treatment of kidney stones, kidney cancer, strictures of the ureter and all other aspects of renal and ureteral diseases. He completed his urology training at theUniversity of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.For appointments and referrals, please call: 714.456.7005

Jaime Landman, MDProfessor and ChairDepartment of Urology

Dr. Landman has extensive clinical expertise in laparo-scopic renal and prostate surgery and endoscopic management of urinary tract pathology. He has pioneeredtechnology and techniques for minimally invasive manage-ment of renal malignancies and has developed novel techniques that are used globally for laparoscopic partialnephrectomy. He completed his fellowship training in minimally invasive urologic surgery at WashingtonUniversity, St. Louis, Mo.For appointments and referrals, please call: 714.456.7005

It has been a challenging yet rewarding first20 months as chair of the Department ofUrology at UC Irvine. Our dedicated urologyteam, numbering 80 members, continues toadvance initiatives and cultivate programsunder the School of Medicine's tripartite mission: Discover. Teach. Heal.

We would like to extend congratulations toDr. Elspeth McDougall for being awardedthe Endourological Society 2012 RalphClayman “Mentor” Award for pioneeringwork in urologic laparoscopy, simulationtraining and education in minimally invasiveurology, presented at the World Congress ofEndourology in Istanbul, Turkey.

Also, congratulations to Dr. ThomasAhlering, Dr. Ralph Clayman, Dr. AtreyaDash, Dr. Joel Gelman, Dr. GamalGhoniem, Dr. Tony Khoury and Dr.Elspeth McDougall for being recognized byU.S. News & World Report Top Doctors incollaboration with Castle Connolly MedicalLtd., an honor based on a peer nominationprocess.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. WillSohn, Department of Urology clinicalinstructor, has been awarded a CaPSURE™ fellowship this year for research in prostatecancer. The UC Irvine mentors will be Dr.Sheldon Greenfield, Department of Med-icine, and Dr. Atreya Dash, Department ofUrology, and the national program mentorwill be Dr. David Penson at VanderbiltUniversity, Department of Urology. CaP-SURE is the Cancer of the Prostate Stra-tegic Urologic Research Endeavor, which ismanaged by University of California, SanFrancisco, Department of Urology.

We welcome Dr. Debra Morrison, UC IrvineDirector of Pre-op Anesthesia, to our faculty.She is optimizing clinical work and has beeninstrumental in coordinating research effortsand educational programs, including ultra-sound biopsy in the urology patient carecenter. In addition, we are elated with theopportunity to advance outpatient diagnosiswith a noninvasive modality -- a novel ultra-sound probe -- facilitating ultrasound-guidedbiopsies for early treatment of renal massesand to assist PCNL procedures without ion-izing radiation (no fluoroscopy).

We are also delighted to be offering at the beautiful Pelican Hill Resort, Newport Coast,Calif., a free tuition mini-fellowship,“Comprehensive Minimally Invasive SurgicalRenal Tumor Management.” This mini-fel-lowship course is for postgraduate urologic

Welcome

The recent Urology Health Program is anew initiative to educate, heighten aware-ness and motivate department members whowould like to make positive changes in theirlifestyle. This program includes weeklyhealth tips, a log for tracking water intake,nutrition lectures and a weekly yoga class.

The newly formed Urology Interest Groupfor UC Irvine medical students, years 1-3,was created for those who are interested inlearning more about urology. Their firstmeeting was a potluck dinner, Aug. 24, 2012,at the home of Dr. Elspeth McDougall, focus-ing on women in surgical subspecialties.Three local female urologists and one urolo-gy resident shared their insights and uniqueperspectives with the 21 medical students inattendance.

Our department faculty and staff continue toadvance urologic medical and surgical care,through research and scientific innovationsfor our community locally and worldwide.We wish you and your family good health.

1 www.urology.uci.edu

A message from the chair

Jaime Landman, MDProfessor of Urology and Radiology

Chairman, Department of UrologyUniversity of California, Irvine

MissionThe Department of Urology at the University of California,Irvine School of Medicine seeksto provide its patients with thebest in modern, technologicallyadvanced, less-invasive urolog-ical care, its residents with aprogressive curriculum-basededucational and training experi-ence, and its faculty with theopportunity to excel clinicallywhile teaching and pursuingresearch of both a basic andclinical nature.

Jaime Landman, MDProfessor of Urology and RadiologyChairman, Department of Urology

MRI-guided cryoablation systemExpert radiologists work in tandemwith urologic surgeons to performMRI-guided core and percutaneousfine-needle aspiration biopsies andcryoablation of tumors within theabdomen and pelvis.

surgeons who are interested in introducinginto their practice or academic departmentcutting-edge technology for renal tumor management (page 13).

UC Irvine Health is my home, and I share it with some of the most gifted and inspiring facultymembers in the world. There are two aspects to UC Irvine Health: our academic campus inIrvine and our medical center in Orange, which together support our faculty members' collec-tive passion for advancing medicine, teaching students and improving lives through clinicalexcellence. These actions define our tripartite mission: Discover. Teach. Heal. They alsocontribute to our success as one of the nation's top research universities and one ofAmerica's Best Hospitals, as reported by U.S. News & World Report for the 12th consecutiveyear.

In particular, I am proud to introduce this newsletter to you because it highlights the services,achievements and aspirations of our Department of Urology. As a urologist and former chairof the department, I have an abiding desire to see that UC Irvine remains a world leader inurologic treatment and research. I also believe, in academia, one of our goals must be tocontinuously collaborate and share knowledge with you, our colleagues.

The success of the Department of Urology at UC Irvine is due to a multidisciplinary team ofdedicated individuals. To this end, I was delighted to recruit Dr. Jaime Landman to becomethe chair of urology in January 2011. His vision and capacity as a researcher, teacher andclinician perfectly fit our tripartite mission while maintaining the focus of the department as aworld leader in minimally invasive surgery in all of its forms: laparoscopic, needle ablative,robotic, ureteroscopic and percutaneous. The members of the Department of Urology, asyou will soon learn, are all fellowship-trained experts in their area of interest be it roboticoncological surgery, endourology, pediatric surgery, urethral reconstruction or female/pelvicurology.

At every turn in the road, the Department of Urology, as with all faculty at UC Irvine, seeks tobe an ally and resource for you as you build your practice or continue to advance your stud-ies. The goal of the School of Medicine is to spark innovation, provide educational opportu-nities and improve communication in a manner that enriches the practice of medicine/sur-gery, in urology and in all of our other clinical disciplines in the community, across the nationand around the world.

2 UC Irvine Department of Urology

Ralph V. Clayman, MDDean, UC Irvine School of Medicine

Professor of Urology

The Dean’s Corner

Ralph V. Clayman, MDDean, UC Irvine School of MedicineProfessor of Urology

Welcome

Dr. Ralph Clayman working with an endoscope

Research

The concept of hypothermic robot-assistedradical prostatectomy (RARP) is exactly likeicing a sprained ankle. Localized hypother-mia prepares the urinary sphincter that con-trols continence, by cooling the tissue toapproximately 50 degrees F. In essence,cooling lowers the metabolism of the muscleand surrounding tissue during RARP inorder to prevent injury from inflammation.After patients are anesthetized, a balloon isplaced in the rectum cooling the relevantstructures prior to beginning the surgery.The balloon is removed shortly after surgery.In clinical trials of more than 500 patients,incontinence has been reduced 70%. J Endourol. 2009 Sep;23(9):1443-50.Hypothermic robotic radical prostatectomy: impact oncontinence. Finley DS, Osann K, Chang A, Santos R,Skarecky D, Ahlering TE.

Minimally invasive surgical removal ofthe prostate for cancer

One in six American men will be diagnosedwith prostate cancer within their lifetime.Approximately 27,000 men die annually fromprostate cancer, making it the second mostfatal cancer in men. Advances in the earlydetection and treatment of this disease arebelieved to have sharply increased the sur-vival rates. Ten-year disease-specific sur-vival rates in patients who had a roboticprostatectomy are greater than 90%. Whenremoval of the prostate is warranted, severalimportant factors regarding the procedureare commonly taken into consideration

by both patients and physicians:

With such important issues at stake, it isimportant for patients to receive the verybest treatment possible. The Department ofUrology at UC Irvine Medical Center wasone of the first institutions to offer roboticprostatectomy using the da Vinci RoboticSlave Interface. This innovative technology,listed as number one in Forbes Magazine's"Five Robots That Will Change Your Life,"provides unprecedented 3-D vision and precise robotic instrument manipulation andcontrol.


Innovative hypothermic robot-assisted radical prostatectomy dramatically reduces urinary incontinence

Thomas E. Ahlering, MD

Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci SurgicalSystem combines superior 3D high definition vision with patentedEndoWrist® Instruments allowing forenhanced dexterity, precision and control.

prostate cancer surgery safety of robotic prostatectomy urinary control or continence erectile function after robotic prostatectomy robotic prostatectomy and pain/blood loss return to work/activities after robotic

prostatectomy

Thomas E. Ahlering, MD Vice Chairman and Professor of Urology Director Robotic Oncology Center

Training

Undergraduate University of California, BerkeleyMedical School St. Louis University School of

MedicineResidency Los Angeles County/University of

Southern CaliforniaFellowship Training Urologic Oncology / University of

Southern California

Dr. Ahlering is a highly regarded surgeon in urologiconcology. His years of experience in treatment ofprostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancers placedhim as one of the original America's Best Doctors since1994 and a lifetime Global Who's Who. He trained underDr. Donald G. Skinner at USC in urinary diversion andreconstruction and helped to pioneer innovations to theIndiana pouch and ileal neo-bladder reconstructions.

Formerly the chief of the Division of Urology (1991-2002)after his arrival at UC Irvine from the City of Hope, Dr.Ahlering became chief of the Division of UrologicOncology after the new Department of Urology wasestablished in 2002. He has received local, national andinternational recognition for his expertise in urologiconcology, continent urinary diversion and robotic prosta-tectomy. His research focuses on the invasion andmetastasis of prostate cancer and development of mini-mally invasive radical prostatectomy assisted by the daVinci Surgical System. He has performed more than2,000 such robotic surgeries, including the first roboticprostatectomies in Denmark, Canada and Australia.

Beginning in 2008, Dr. Ahlering invented and pioneeredthe use of localized pre-emptive cooling during surgery toprevent secondary side effects of inflammation and nervedamage during radical prostatectomy. An earlier return topad-free continence in 'cooled' patients has proven theconcept.

Dr. Ahlering has the second largest series of publicationsrelating to robotic prostatectomy in the literature and haswritten more than 50 scientific publications and bookchapters, specifically on robotic prostatectomy, of whichseven papers bring forth new advancements in tech-niques. He is a reviewer for the journals Urology, Journalof Endourology, and the Journal of Urology, and associ-ate editor of Journal of Robotic Surgery. He is a memberof several of the societies of the American UrologicalAssociation and served as its Western Section presidentfrom 2007-2008.

Surgery-safe clamp, sparing the potency nervesof the neurovascular bundle, eliminating the useof electrocautery.

UC Irvine Prostate CancerDisease Oriented Team (PC-DOT)

Dr. Thomas Ahlering is co-chair of the newlyformed UC Irvine Prostate Cancer DiseaseOriented Team (PC-DOT). The multidiscipli-nary consortium is composed of UC Irvineinvestigators from the disciplines of radiolo-gy, pathology, molecular biology/biochem-istry, epidemiology and biostatistics, urologyand electrical engineering / computer sci-ence. The PC-DOT will carry out clinicaland translational research under the aus-pices of the Chao Family ComprehensiveCancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center,having these programmatic components thatare highly relevant to prostate carcinogene-sis.

1. Prostate Cancer Prevention 2. Prostate Cancer Screening &

Diagnostics (early disease)3. Prostate Cancer Therapeutics

These programs are being investigated andoffer an opportunity for close collaborativeinteraction among the participants. The pre-cision of robotic technology is ideal for deli-cate and complex urologic surgeries. Dr.Ahlering is internationally recognized forrefining techniques that reduce side effectsafter prostate surgery, enhancing cancercontrol and providing for quicker patientrecovery.

Single-knot anastomosis utilizing a single ‘running’stitch to reattach the urethra to the bladder, greatlysimplifying a taxing laparoscopic technique.

Endorectal cooling balloon with recirculating cold water, utilized during RALP.

UC Irvine Chao FamilyComprehensive CancerCenter top investigatoraward

These annual awards by the ChaoFamily Comprehensive Cancer Centerare provided in recognition of investiga-tors who accrue the greatest number ofpatients to clinical trials.

Congratulations to Dr. Thomas Ahleringfor being awarded first place in three categories.

Therapeutic Supportive Care Screening

Thomas E. Ahlering, MD

Research


Research

The American Urological Association Boardof Directors approved the BLUS CurriculumValidation Study at its October 2011 meeting.This curriculum consists of the online BasicBLUS Handbook and a corresponding multi-ple-choice questions examination, along withfour laparoscopic urologic surgery skillstasks that include clip applying of a pulsatilearterial model, developed by Dr. RobertSweet and his research team at the Univer-sity of Minnesota. Dr. Elspeth McDougallserves as the P.I. and director of the AUABLUS study.

The BLUS study will utilize the SimulabEDGE device (Electronic Data Generationfor Evaluation) for validating the four skillstasks. The EDGE device includes uniquefeatures such as a pelvic box format provid-ing for automatic economy of motion meas-urement of the surgeon's skill performance,which also measures the force the surgeonuses on the laparoscopic instruments. Othersurgical education researchers have demon-strated that both economy of motion andinstrument force are directly correlated to theexperience of the surgeon. The BLUS studywill further delineate this observation in uro-logic laparoscopic skills training.

The collaborative BLUS project group of tennational centers implemented the testing inMarch 2012.

The initial BLUS validation study will finalizeconstruct validity and establish a 'passingscore' utilizing the EDGE device. The sec-ond part of the study will be a longitudinalstudy of the trainees at each BLUS studycenter, with testing on the BLUS skills tasksevery three months, then correlating this withtheir laparoscopic clinical experience. Thetimeline for the completion of the constructvalidity testing and the longitudinal BLUSskills testing will be two years.


AUA Basic Laparoscopic Urologic Surgery Construct Validity Study (BLUS)

Simulab EDGE device (Electronic DataGeneration for Evaluation) to be usedin the BLUS construct validity study

Reza Alipanah, managing director Surgical Education Center,demonstrating the EDGE simulator.

Department of Urology research lab team. Left to right - Victor Huynh, Dr. Corollos Abdelshehid, Jerome Zarraga, Daniel Sidhom, Dr. Joseph Graversen, Dr. Elspeth McDougall, Dr. Jaime Landman, Dr. Achim Lusch, Eduardo Villegas, Peter Greene, Tara Zand, Stephen Quach, Reza Alipanah and Isabelle Gerbatsch

Can preoperative warm-up (POW) improve surgeon performance in the operating room?

Seven surgeons performed four laparoscopic renal surgeries each afterrandomization to ‘with’ or ‘without’ 20 minutes of practice before the pro-cedure. Cognitive and psychomotor performance was assessed by usinga seven-lead EEG instrument and eye tracking monitoring, along withexpert surgeon assessment of video recordings of two key steps of thesurgery.

Attention, distraction, workload, spatial reasoning, movement smooth-ness, posture stability and technical performance were all better in the+POW group (p<0.05). Technical performance improvement was notedonly in the initial step of the procedure.

Even for experienced surgeons, practice does improve performance.

Lee JY, Mucksavage P, Kerbl DC, Osann KE, Winfield HN, Kahol K, McDougall EM. J Endourol. 2012 May;26(5):545-50.

Intuitive Surgical da Vinci Skills Simulator

Elspeth M. McDougall, MD, FRCSC, MHPE

Elspeth M. McDougall, MD, FRCSC, MHPEProfessor of Urology Associate Dean of Simulation & Continuing Medical EducationDirector, Residency ProgramDirector, UC Irvine Surgical Education Center Chair, AUA Office of Education TrainingUndergraduate: University of AlbertaMedical School: University of CalgaryResidency: Holy Cross Hospital - Family Medicine

Ottawa Civic & Ottawa General Hospitals-UrologyFellowship Endourology, Washington UniversityTraining St. Louis

Teaching & Learning Fellowship: USC Los Angeles

Master of Health Professions Education: University ofIllinois at Chicago

Dr. McDougall joined the UC Irvine Department of Urology facul-ty in 2002 to continue her clinical and research work in minimal-ly invasive urologic surgery and assist in the development of aminimally invasive surgery education center. She is internation-ally recognized for her laboratory and clinical research in urolog-ic laparoscopic surgery and for teaching courses on fundamen-tal and advanced endourological and laparoscopic techniques.

Dr. McDougall completed her medical and residency training atthe University of Calgary and the University of Ottawa inCanada, and then undertook a fellowship in endourology andextracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) with Dr. Claymanat Washington University School of Medicine. She joined thefaculty at Washington University Medical School in 1991, whereshe spent nine years in academic urology. Subsequently, shedeveloped the Endourology/Laparoscopic Urology Program atVanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., during her tenure thereas professor of urologic surgery. She is a fellow of the RoyalCollege of Surgeons of Canada (urology) and certified with theAmerican Board of Urology. Dr. McDougall has published morethan 230 peer-reviewed journal articles and numerous bookchapters. She is the co-editor of two textbooks on laparoscopicsurgery. In 2008, Dr. McDougall successfully completed aMaster in Health Profession Education from the University ofIllinois at Chicago.

Dr. McDougall has been chairperson of the AUA LaparoscopyCommittee and coordinated the AUA Ad Hoc Surgical SimulationGroup. She has now assumed the position as chair of theAmerican Urological Association Office of Education. She is onthe editorial boards of the Journal of Endourology and theJournal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. She ispast president of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeonsand was awarded the Excel Award by this multidisciplinary sur-gical society in 2007. She is a member of the World Congressof Endourology's Scientific Meeting Advisory Committee. She isan elected member to the prestigious American Association ofGenitourinary Surgeons and was a junior council member forthat organization from 2007 - 2009.

Dr. McDougall is director of the UC Irvine Surgical EducationCenter and has developed the ongoing, five-day mini-fellowshiptraining program in minimally invasive urologic surgery for post-graduate urologists. She is also program director for theUrology Residency Training Program and associate dean ofSimulation and Continuing Medical Education.

Impact of preoperative warm-up exercises on surgeon performance during laparoscopic surgery

Simulated Surgical Systems RoSS™ Robotic Surgical Simulator

Research


Research

His project on flavokawains has been fund-ed by the National Cancer Institute (part ofthe National Institutes of Health). He is alsostudying the biological roles of secretedWnt antagonists in prostate and bladdercancer progression. His study on secretedWnt antagonists may lead to new therapeu-tic and/or preventive approaches for bladderand prostate cancer.

Principal Investigator on NIH and DOD Research Grants

National Institutes of Health1R01CA122558-01A2 12/1/2007-11/30/2012NIH/NCI Chemoprevention of urinary bladder carcinogenesis by flavokawain A

1R21CA152804-01A1 04/01/2011-03/31/2013 NIH/NCI Rhodiola Rosea Extracts, Salidroside and Bladder CancerChemoprevention

Department of DefensePC100869 01/01/2011-12/31/2014 DOD/Prostate Cancer Research Program Co-targeting VEGF and Neuropilins with bevacizumab andsecreted Wnt inhibitors in prostate cancer

UC Irvine Institute for Clinical and Translational Sciences Pilot Award 12/6/2010 - 3/31/2011 Inhibition of pro-invasive effects of anti-VEGF therapy bysecreted Wnt antagonists

Xiaolin Zi, PhD, Associate Professor Director of Urologic Research

Xiaolin Zi, PhD


GraduateMcGill University, Montreal, Canada

DoctorateShanghai Medical University, P.R. China

Postdoctoral TrainingCase Western Reserve University,Cleveland, and McGill University, Montreal,Canada

Dr. Xiaolin Zi combines knowledge in popu-lation science with laboratory skills in basicscience to develop less or non-toxic bioac-tive agents from edible plant products forcancer prevention. His publications identify-ing silibinin as a strong antiproliferative anddifferentiate agent for prostate cancer cellshave resulted in a Phase 2 clinical trial ofsilibinin in prostate cancer patients. Zi isalso developing novel preventive agents forpatients with superficial bladder tumors toprevent recurrence and progression of thisdisease. These agents may also preventbladder cancer in those who work in high-risk industries or engage in high-risk activi-ties such as smoking. He is the inventor offlavokawains for bladder cancer preventionand treatment.

(IRB Protocols continued)

2011-8421 A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel, PlaceboControlled, Phase 4, Multicenter Study to Assess Efficacy andSafety of VESIcare® (Solifenacin Succinate) to Improve UrinaryContinence of Subjects after Robotic Assisted RadicalProstatectomy. Thomas Ahlering, MD

2011-8423 UCI 11-34 A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind, Multi-center Trial Comparing Orteronel (TAK-700) Plus Prednisone withPlacebo Plus Prednisone in Patients With Chemotherapy NaïveMetastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. John Fruehauf, Atreya Dash, MD

2011-8463 Renal Cryotherapy: A Retrospective Multicenter 5-10year Follow-up Study. Jaime Landman, MD

2011-8621 Open vs. Robotic-Assisted Radical Cystectomy: ARandomized Trial. Atreya Dash, MD

Department of Urology IACUC ProtocolsEvaluation of Lower Urinary Tract Function in Mice. Gamal Ghoniem, MD

2002-2354 Testing of New Urologic and Laparoscopic Instruments.Jaime Landman, MD

2004-2528 Signaling Mechanisms of Wnt Inhibitors in ProstateCancer Development. Xiaolin Zi, PhD

2004-2529 Wnt Signaling in the Progression of Bone and SoftTissue Sarcoma. Bang Hoang, Xiaolin Zi, PhD

2004-2540 Chemoprevention of Urinary Bladder Carcinogenesis.Xiaolin Zi, PhD

2007-2740 Inhibition of Prostate Carcinogenesis by Flavokawain B.a Novel Chalcone from the Kava Plant. Xiaolin Zi, PhD

2007-2741 Naturally Occuring Compounds (Lycopene,Flavokawain & Docetaxel) in Prostate Cancer Treatment. Xiaolin Zi, PhD

2010-2953 Aerosol Transfer of Bladder Urothelial and SmoothMuscle Cells onto Demucosalized Colonic Segments for PorcineBladder Augmentation in Vivo: Long Term and Functional Results.Antoine Khoury, MD

2010-2956 Testing of a New Laparoscopic Surgical Instrument: ANovel Dual Laser for Cutting and Hemostatsis. Hak Lee, MD,Jaime Landman, MD

2011-2983 Cotargeting VEGF and Neuropilins with Bevacizumaband Secreted Wnt Inhibitors in Prostate Cancer. Xiaolin Zi, PhD

2011-3007 In Vivo Cryoprobe Evaluation (ICE) Study. Jaime Landman, MD

2011-3016 Pilot Study Comparing Needlescopic Pyeloplasty versusSingle Incision Pyeloplasty (Transenterix SPIDER) versusLaparoscopic Pyeloplasty in a Pig Model. Jaime Landman, MD

2011-3027 Preoperative Warm-Up Exercises to ImproveLaparoscopic Performance: Does Timing Matter? Elspeth McDougall, MD

Laparoscopic surgery training program - UC Irvine Surgical Education Center

Department of Urology IRB Protocols1997-272 UCI 97-18: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Phase IIb Chemoprevention Trial of Difluoromethylornithinein Brothers and First Cousin Males of Familial Prostate CancerProbands. Anne Simoneau, MD

1998-84 Outcomes and Assessment of Prostate Cancer at UCIMC.Thomas Ahlering, MD

2000-1296 Retrospective Evaluation of Prostate Cancer Clinicaland Pathological Outcomes. Thomas Ahlering, MD

2002-2657 Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) Skills andPerformance Assessment. Elspeth McDougall, MD

2003-3125 Assessment of Minimally Invasive Surgery forPostgraduate Mini-Fellowship Program. Elspeth McDougall, MD

2004-3515 Prospective Randomized Trial of Floseal Tubeless Exitvs. Cope Loop Nephrostomy vs. Fascial Stitch FollowingPercutaneous Nephrolithotripsy. Jaime Landman, MD

2004-3529 Validity Testing of Virtual Reality Surgical Simulators(URO/PERC Mentor, LapMentor, MIMIC dV-Trainer, ASU RoboticSimulator, AMS Greenlight Laser Simulator, da Vinci SkillsSimulator, RoSS Simulator). Elspeth McDougall, MD

2005-4429 Evaluation of Predictive Signatures of Prostate Cancer.Philip Carpenter, Atreya Dash, MD

2006-4981 Optical Coherence Tomography for Early Detection andStaging of Endobronchial Lung and Pleural Cancer, Airway Injury,and Prostate Cancer. Matthew Brenner, Thomas Ahlering, MD

2006-5386 CIRB - ECOG E2805: ASSURE: Adjuvant Sorafenib orSunitinib for Unfavorable Renal Carcinoma. John Fruehauf, Elspeth McDougall, MD

2007-5720 Vesicare (Solifenacin) in the Treatment of UrinaryIncontinence after Radical Prostatectomy. Thomas Ahlering, MD

2007-5818 Twenty Four Hour Urine Parameters and StentEncrustation: Can We Predict the Patients Who Are Prone toEncrustation? Jaime Landman, MD

2008-6397 Hypothermic Nerve Sparing Radical Prostatectomy.Thomas Ahlering, MD

2008-6418 Incidence of Fluoroquinolone ResistantEnterobacteraciae in Patients Undergoing Repeat UltrasoundGuided Prostate Biopsy. Atreya Dash, MD

2009-6735 Differences in Immunologic Response to Cryoablationversus Radiofrequency Ablation in the Treatment of Renal CellCarcinoma. Jaime Landman, MD

2010-7396 CAISIS Research Database. Atreya Dash, MD

2010-7506 The Transition from Acute to Chronic PostoperativePain in the Pediatric Patient - CHOC MOU. Michelle Fortier, Antoine Khoury, MD

2010-7518 Pilot Study Testing the Use of Urinary Biomarkers dur-ing Renal Surgery - A Potential Method of Analyzing RenalIschemia Non-Invasively. Jaime Landman, MD

2010-7520 CROES Renal Mass. Jaime Landman, MD

2010-7716 Retrospective Chart Review of Patients WhoUnderwent Urethral Stricture Surgery. Joel Gelman, MD, Thomas Ahlering, MD

2010-7772 Urinary Nerve Growth Factor as a Predictor ofImperfect or Prolonged Post Prostatectomy Incontinence. Thomas Ahlering, MD

2010-7801 Is T1/2 (Lasix Renal Scan) an Important Factor toConsider in Surgical Decision Making for Obstructive Uropathy? Hak Lee, MD, Antoine Khoury, MD

2010-7880 Tracking Renal Tumors After Cryoablation Evaluation(TRACE). Jaime Landman, MD

2010-7900 Preoperative Warm-up Exercises to ImproveLaparoscopic Performance: Does timing matter? Elspeth McDougall, MD

2010-7908 Impact of Preoperative Warm-up Exercises on ClinicalPerformance during Robotic Surgery. Elspeth McDougall, MD

2010-8011 The Prostate Cancer Tumor Microenvironment ExhibitsDifferentially Expressed Genes Useful for Diagnosis. Dan Mercola,Atreya Dash, MD

2011-8094 Evaluation of Peritumoral Renal Adipose Tissue toRenal Cancer Aggressiveness. Jaime Landman, MD

2011-8298 Evaluation of Surgical Education Courses - Analysis ofLearner Demographic and Performance Data. Elspeth McDougall, MD

2011-8420 Real Time Observation of Safety and Effectiveness inthe Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence (ROSERegistry). Gamal Ghoniem, MD

Research


Publications

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomyAhlering TE. Words of wisdom. Re: Impact of posteriormusculofascial reconstruction on early continence afterrobot-assisted radical prostatectomy: results of aprospective parallel group trial.Eur Urol. 2011 Oct;60(4):869-70.

Badalato GM, Wosnitzer MS, Truesdale MD, Sandri M,Ko WJ, Landman J, Badani KK. Evaluation of preopera-tive bioimpedance spectroscopy quantification of bodycomposition on predicting postoperative outcomes follow-ing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). CanJ Urol. 2011 Dec;18(6):6031-6.

Beck S, Skarecky D, Osann K, Juarez R, Ahlering TE.Transverse versus vertical camera port incision in roboticradical prostatectomy: effect on incisional hernias andcosmesis. Urology. 2011 Sep;78(3):586-90.

Beck SM, Skarecky D, Miller S, Ahlering TE. Athermaltension adjustable suture ligation of the vascular pedicleduring robot-assisted prostatectomy.J Endourol. 2012 Jul;26(7):834-7.

Ko WJ, Hruby GW, Turk AT, Landman J, Badani KK.Pathological confirmation of nerve-sparing types per-formed during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy(RARP). BJU Int. 2012 Aug 20 [Epub ahead of print].

Patel VR, Coelho RF, Rocco B, Orvieto M, Sivaraman A,Palmer KJ, Kameh D, Santoro L, Coughlin GD, Liss M,Jeong W, Malcolm J, Stern JM, Sharma S, Zorn KC,Shikanov S, Shalhav AL, Zagaja GP, Ahlering TE, RhaKH, Albala DM, Fabrizio MD, Lee DI, Chauhan S.Positive surgical margins after robot-assisted radicalprostatectomy: a multi-institutional study. J Urol. 2011Aug;186(2):511-6.

Pick DL, Osann K, Skarecky D, Narula N, Finley DS,Ahlering TE. The impact of cavernosal nerve preservationon continence after robotic radical prostatectomy.BJU Int. 2011 Nov;108(9): 1492-6.

Polland AR, Graversen JA, Mues AC, Badani KK.Polyglyconate unidirectional barbed suture for posteriorreconstruction and anastomosis during robot-assistedprostatectomy: effect on procedure time, efficacy, andminimum 6-month follow-up. J Endourol. 2011Sep;25(9): 1493-6.

Skarecky D, Morales B, Chang A, Ahlering T. Simplemethod to predict return of continence after robot-assist-ed radical prostatectomy. J Endourol. 2011Sep;25(9): 1451-1455.

Truesdale MD, Polland AR, Graversen JA, Sartori S,Hruby GW, Landman J, McKiernan JM, Benson MC,Badani KK. Impact of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor(statin) use on blood loss during robot-assisted and openradical prostatectomy. J Endourol. 2011 Sep;25(9):1427-33.

Wedmid A, Mendoza P, Sharma S, Hastings RL,Monahan KP, Walicki M, Ahlering TE, Porter J, Castle EP,Ahmed F, Engel JD, Frazier HA 2nd, Eun D, Lee DI.Rectal injury during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy:incidence and management. J Urol. 2011 Nov;186(5):1928-33.

Prostate cancerKarim Chamie, MD; Timothy J. Daskivich, MD; LornaKwan, MPH; Jessica Labo, BA; Atreya Dash, MD;Sheldon Greenfield, MD; and Mark S. Litwin, MD, MPH.Comorbidities, treatment and ensuing survival in menwith prostate cancer. J Gen Intern Med. 2012May;27(5):492-9.

Daskivich TJ, Chamie K, Kwan L, Labo J, Dash A,Greenfield S, Litwin MS. Improved prediction of longterm,other cause mortality in men with prostate cancer.J Urol. 2011; 186 (5): 1868-73.

Prostate cancer (continued)Timothy J. Daskivich, MD; Karim Chamie, MD; LonaKwan, MPH; Jessica Labo, BA; Atreya Dash, MD;Sheldon Greenfield, MD; and Mark S. Litwin, MS, MPH.Comorbidity and competing risk for mortality in men withprostate cancer. Cancer 2011; 117 (20): 4642-50.

Graversen JA, Suh LK, Mues AC, Korets R, Donovan MJ,Khan FM, Liu Q, Landman J, Gupta M, McKiernan JM,Badani KK. Independent diagnostic and post-treatmentprognostic models for prostate cancer demonstratesignificant correlation with disease progression endpoints. J Endourol. 2012 May;26(5):451-6.

Li X, Liu Z, Xu X, Blair CA, Sun Z, Xie J, Lilly MB, Zi X.Kava components down-regulate expression of AR andAR splice variants and reduce growth in patient-derivedprostate cancer xenografts in mice. PLoS One.2012;7(2):e31213.

Liss MA. Infection: prostate biopsy-infection and priorfluoroquinolone exposure. Nat Rev Urol. 2011 Oct11;8(11):592-4.

Liss MA, Santos R, Osann K, Lau A, Ahlering TE,Ornstein DK. PCA3 molecular urine assay for prostatecancer: association with pathologic features and impactof collection protocols. World J Urol. 2011Oct;29(5):683-8.

Urologic oncology researchBlair CA, Zi X. Potential molecular targeting of splicevariants for cancer treatment. Indian J Exp Biol. 2011Nov;49(11):836-9.

Dellinger TH, Planutis K, Jandial DD, Eskander RN,Martinez ME, Zi X, Monk BJ, Holcombe RF. Expressionof the Wnt antagonist Dickkopf-3 is associated with prog-nostic clinicopathologic characteristics and impairs prolif-eration and invasion in endometrial cancer. GynecolOncol. 2012 Aug;126(2):259-67.

Eskander RN, Randall LM, Sakai T, Guo Y, Hoang B, ZiX. Flavokawain B, a novel, naturally occurring chalcone,exhibits robust apoptotic effects and induces G2/M arrestof a uterine leiomyosarcoma cell line. J Obstet GynaecolRes. 2012 Aug;38(8):1086-94.

McQueen P, Ghaffar S, Guo Y, Rubin EM, Zi X, HoangBH. The Wnt signaling pathway: implications for therapyin osteosarcoma. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2011Aug;11(8):1223-32.

Sakai T, Eskander RN, Guo Y, Kim KJ, Mefford J,Hopkins J, Bhatia NN, Zi X, Hoang BH. Flavokawain B,a kava chalcone, induces apoptosis in synovial sarcomacell lines. J Orthop Res. 2012 Jul;30(7):1045-50.

Bladder cancerCrites, M and Ghoniem, G. Bladder mass "collagenoma".IUJ Volume 22, Number 5, 2011, pp. 621-623(3).

Liu Z, Li X, Simoneau AR, Jafari M, Zi X. Rhodiola roseaextracts and salidroside decrease the growth of bladdercancer cell lines via inhibition of the mTOR pathway andinduction of autophagy. Mol Carcinog. 2012Mar;51(3):257-67.

StricturesGelman J, Liss MA, Cinman NM. Direct vision balloondilation for the management of urethral strictures.J Endourol. 2011 Aug;25(8):1249-51; discussion 1251.Erratum in: J Endourol. 2012 Jan;26(1):77.


Publications

The Netter Collectionof Medical IllustrationsUrinary System:Volume 5, 2nd Edition(Netter Green BookCollection) SaundersElsevier.

Editors:Christopher R. Kelly, MDJaime Landman, MD

Incontinence / UTICrites, M, Sorial A, Ghoniem,GM. Risk factors for maleslings: A comparative study of two techniques. Urology,2011 Jul: 78 (1): 192-6.

Ghoniem G, Abdel-Mageed A. Differential profile analysisof urinary cytokines in patients with overactive bladder:reply. Int Urogynecol J. 2012 Aug;23(8):1143.

Ghoniem G, Faruqui N, Elmissiry M, Mahdy A,Abdelwahab H, Oommen M, Abdel-Mageed AB.Differential profile analysis of urinary cytokines in patientswith overactive bladder. Int Urogynecol J. 2011 Aug: 22(8) 953-61.

Ghoniem G, Melanie Crites. Role of synthetic slings inmale stress incontinence. Arab J Uro 2011; 9 (2011),129-134.

Ghoniem G. Treatment of female stress urinary inconti-nence: What women find acceptable and the impact ofclinical and urodynamic evaluations on their final choice.Scand J. Uro Nephrol. 2011 Nov;45 (5): 326-31.

Gunasekaran K, Davila GW, Ghoniem GM. Giant urethraldiverticulum-repair augmented with bovine pericardiumcollagen matrix graft and tension-free vaginal tape.J Indian Med Assoc. 2011 Jul; 109 (7): 513, 515.

Lemos N, Korte JE, Iskander M, Freeman R,Arunkalaivanan A, Rizk D, Halaska M, Medina C,Conceicao JC, Parekh M, Martan A, Sorinola O, WlazlakE. Ghoniem G, Swift S. Center-by-center results of amulticenter prospective trial to determine the interobserv-er correlation of the simplified POP-Q in describingpelvic organ prolapse. Int Urogynecol J. 2012May;23(5):579-84.

Reddy ST, Chung KK, McDaniel CJ, Darouiche RO,Landman J, Brennan AB. Micropatterned surfaces forreducing the risk of catheter-associated urinary tractinfection: an in vitro study on the effect of sharkletmicropatterned surfaces to inhibit bacterial colonizationand migration of uropathogenic Escherichia coli. JEndourol. 2011 Sep;25(9):1547-52.

Pelvic reconstructive surgeryCrites-Bachert, Melanie A. Mukati, Marium. Sorial,Andrew. Goniem, Gamal M. Percutaneous nerve evalua-tion in women: Lessons learned. Female PelvicMedicine & Reconstructive Surgery. 2011 Nov; 17 (6):293-7.

Karp DR, Peterson TV, Mahdy A, Ghoniem G, Aguilar VC,Davila GW. Biologic grafts for cystocele repair: doesconcomitant midline fascial plication improve surgical out-comes? Int Urogynecol J. 2011 Aug;22(8):985-90.

Toozs-Hobson P, Freeman R, Barber M, Maher C, HaylenB, Athanasiou S, Swift S, Whitmore K, Ghoniem G,deRidder D. An International UrogynecologicalAssociation (IUGA)/International Continence Society(ICS) joint report on the terminology for reporting out-comes of surgical procedures for pelvic organ prolapse.Int Urogynecol J. 2012 May;23(5):527-35.

Renal surgeryHaramis G, Graversen JA, Mues AC, Korets R, RosalesJC, Okhunov Z, Badani KK, Gupta M, Landman J.Retrospective comparison of laparoscopic partialnephrectomy versus laparoscopic renal cryoablation forsmall (<3.5 cm) cortical renal masses. J LaparoendoscAdv Surg Tech A. 2012 Mar;22(2):152-7.

Lall CG, Patel H, Fujimoto S, Sandhu S, Sundaram C,and Landman J. Making sense of postoperative CTimaging following laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.Clinical Radiology 2012 July, 67(7):675-86.

Renal surgery (continued)Lucas SM, Sundaram CP, Wolf JS Jr, Leveillee RJ, BirdVG, Aziz M, Pautler SE, Luke P, Erdeljan P, Baldwin DD,Ebrahimi K, Nadler RB, Rebuck D, Thomas R, Lee BR,Boylu U, Figenshau RS, Munver R, Averch TD, Gayed B,Shalhav AL, Gundeti MS, Castle EP, Anderson JK, DuffeyBG, Landman J, Okhunov Z, Wong C, Strom KH. Factorsthat impact the outcome of minimally invasive pyeloplasty:results of the Multi-institutional Laparoscopic and RoboticPyeloplasty Collaborative Group. J Urol. 2012Feb;187(2):522-7.

Mues AC, Graversen JA, Truesdale MD, Casazza C,Landman J. BioGlue iceball stabilization to minimize therisk of hemorrhage during laparoscopic renal cryoablation.Urology. 2011 Aug;78(2):353-6.

Mues AC, Mucksavage P, Graversen JA, and Landman J.Bioglue surgical adhesive as a thermal reflector duringlaparoscopic cryoablation: Effect on iceball size and abla-tion zone diameter. J Lap Ad Surg Tech 2012, 66(9):158.

Mues AC, Graversen JA, Korets R, O'Toole KM, PollandA, Badani KK, Gupta M, Landman J. Nonischemic laparo-scopic partial nephrectomy using a novel wet monopolardevice in a porcine model. J Endourol. 2012Jun;26(6):592-6.

Mues AC, Korets R, Graversen JA, Badani K, Bird V, BestSL, Cadeddu JA, Clayman R, McDougall EM, Barwari K,Laguna P, De La Rosette J, Kavoussi LR, Okhunov Z,Munver R, Patel SR, Nakada SY, Tsivian M, Polascik TJ,Shalhav A, Shingleton WB, Johnson E, Wolf Jr JS,Landman J. Clinical, pathologic and functional outcomesafter nephron-sparing surgery in patients with a solitarykidney: A multi-center experience. J Endourol. 2012Oct;26(10):1361-6.

Natalin RA, Lima FS, Pinheiro T, Vicari E, Ortiz V,Andreoni C, Landman J. The final stage of the laparo-scopic procedure: exploring final steps. Int Braz J Urol.2012 Jan;38(1):4-16.

Okhunov Z, Mues AC, Kline M, Haramis G, Xu B, MirabileG, Vira M, Landman J. Evaluation of perirenal fat as apredictor of cT(1a) renal cortical neoplasm histopathologyand surgical outcomes. J Endourol. 2012 Jul; 26 (7):911-6.

Polland AR, Graversen JA, Mues AC, Tal O, Korets R,Landman J. Pilot study evaluation of standard laparoscop-ic suturing and a novel parenchymal apposition mecha-nism for minimally invasive renal reconstruction.J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2011 Nov;21(9):823-7.

Ritch CR, Kearns JT, Mues AC, Hruby GW, Benson MC,McKiernan JM, Landman J. Comparison of distal ureteralmanagement strategies during laparoscopicnephroureterectomy. J Endourol. 2011 Jul;25(7):1149-54.

Truesdale MD, Mues AC, Sartori S, Casazza CN, HrubyGW, Harik LR, O'Toole KM, Badani KK, Pérez-Lanzac A,Landman J. Comparison of two core biopsy techniquesbefore and after laparoscopic cryoablation of small renalcortical neoplasms. JSLS. 2011 Oct-Dec;15(4):509-16.

Young JL, Khanifar E, Narula N, Ortiz-Vanderdys CG,Kolla SB, Pick DL, Sountoulides PG, Kaufmann OG,Osann KE, Huynh VB, Kaplan AG, Andrade LA, Louie MK,McDougall EM, Clayman RV. Optimal freeze cycle lengthfor renal cryotherapy. J Urol. 2011 Jul;186(1):283-8.

Young JL, McCormick DW, Kolla SB, Sountoulides PG,Kaufmann OG, Ortiz-Vanderdys CG, Huynh VB, KaplanAG, Jain NS, Pick DL, Andrade LA, Osann KE, McDougallEM, Clayman RV. Are multiple cryoprobes additive orsynergistic in renal cryotherapy? Urology. 2012Feb;79(2):484.e1-6.


Publications

More than 90 doctors affiliated with UCIrvine Healthcare are included in theU.S. News & World Report “TopDoctors” database. U.S. News & WorldReport also included UC Irvine MedicalCenter on its “America’s Best Hospitals”list for the 12th consecutive year.

U.S. News Top Doctors was created incollaboration with Castle ConnollyMedical Ltd., publisher of America’s TopDoctors and other consumer healthguides. It draws from Castle Connolly’sdatabase of Top Doctors, all recom-mended for their clinical skills by otherdoctors and individually vetted by aphysician-led research team. Con-sumers can search for a Top Doctor bylocation, hospital affiliation, and a fullrange of specialties and subspecialties.The searchable directory is available atwww.usnews.com/top-doctors and listsnearly 30,000 peer-nominated physi-cians across the country.

In addition to the U.S. News recogni-tion, more than 90 UC Irvine physiciansare listed among America’s BestDoctors.http://news.healthcare.uci.edu/?p=1190

http://www.healthcare.uci.edu/11-12BestDoctors.asp

Jaime Landman, MDProfessor and Chair, Department of Urology

Thomas E. Ahlering, MDVice Chair and Professor of Urology

Ralph V. Clayman, MDDean, School of Medicine, Professor of Urology

Atreya Dash, MDAssistant Professor of Clinical Urology

Joel Gelman, MDAssociate Clinical Professor, Volunteer Clinical Faculty

Gamal Ghoniem, MDVice Chair and Professor of Clinical UrologyChief, Urology Service at VA Long BeachHealthcare System

Tony E. Khoury, MDProfessor of UrologyWalter R. Schmid Chair in Pediatric Urologyand Chief, Pediatric Urology

Elspeth M. McDougall, MD, FRCSCProfessor of UrologyAssociate Dean of Simulation and ContinuingMedical Education Director, Urology Residency ProgramDirector, UC Irvine Surgical Education Center Chair, AUA Office of Education

Kidney stonesGraversen JA, Korets R, Hruby GW, Valderrama OM,Mues AC, Katsumi HK, Cortes JA, Landman J, Gupta M.Evaluation of bioimpedance as novel predictor of extra-corporeal shockwave lithotripsy success. J Endourol.2011 Sep;25(9):1503-6.

Korets R, Graversen JA, Kates M, Mues AC, Gupta M.Post-percutaneous nephrolithotomy systemic inflammato-ry response: a prospective analysis of preoperative urine,renal pelvic urine and stone cultures. J Urol. 2011Nov;186(5):1899-903.

Phan J, Lall C, Moskowitz R, Clayman R, Landman J.Erosion of embolization coils into the renal collecting sys-tem mimicking stone. West J Emerg Med. 2012Feb;13(1):127-30.

EndourologyGraversen JA, Korets R, Mues AC, Katsumi HK, BadaniKK, Landman J, Gupta M. Prospective randomized evalu-ation of gel mat foot pads in the endoscopic suite. JEndourol. 2011 Nov;25(11):1793-6.

Graversen JA, Lusch A, Landman J. Is LESS reallymore? Indian J Urol. 2012 Jan;28(1):82-8.

Graversen JA, Valderrama OM, Korets R, Mues AC,Landman J, Badani KK, Gupta M. The effect of extralu-menal safety wires on ureteral injury and insertion forceof ureteral access sheaths: evaluation using an ex vivoporcine model. Urology. 2012 May;79(5):1011-4.

Mucksavage P, Pick D, Haydel D, Etafy M, Kerbl DC, LeeJY, Ortiz-Vanderdys C, Saleh F, Olamendi S, Louie MK,McDougall EM. An in vivo evaluation of a novel spiral cutflexible ureteral stent. Urology. 2012 Mar;79(3):733-7.

Surgical training modalitiesCastle SM, Gorbatiy V, Salas N, Gorin MA, Landman J,Leveillee RJ. Development and evaluation of a novelcadaveric model for performance of image-guided percu-taneous renal tumor ablation. J Surg Educ. 2012 Jan-Feb;69(1):30-3.

Fernandez A, Chen E, Moore J, Cheung C, Erdeljan P,Fuller A, McDougall EM, Peters TM, Pautler SE. A phan-tom model as a teaching modality for laparoscopic partialnephrectomy. J Endourol. 2012 Jan;26(1):1-5.

Fernandez A, Chen E, Moore J, Peters TM, Cheung C,Erdeljan P, Fuller A, Pautler SE, McDougall EM.Preliminary assessment of a renal tumor materials model.J Endourol. 2011 Aug;25(8):1371-5.

Korets R, Mues AC, Graversen JA, Gupta M, BensonMC, Cooper KL, Landman J, Badani KK. Validating theuse of the Mimic dV-trainer for robotic surgery skill acqui-sition among urology residents.Urology. 2011 Dec;78(6):1326-30.

Lee JY, Kerbl DC, McDougall EM, Mucksavage P.Medical students pursuing surgical fields have no greaterinnate motor dexterity than those pursuing nonsurgicalfields. J Surg Educ. 2012 May-Jun;69(3):360-3.

Lee JY, Mucksavage P, Canales C, McDougall EM, Lin S.High fidelity simulation based team training in urology: apreliminary interdisciplinary study of technical and non-technical skills in laparoscopic complications manage-ment. J Urol. 2012 Apr;187(4):1385-91.

Lee JY, Mucksavage P, Kerbl DC, Huynh VB, Etafy M,McDougall EM. Validation study of a virtual reality roboticsimulator--role as an assessment tool? J Urol. 2012Mar;187(3):998-1002.

Lee JY, Mucksavage P, McDougall EM. Simulatinglaparoscopic renal hilar vessel injuries: preliminary evalu-ation of a novel surgical training model for residents.J Endourol. 2012 Apr;26(4):393-7.

Surgical training modalities (continued)Lee JY, Mucksavage P, Kerbl DC, Osann KE, WinfieldHN, Kahol K, McDougall EM. Laparoscopic warm-upexercises improve performance of senior-level traineesduring laparoscopic renal surgery.J Endourol. 2012 May;26(5):545-50.

Matsuda T, McDougall EM, Ono Y, Hattori R, Baba S,Iwamura M, Terachi T, Naito S, Clayman R. Positivecorrelation between motion analysis data on theLapMentorTM Virtual Reality Laparoscopic SurgicalSimulator and the results from video tape assessment ofreal laparoscopic surgeries.J Endourol. 2012 Aug 2. [Epub ahead of print]

Mucksavage P, Lee J, Kerbl DC, Clayman RV, McDougallEM. Preoperative warming up exercises improve laparo-scopic operative times in an experienced laparoscopicsurgeon. J Endourol. 2012 Jul;26(7): 765-8.

2011 World Congress highlightsLandman J, Gupta M. Welcome to the World Congressof Endourology Highlights edition. J Endourol. 2011Sep;25(9):1403.

AUA laparoscopic surgery skills curriculumSweet RM, Beach R, Sainfort F, Gupta P, Reihsen T,Poniatowski LH, McDougall EM. Introduction and valida-tion of the American Urological Association BasicLaparoscopic Urologic Surgery skills curriculum.J Endourol. 2012 Feb;26(2):190-6.

Postgraduate urologists practice patternsDuchene DA, Rosso F, Clayman R, McDougall EM,Winfield HN. Current minimally invasive practice patternsamong postgraduate urologists. J Endourol. 2011Nov;25(11):1797-804.

UC IrvineHealthcarePhysicians Earn“Top Doctors”Honor


American Urological AssociationRobotic and Advanced Laparoscopic Urologic Oncology:Curing Cancer Through Technology and SkillJanuary 26 - 28, 2012

Annual Meetings

American Urological Association Annual Meeting (continued)

AbstractsGamal Ghoniem, MDMay 20 - Moderator Session Urodynamics/Incontinence/Female Urology Incontinence -Evaluation & Therapy III - 20 abstracts

CoursesGamal Ghoniem, MDMay 19 - Hands-on course: 3-D Surgical Anatomy of theFemale Pelvis

PostersAtreya Dash, MDAwarded: Best PosterMay 20 - Matching Tumor Risk with Aggressiveness ofTreatment in Men with Severe Comorbidity and Non-Metastatic Prostate Cancer. TJ Daskivich, K Chamie, A Dash,S Greenfield, MS Litwin

Thomas Ahlering, MDMay 20 - Moderator: Prostate Cancer Localized III

PodiumAtreya Dash, MD - senior authorMichael Liss, MD - presenting authorMay 19 - Podium presentation: Total Illness Burden Index forProstate Cancer (TIBI-CaP) Prior to Prostate Biopsy canPredict Other Cause Morbidity

Michael Liss, MDMay 19 - Targeted Prophylaxis Prior to Transrectal ProstateBiopsy: A Comparison of Broth Enrichment to Direct Plating forthe Evaluation of Rectal Cultures. Liss M, Nakamura K,Peterson E

Aaron Spitz, MDMay 21 - Moderated video session - Infertility, SexualDysfunction, Trauma and Teaching Techniques

LecturesGamal Ghoniem, MDMay 21 - Egyptian Urological Society - Scientific Program -Update on OAB Treatment

Elspeth McDougall, MDMay 18 - Society of Urology Chairpersons and ProgramDirectors - AUA Office of Education Update with Q&AMay 19 - AUA residents Forum - Role of Simulation in UrologyTrainingMay 22 - AUA Board of Directors Education Presentation

Aaron Spitz, MDMay 18 - AMA Practice Management Conference - A UrologyPractice’s Experience Exploring the World of ACO’sMay 20 - AUA Health Policy Council: Delegate to AMA

Guy Hidas, MDMay 20 - Pediatrics: Is the Appearance of the Deflux MoundPredictive of Reflux Resolution? Hidas G, Khoury A, Soltani TMay 21 - Pediatrics: Aerosol Transfer of the Bladder Urothelialand Smooth. Hidas G, Khoury A, Lee H

Research StudyElspeth McDougall, MDBLUS EDGE Validation Study. Participants are experiencedlaparoscopic surgeons. The study purpose is to measureexpert performance to use as a benchmark for residents train-ing on the simulator

World Congress of Endourology Istanbul, TurkeySept. 4-8, 2012PostersJoseph Graversen, MDAwarded: First PlaceThis poster won first place in basic science for the entireinternational conference of over 2500 participants. Intraand Extra-Renal Autonomic Nervous System Redefined. ALusch, JA Graversen, J Wikenheiser, C Abdelshehid, RAlipanah, S Quach, JP Zarraga, I Gerbatsch, J Landman

LecturesJaime Landman, MDSept. 5 - Management of Complications & Post AblationRecurrence

Ralph Clayman, MDSept. 7 - Plenary Session: STATE-of-ART Lecture -Standardized Reporting of Complications in Urology

Thomas Ahlering, MDSept. 6 - Management of Complications after RALPSept. 8 - Complications and Management in RARP

Round Table DiscussionJaime Landman, MDSept. 5 - Renal Mass - How to Treat It: "Active Surveillance"

Thomas Ahlering, MDSept. 8 - Panel - Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy

CoursesJaime Landman, MDSept. 6 - Cook/Karl Storz Hands On Training Lab

Ralph Clayman, MDSept. 6 - Renal Cryoablation: Image Guided TherapiesSession: Update on Treatment of the Small Renal Mass

Jaime Landman, MDSept. 6 - Image Guided Therapy Working Group

Posters/VideosThomas Ahlering, MDSept. 6 - Robotic/Laparoscopic Prostate

Jaime Landman, MDSept. 7 - Moderator: New Technology

Live SurgeryThomas Ahlering, MDSept. 8 - Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy

American Urological Association Annual Meeting - Atlanta, GaMay 19-23, 2012AbstractsThomas Ahlering, MDRobotic Radical Prostatectomy: Biochemical Recurrence andOncological Outcomes with Five-Year Follow-up. Liss M, Beheshti N, Skarecky D, LuschA, Morales B, Osann K, Ahlering T. J. Urol. 187(4): A1463,Page E593, 2012

Impact of Short Term Regional Hypothermic at One YearFollowing Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy. AhleringTE, Morales B, Osann K, Skarecky DW. J. Urol. 187(4):A513, Page E211, 2012

Elspeth M. McDougall, MD Professor of Urology

Associate Dean of Simulation & ContinuingMedical Education

Director, Residency ProgramDirector, Surgical Education Center

Chair, AUA Office of Education

American Urological AssociationChair of EducationDr. Elspeth M. McDougall is chair of the Office ofEducation for the American Urological Association(AUA), May 1, 2009 - June 30, 2013. In this role,she oversees all educational activities, includingthe quality and accuracy of the content of all edu-cational course offerings of the AUA. She directsthe AUA Education Council and all its reportingcommittees and task forces in the review, evalua-tion and planning of the educational programs.

Dr. McDougall serves on the AUA’s annual meet-ing program planning committee to review themore than 250 course applications and determine,in conjunction with subspecialty committees, theeducational content of the annual meeting. Inaddition, she reviews all evaluations from theannual meeting courses, stand-alone and hands-on courses presented as well as their educationalcontent.

Dr. McDougall also makes recommendations forthe future presentation and development of edu-cational activities for the AUA membership. Inaddition, she serves as a consultant to the AUA’sinternational relations committee and has beeninstrumental in expanding the organization’s edu-cational activities worldwide. She has providedoversight to the development of educationalcourses directed to the learning needs of primarycare physicians and allied healthcare profession-als with an interest in urology. In this position, sheis advancing the mission of the AUA Office ofEducation to provide quality continuing medicaleducation that is independent, free of commercialbias and based on valid content to enhance theclinical competence and performance of urologistsand urologic care teams.


First place poster - World Congress of Endourology, Istanbul, Turkey, Sept. 4-8, 2012

Education Programs

International Ongoing - Urologic Surgery Mini-Fellowship

Oct. 28, 2011 AUA Ultrasound Course Oct. 29-30, 2011 AUA Tissue Ablative Course: Kidney andProstate January 25-28, 2012 AUA Advanced Robotic Oncology Course March 23-24, 2012 Dr. Ghoniem - IUGA Regional Symposium:Female Pelvic Floor Disorders June 11-15, 2012 Mini-Fellowship Robotic Prostatectomy

Community Outreach Monthly - High School Outreach

UC Irvine Summer Premed ProgramJuly 18-29, 2011June 18-29, 2012July 9-20, 2012July 23-Aug. 3, 2012

Aug. 4-6, 2011 Middle School Student Exchange

UC Irvine Summer Surgery ProgramJuly 9-20, 2012

Urology Department Weekly - Urology Grand Rounds

Weekly - Resident Tutorial Conference

Aug. 13, 2011 Urology Residents' Robot-Assisted andLaparoscopic Renal & Bladder SurgeryCourse (hemostasis)

Sept. 22-24, 2011 Urology Visiting Professor, Dr. StephenNakada

Dec. 10, 2011 Urology Residents' Robot-Assisted andLaparoscopic Renal & Bladder SurgeryCourse (hemostasis)

Jan. 7, 2012 Dr. McDougall - UC Irvine Medical Student II Urology Course - Urology Focus Event

April 13, 2012 Dr. Ghoniem - Female Pelvic Recon-struction & Incontinence for urology residents

May 10-11, 2012 Dr. McDougall - UC Irvine Medical Student Genitourinary Skills TrainingProgram for 2nd Year Medical Students

June 16, 2012 Urology Residents' Robot-Assisted andLaparoscopic Renal & Bladder SurgeryCourse (Sealants, Adhesives)

June 18, 2012 Grand Rounds visiting guest lectureship,"Geriatric Urology," George W. Drach, MD,FACS

July 14, 2012 Urology Residents' Abdominal Open AccessSurgery Course (Energy Devices)

Department of UrologyMini-Fellowship: Comprehensive MinimallyInvasive Surgical RenalTumor Management

Complimentary registration includes:Hands-on laboratory training sessions- Cadaveric CT-guided ablation Animate laparoscopic renal surgery da Vinci robotic renal surgery Ultrasound on standardized patients(No tuition fee) Participants will pay only fortravel expenses, meals and hotel costs.

Three-day training programThe UC Irvine Surgical Education Center's mini-fellowship program is for postgraduate urologic surgeons who are interested in introducing intotheir practice or academic department cutting-edge technology for renal tumor management.It will be offered three times annually and is lim-ited to six participants, who will work closely withan assigned preceptor and dedicated instructorson the UC Irvine faculty in didactic and hands-on laboratory sessions, along with operatingroom observation of surgical procedures. Thecourse is held from mid-day Saturday to mid-day Tuesday, affording urologists an optimizedexperience with maximal skills and knowledgetransfer with minimal loss of active time. Theprogram is fully funded (no tuition fee), andparticipants pay only for their travel expenses,meals, hotel costs and a small administrativefee. The program is hosted at the beautifulPelican Hill Resort, Newport Coast, Calif., offer-ing luxurious accommodations and world-classfacilities.

Optimized experience with maximal skillsand knowledge transfer This unique three-day program is entirely devoted to the transfer of advanced technicalskills. This module includes a half-day of didac-tic sessions and a full-day of hands-on laborato-ry surgical training with animate laparoscopicand da Vinci robotic procedures; standardizedpatient ultrasound training; and cadaveric CT-guided ablation training. There will be a day-and-a-half of live surgical case observation thatincludes laparoscopic and da Vinci robotic par-tial nephrectomy, laparoscopic and percuta-neous cryoablation, laparoscopic nephrectomy,laparoscopic nephroureterectomy, and endo-scopic biopsy and ablation of upper tract transi-tional cell carcinoma (depending on patientavailability).

For more information, please contactCynthia Shell, [email protected], 714.456.5371

The Department of Urology faculty continue to provide timelyand up-to-date training programs


The new course for nurses has been devel-oped by urologic surgeons Dr. ElspethMcDougall, Dr. Thomas Ahlering and Dr.Gamal Ghoniem, faculty of the UC IrvineDepartment of Urology. This is a robust andcomprehensive hands-on laparoscopic androbot-assisted laparoscopic training curricu-lum, with a focus on laparoscopic surgery, toprepare nurses to be proctored during surgi-cal cases. Completion of the AUA Web-based training program for robotics andlaparoscopy will be utilized. As such, AUAmembership will be required in the APN/PAmembership category. Objectives: At the completion of the NursePractitioner (NP) Robot-Assisted UrologicSurgery Training Program, the trainee will beable to: Describe patient positioning, equipment setup, port

placement, pre-operative patient preparation for laparoscopy and robot-assisted surgery.

State the indications and contraindications for laparoscopy and the robotic approach to urologic surgical procedures.

Identify errors that can occur during laparoscopy and for the robotic surgery conditions.

Describe the steps involved with safe operation of the da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgery, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA).

Describe the surgical steps involved with the safe performance of commonly performed robotic urologic surgery.

Describe complications that can occur during urologicsurgery and describe methods to avoid and manage the complications.

New training program forurologic nurse practitioners as surgical assistant

Free tuition

Residency Program

New AUA innovative laparoscopic skillstraining platform

The AUA Basic Laparoscopic UrologicSurgery (BLUS curriculum) handbook andcognitive multiple-choice exam is now avail-able online.

As part of the Department of Urology resi-dency training curriculum, the urology resi-dents will participate in the BLUS curriculumand be tested monthly during their residen-cy, noting changes in performance parame-ters within the four basic laparoscopic skillstasks. The scores will be recorded on theAUA database.

The SimuLab EDGE device will be used aspart of the AUA BLUS validity study.

Biomedical and Translational ScienceMaster of Science Degree Program (MS-BATS) now available for urology residents

MS-BATS is an exciting clinical researchtraining program at UC Irvine offered by theSchool of Medicine. It is a flexible programdesigned to prepare scientists in the conductof interdisciplinary clinical research. It isaimed at junior faculty in clinical depart-ments, fellows, residents, fourth-year med-ical students, physicians and others with asolid basic science foundation who are inter-ested in developing the skills needed to con-duct, interpret, evaluate and apply clinicalresearch.

Congratulations to urology residentDr. Adam Kaplan for winning aSUCPD grant, which will be used toexpand the urology residents' iPadproject. This will allow the iPad tobecome a mobile training device.

In 2011, UC Irvine's urologyresidents received an iPadloaded with these importanteducational tools: AUA Urology CORE

Curriculum Journal of Endourology Campbell's Urology textbook

access Online ACGME case logs Online work hour logs Online surgical evaluations Presentation tools Weekly quizzes

A standardized curriculum for residents inurology surgical training has been developedby Dr. Elspeth McDougall and ongoing since2007. A template for a cognitive and basicskills curriculum covers the four years ofurology residency training, including weeklyone-hour, year-specific education sessions.

Scores from the American UrologicalAssociation In-Service Examination werereviewed to assess resident performancebefore and six months after implementationof the four-year curriculum. Resident andfaculty questionnaires were used six monthsafter incorporating the curriculum to evaluatethe usefulness and value of the new curricu-lum. The average In-Service Examinationresults following the introduction of the four-year curriculum were 10% to 27% higherthan the previous four years of examinationresults.

The experience with a structured four-year curriculum for urology residency training hasbeen favorable for residents and faculty andoffers a platform for debate and discussion.

McDougall EM, Watters TJ, Clayman RV.Four-year curriculum for urology residency training. J Urol 2007; 178(6): 2540 - 2544.


UC Irvine Department of Urologyfour-year curriculum for urology residency training

Urologic Surgery Fellowship Program

The Department of Urology offers a two-year fellowship trainingprogram in minimally invasive urologic surgery

OverviewThe minimally invasive urology fellowshipprogram at University of California, Irvine isan Endourology Society-sanctioned fellow-ship specifically tailored to train future lead-ers in the world of minimally invasive urolog-ic surgery. This intensive two-year programis designed to allow the graduating fellow tohave advanced technical skills in laparo-scopy, endoscopy, ESWL and stone diseaseand robotic surgery, optimizing patient out-comes with minimally invasive surgical tech-niques. The fellowship also focuses ondeveloping minimally invasive thinkingprocesses such that the fellow, after gradua-tion, can advance the future of minimallyinvasive urology. Research training isfocused on creative and dynamic innovation,study design, and execution and profession-al presentation.

Program DescriptionThis is a two-year fellowship with a clinicalinstructor appointment. During both years,the fellow is expected to take call on the faculty rotation usually once every fiveweeks. The first year is 80% in the laborato-ry and 20% clinical with time spent at theLong Beach Veterans AdministrationHospital as well as at UC Irvine MedicalCenter. The second year is 80% clinical and20% clinical research. The endourology fel-lows are considered team leaders for labora-tory and clinical research and directly man-age undergraduate students, medical stu-dents, as well as international visiting schol-ars. The fellows lead their section of theweekly laboratory meeting, sharing the latestprogress of existing projects and brainstorm-ing ideas for initiating new studies.

Laboratory ResearchThe technical training and investigative com-ponents of the fellowship are enhanced byunique world-class laboratory resources.The laboratory incorporates four distincttraining facilities: a survival operative suiteand animal vivarium, a non-survival opera-tive suite with six operative stations, a surgi-cal simulation and laparoscopic trainer suite,and a fresh tissue laboratory with an addi-tional four operative stations. The availablefacilities with advanced surgical equipmentallow potential for any and all experiments tobe performed. Within the surgical simulationand laparoscopic trainer suite, there are sixlaparoscopic pelvic trainers with accompany-ing laparoscopic instruments, laparoscopicvirtual reality trainers, robotic virtual realitytrainers, a percutaneous renal access simu-lator, an endoscopy simulator and manyitems of endourology equipment. Expertfull-time laboratory staff is available to opti-mize productivity in the four laboratories.The laboratory enables dynamic and innova-tive research that can often rapidly be trans-lated into clinical practice. The extensivelaboratory facility lends itself to collaborativeprojects with faculty from other departmentswithin UC Irvine, allowing fellows to expandtheir creative potential.

Fellowship DirectorsThe fellowship is directed by Dr. JaimeLandman. In addition, the fellow worksclosely with Dr. Atreya Dash and Dr. Thomas Ahlering in minimally invasive urological oncology, and with Dr. ElspethMcDougall in endourology, surgical simula-tion and surgical education.

For more information contactJaime Landman, MDProfessor of Urology and RadiologyChair, Department of UrologyOffice: 714.456.3330Email: [email protected]

Apply online, visit the EndourologicalSociety website www.endourology.org/

The UC Irvine MinimallyInvasive Urology

Fellowship is unique in thedepth and breadth of the

dedicated faculty, directedby Dr. Jaime Landman.In addition, the fellow

works closely withDr. Atreya Dash andDr. Thomas Ahleringin minimally invasive

urological oncology andwith Dr. Elspeth McDougall

in endourology,surgical simulation,

and surgical education.


Department of Urology and Department of Obstetrics &Gynecology offer an accredited two-year fellowship training program for urology residents in female pelvic medicine andreconstructive surgery (FPMRS)

AcademicsThe Female Pelvic Medicine and Recon-structive Surgery (FPMRS) Fellowship in theDivision of Urogynecology / Department ofObstetrics & Gynecology and Department ofUrology at the University of California, Irvineis accredited by the American Board ofObstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG). Thistwo-year fellowship program takes place atUC Irvine Medical Center and affiliate sites.Fellows are trained in the clinical setting aswell as in the research laboratory. Our pro-gram shares a unique collaboration amongthese departments at UC Irvine -- Depart-ment of Urology; Department of Obstetrics &Gynecology, Division of Urogynecology;Department of Surgery, Division of Colonand Rectal Surgery. The primary goal of ourprogram is to produce specialists who areprepared to provide consultation and com-prehensive management of women withcomplex pelvic conditions, lower urinarytract disorders and pelvic floor dysfunction.Comprehensive management includes thosediagnostic and therapeutic procedures nec-essary for the total care of the patient withthese conditions. As such, the program isdesigned to ensure that the fellow success-fully completing the program is well equip-ped for eventual subspecialty certificationwith the American Board of Obstetrics andGynecology (ABOG) / American Board ofUrology (ABU). Our program strives toachieve all of the educational objectives setforth by ABOG.

The strengths of our program are: A jointly shared program between an

academic medical center and a large established community hospital.

A unique collaboration between urology, urogynecology and colorectal surgery.

Diverse primary and associated faculty with a tremendous depth and breadth of clinical and academic experience includ-ing: fellowship-trained urologists, urogy-necologists and colorectal surgeons, together with pelvic floor physical thera-pists. Additional contributions to our pro-gram come from our unique relationship with allied services including: gastroen-terology, a dedicated pelvic floor radiolo-gist and a nationally recognized geri-atrics program.

UC Irvine is consistently rated among the best urology departments in the country.

Highly ranked urology and obstetrics and gynecology research with established NIH funding.

Application ProcedureAll applicants should have satisfactorily com-pleted an obstetrics and gynecology residen-cy approved by the American Council forGraduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the Council of the Royal College ofPhysicians and Surgeons of Canada(CRCPSC).

Applications are accepted between May 1and July 25 of the year prior to matriculation.All completed files will be reviewed duringthe last week in July, and qualified appli-cants will be offered interviews taking placebetween August 1 and September 20.Applicants can download the fellowshipapplication and submit the following requireddocumentation:

Current curriculum vitae

A personal statement addressing why you are interested in this fellowship

Current correspondence address(es) including your home and work phone numbers

Three letters of reference from physi-cians with whom you have worked, one of whom should be your department chair or residency director

2x2 picture attached to the application.

An interview will be required for consideration.

Urology MentorGamal Ghoniem, MD, FACS DirectorKaren L. Noblett, MDDivision of UrogynecologyUC Irvine Medical CenterDept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Visit the urogynecology web site www.obgyn.uci.edu/urogynecology-academics.html

Gamal M. Ghoniem, MD, FACSProfessor of Urology

Vice Chair, Department of Urology

Female Pelvic MedicineReconstructive Surgery(FPMRS)

Problems such as irritable bladder,urinary incontinence and pelvicorgan prolapse are increasinglycommon among older femalepatients. Other problems, such asinterstitial cystitis or spinal cordinjury that affect bladder control,can arise at any age. To treat thesedisorders, Dr. Ghoniem uses a widerange of surgical and nonsurgicaltechniques, including modern fluo-ro-video-urodynamic testing, whichdetermines the precise causes ofblocked urine flow or leakage. Healso uses minimally invasive proce-dures to restore weakened pelvictissue seen in pelvic organ pro-lapse. To treat cases of severeoveractive bladder, Dr. Ghoniemhas mastered the technique ofimplanting electronic stimulators toaid in normal bladder function.

FPMRS Fellowship Program


Pediatric Urology

Tony E. Khoury, MDProfessor of Urology

Walter R. Schmid Chairin Pediatric Urology

Chief of Pediatric Urologyat UC Irvine and

CHOC Children's Hospitalof Orange County

The Department of Urology welcomes new faculty members

Gordon A. McLorie, MDProfessor of Urology

Dr. Gordon McLorie is an internationally recog-nized authority in pediatric urology. He earned hismedical degree and graduated from the urologyresidency program at the University of Toronto.After residency training, he completed a fellowshipin oncology at University of California, LosAngeles and in pediatric urology at HarvardMedical School Boston Children's Hospital. Dr.McLorie spent 20 years at the Hospital for SickChildren in Toronto, where he became recognizedfor excellence in reconstructive surgery, pediatricurological oncology and renal transplantation. In 2002, Dr. McLorie held the Bicknell EndowedChair in Pediatric Urology and was chief of pedi-atric urology at Children's Hospital of Michigan inDetroit. In 2006, he was recruited as professor ofurology and chief of pediatric urology at WakeForest University School of Medicine in NorthCarolina to manage the clinical aspects of the tissue-engineered bladder and regenerative medi-cine research laboratory.

He is currently principal investigator in the NIDDK-sponsored RIVUR trial, a randomized study ofchildren with urinary tract infections and vesi-coureteral reflux. He is also an investigator in therecently completed study of regenerative bladderaugmentation using autologous bladder con-structs. Dr. McLorie has more than 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters to hiscredit. He is a sought-after speaker who hasdelivered numerous state-of-the-art lectures atmajor universities and national and internationalscientific gatherings. He is internationally recog-nized for his expertise in reconstructive surgery,particularly hypospadias repairs, bladder exstro-phy and incontinence surgery.

He has made significant contributions to pediatricurological oncological literature, especially onWilms tumor.

Dr. Tony Khoury, professor andpediatric urology chief, Departmentof Urology, was appointed the firstWalter R. Schmid Chair in PediatricUrology, effective July 1, 2010. Thechair was established Dec. 4, 2009to support an outstanding scholarwho would significantly enhance theSchool of Medicine's academic repu-tation and be a nationally recog-nized leader in pediatric urology. Dr.Khoury is internationally recognizedfor excellence in managing complexpediatric urology anomalies, particu-larly in children referred after previ-ous repairs failed.

UC Irvine’s School of Medicine andCHOC Children’s Hospital have acollaborative clinical affiliation toprovide comprehensive, high-qualitycare to the children of OrangeCounty. CHOC Children's UrologyCenter is Orange County's only ded-icated pediatric urology facility, withspecialists providing the most inno-vative, clinically advanced compre-hensive pediatric urologic care. Themultidisciplinary team uses the lat-est laparoscopic and robot-assistedtechniques to perform reconstruc-tion of the urinary tract to correctbirth defects, allowing for fasterrecovery and reduced pain. In addi-tion to providing state-of-the-art carefor common pediatric urologicalprocedures, Dr. Khoury and his teamare renowned for their expertise inmajor reconstructions of complexcongenital abnormalities such asbladder exstrophy, cloacal anom-alies, posterior urethral valves,neurogenic bladder and prune-bellysyndrome.

CHOC Children’s is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report for pediatric urology

Irene M. McAleer, MD, JD, MBAAssociate Clinical Professor

Dr. Irene McAleer completed her pediatric urologyfellowship at University of California, San Diegoafter successfully finishing her urology residencyat the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda,Md. She is certified by the American Board ofUrology with a subspecialization certificate inpediatric urology. She has practiced pediatricurology for more than 20 years, in addition to pub-lishing more than 65 journal articles and bookchapters.

She has a particular interest in antenatal geni-tourinary conditions, medical and surgical man-agement and diagnosis of vesicourinary reflux,urinary obstruction and duplication, hypospadiasand intersex reconstruction, as well as an interestin endoscopic treatment of pediatric stone dis-ease.

Other non-medical education experience includesobtaining a master of business administration fromthe Edinburgh Business School, Heriot WattUniversity, Edinburgh, Scotland, as well as obtain-ing a Juris Doctor degree from Abraham LincolnUniversity School of Law and successfully com-pleting certification by the California Bar foradmission to the Bar.

Her expertise and experience complements theCHOC Pediatric Urology Department's advance-ment in the urologic care of the children of OrangeCounty.

32nd Congress Societe Internationale d’UrologieSept. 30 - Oct. 4, 2012Fukuoka, JapanGuy Hidas, MDAwarded: 1st Place Pediatric Poster SessionAerosol Transfer of Bladder Urothelial and SmoothMuscle Cells onto Demucosalized Colonic Segments forBladder Augmentation In Vivo: Long-Term and FunctionalResults.Guy Hidas, Hak J Lee, Andrej Bahoric, Hung Truong, ZhongboLiu, Shuman Liu, Samah Saharti, Xiaolin Zi, Antoine Khoury


Community Outreach

Robots are Cool Annual event beginning in 2007 300 community guests per event Free scrubs for children, In-N-Out truck Use of the da Vinci robot and surgical simulators in the UC Irvine

Surgical Education CenterThis is a free event for the community held at UC Irvine MedicalCenter and hosted by the Department of Urology Leadership Councilas an opportunity to introduce young people to the world of roboticsand the latest in cutting-edge technologies used in medicine and surgi-cal procedures.

Orange County High School Outreach Began 2008, bimonthly event, 40 students per session 63 Orange County high schools Urology Leadership Council, urology facultyThe High School Outreach program is a half-day program in which 20juniors and seniors receive interactive, hands-on experience with thelatest technological advances in minimally invasive surgery in the UCIrvine Surgical Education Center. The students also have an opportu-nity to meet and discuss career pathways with surgeons, residentsand medical students.

National Middle School Exchange Program “Doctors for a Day” 4-day event, beginning in August 2011 11 students - Brooklyn, NY 11 students - Boys & Girls Club, Anaheim, CAThis program is a collaboration between UC Irvine, FAMIS, Beginningwith Children Foundation of Brooklyn, and the Boys & Girls Club ofAnaheim. Eleven students from the Beginning with Children CharterSchool in New York City are partnered with 11 children from the Boysand Girls Club of Anaheim for a four-day educational program. Theprogram includes lectures and laboratory experiences designed tochallenge and stimulate the children to think about science and mini-mally invasive surgery. There are hands-on learning sessions in thesurgical education center (da Vinci robot, laparoscopic trainer and vir-tual reality laparoscopic simulator) and workshops on open suturing,vital signs and ultrasound.

High School Summer Premed Program Began 2010, 40 students per session Summer program, 3 sessions School of Medicine faculty lectures, hands-on training UC Irvine Simulation Center & Surgical Education CenterThis is a two-week program designed to foster the interest of highschool students in medical careers and demonstrate what it’s like tobe a medical student. The program combines didactic lectures givenby faculty members and hands-on workshops providing exposure tothe medical field.

High School Summer Surgery Program Began in 2012, 12 students per program Summer program, 1-2 sessions Exposure to surgical skills and surgical techniques Education about the latest surgical technology and virtual reality

simulators Collaboration with world-class surgeonsThis two-week program combines didactic lectures given by distin-guished UC Irvine faculty members, hands-on laboratory workshops inopen, laparoscopic and robotic surgery and live case observation inthe operating room, providing a first-rate exposure to the field of surgery.

The mission is tostimulate young minds

and encouragestudents to expandtheir horizons by

considering apossible career inmedical research,

biotechnology,clinical medicine

or healthcare.


UC IRVINE S MEDICINEurology.uci.edu/pdf/Urology_Newsletter_Fall-2012.pdf · Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery Dr. Spitz has expertise in the treatment of male infertility ...

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