Department of Urology

May 11, 2017

Varied interests inspire Urologic Surgery’s Chang

If a career in medicine hadn’t worked out for Sam Chang, he might have been a politician. As an undergraduate at Princeton University, Chang chose to major in politics instead of common premed majors such as biology or chemistry. That way, he would have the opportunity to take a spectrum of liberal arts classes, from psychology to sociology to anthropology.

By Matt Batcheldor
April 20, 2017

Prostate cancer screening recommendations altered for some older men

A federal task force has changed its recommendation about prostate cancer screening for some older men. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends that men between the ages of 55 to 69 consult with their physicians about getting routine screening blood tests to detect prostate cancer.

By VUMC News and Communications
March 30, 2017

Penson to chair urology association’s science, quality council

David Penson, M.D., MPH, Paul V. Hamilton, M.D., and Virginia E. Howd Professor of Urologic Oncology and chair of the Department of Urologic Surgery, has been selected to chair the American Urological Association (AUA) Science & Quality Council, according to an announcement from the AUA Board of Directors.

By Craig Boerner
March 23, 2017

Urology association honors Kaufman

Melissa Kaufman, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Urologic Surgery, received the 2017 Zimskind Award at the Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine, and Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) Winter Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona.

By Craig Boerner
March 21, 2017

Study shows active surveillance preserves quality of life for prostate cancer patients

Faced with the negative quality-of-life effects from surgery and radiation treatments for prostate cancer, low risk patients may instead want to consider active surveillance with their physician, according to a study released Tuesday by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

By Craig Boerner
bacteria microbiome
February 3, 2017

Bacterial signaling systems

Vanderbilt researchers have identified a unique example of communication between bacterial signaling systems, which may have relevance for antibiotic resistance.

By Leigh MacMillan
September 22, 2016

New prostate cancer therapy investigated at VUMC

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is the world’s first site to treat a patient in the TULSA-PRO Ablation Clinical Trial (TACT), which employs an emerging therapy that uses MRI guidance and robotically driven therapeutic ultrasound to obtain precise prostate cancer tissue ablation.
By Craig Boerner
June 28, 2016

Malignant hyperthermia: rare but potentially serious problem for surgical patients

John and Valerie Longoria breathed a sigh of relief when the team lead by John C. Pope IV, M.D., professor of Urologic Surgery and Pediatrics, told them a minor procedure on their 8-month-old son Maverick had been successful, and they could soon take their son home to Oak Grove, Kentucky. But then, things quickly changed.
By Jill Clendening
March 10, 2016

Dmochowski receives lifetime achievement award from SUFU

The Society for Urodynamics and Female Urology (SUFU), the premier specialty society for female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, is awarding Vanderbilt’s Roger Dmochowski, M.D., professor of Urologic Surgery, with its SUFU Lifetime Achievement Award.
By Craig Boerner
February 18, 2016

Nashville Health Care Council selects VUMC’s Chang, Patel

The Nashville Health Care Council is naming Vanderbilt’s Sam Chang, M.D., MBA, professor of Urologic Surgery and Oncology, and Neal Patel, M.D., professor of Clinical Pediatrics, to its 2016 Council Fellows class, selected by the Council Fellows Advisory Committee led by former U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D.
By Craig Boerner
February 4, 2016

Prostate cancer survivors’ risk of heart disease studied

The 3 million prostate cancer survivors in the United States are likely to die from something other than cancer, thanks to early detection, effective treatment and the disease’s slow progression.
By Kathy Whitney
December 10, 2015

Society of Urologic Oncology honors VUMC’s Smith

The Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) is recognizing Joseph Smith Jr., M.D., professor of Urologic Surgery, with the Huggins Medal, its highest honor, for his lifetime contributions to the progress in treatment for patients with genitourinary neoplasms, which are tumors or cancer of the reproductive organs and the urinary system.
By Craig Boerner
November 5, 2015

“Movember” activities help raise prostate cancer funds, awareness

Beginning this week, Vanderbilt men will have a good excuse to ignore their razors and let their facial hair grow. November has been dubbed “Movember,” a time when men are encouraged to grow a moustache to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer.
By VUMC News and Communications