Joshua Sterling, MD, MSc
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About
Research
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Featured Publications
Transurethral ventral inlay buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty: technique and intermediate outcomes
Sterling J, Daneshvar M, Nikolavsky D. Transurethral ventral inlay buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty: technique and intermediate outcomes. BJU International 2023, 132: 109-111. PMID: 36919248, DOI: 10.1111/bju.16007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUrine flow rateVoid residualsExcellent intermediate-term outcomesInternational Prostate Symptom ScorePolydioxanone sutureDistal urethral stricturesMedian surgical timeIntermediate-term outcomesProstate Symptom ScoreSexual function scoresSingle-institution reviewBuccal mucosal graftPatient reported outcomesStep surgical techniqueMonths 95Urethroplasty successVentral urethrotomyVoid trialMean followPatient questionnaireProximal extentStricture recurrenceSymptom scoresTerm outcomesFossa navicularisEvaluation of the Effect of Tobacco Use on Buccal Mucosa Graft Histology
Policastro C, Sterling J, Porter B, Zaccarini DJ, Li G, Bratslavsky G, Nikolavsky D. Evaluation of the Effect of Tobacco Use on Buccal Mucosa Graft Histology. Urology 2022, 166: 264-270. PMID: 35469807, DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2022.03.038.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTobacco useFormer usersBuccal mucosaBuccal mucosa graft urethroplastyCurrent usersGreater collagen densityOral mucosal tissuesCurrent tobacco usersPre-operative workupRegenerative mechanismsEpithelial stem cell markersBlinded histologic analysisStem cell markersGraft histologyControl patientsSmoking statusSingle pathologistStudy cohortGraft urethroplastyImmunohistochemical evaluationHistologic changesTobacco usersChi-square analysisIHC analysisSurgical casesLong-term outcomes from a multi-institutional experience with prefabricated composite gracilis-buccal mucosal flap for reconstruction of devastated urethras
Sterling J, Schardein J, Joshi PM, Kulkarni SB, Nikolavsky D. Long-term outcomes from a multi-institutional experience with prefabricated composite gracilis-buccal mucosal flap for reconstruction of devastated urethras. International Urology And Nephrology 2022, 54: 1047-1052. PMID: 35247151, DOI: 10.1007/s11255-022-03154-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPatient-reported outcome measuresGlobal response assessmentBuccal mucosal graftOutcome measuresMulti-institutional retrospective reviewSecondary outcome measuresPrimary outcome measureLong-term outcomesMulti-institutional experiencePost-operative surveyStage 2 repairStage 1Mean IPSSMean PVRStricture lengthCase seriesResultsFive patientsRetrospective reviewStricture recurrenceSuprapubic tubeSurgical optionsBulbar urethraMean ageMucosal graftPerineal urethrostomyCancer screening in the transgender population: a review of current guidelines, best practices, and a proposed care model.
Sterling J, Garcia MM. Cancer screening in the transgender population: a review of current guidelines, best practices, and a proposed care model. Translational Andrology And Urology 2020, 9: 2771-2785. PMID: 33457249, PMCID: PMC7807311, DOI: 10.21037/tau-20-954.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFertility preservation options for transgender individuals.
Sterling J, Garcia MM. Fertility preservation options for transgender individuals. Translational Andrology And Urology 2020, 9: S215-S226. PMID: 32257862, PMCID: PMC7108981, DOI: 10.21037/tau.2019.09.28.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMulti-Institutional Outcomes of Dorsal Onlay Buccal Mucosal Graft Urethroplasty in Patients With Postprostatectomy, Postradiation Anastomotic Stenosis
Sterling J, Simhan J, Flynn B, Rusilko P, França W, Ramirez E, Angulo J, Martins F, Patel H, Higgins M, Swerdloff D, Nikolavsky D. Multi-Institutional Outcomes of Dorsal Onlay Buccal Mucosal Graft Urethroplasty in Patients With Postprostatectomy, Postradiation Anastomotic Stenosis. Journal Of Urology 2024, 211: 596-604. PMID: 38275201, DOI: 10.1097/ju.0000000000003848.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplastyBuccal mucosal graft urethroplastyRadiation therapyGraft urethroplastyUrethral stenosisUrinary incontinenceAnastomotic stenosisDevelopment of de novo stress urinary incontinenceRetrospective review of menInternational Prostate Symptom ScoreGlobal response assessmentProstate Symptom ScoreStress urinary incontinenceMedian follow-upVesicourethral anastomotic stenosisTreatment of urethral stenosisUrethral stricture diseasePatient-reported satisfactionRadical prostatectomyStenosis recurrencePatient-related outcomesProstate cancerRetrospective reviewSurgical complicationsSuprapubic catheter
2025
Antibiotic Prophylaxis After Urethroplasty: A Review of the Literature
Cahill E, Patel H, Koch G, Sterling J. Antibiotic Prophylaxis After Urethroplasty: A Review of the Literature. Journal Of Clinical Medicine 2025, 14: 3915. PMID: 40507677, PMCID: PMC12156196, DOI: 10.3390/jcm14113915.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUrinary tract infectionAntibiotic prophylaxisTract infectionsImpact of antibiotic prophylaxisEmergence of multidrug-resistant organismsRecurrent urinary tract infectionsSymptomatic urinary tract infectionMultidrug-resistant organismsSurgical site infectionFoley catheter removalEffective surgical treatmentUrethral stricture diseasePostoperative prophylaxisRadical prostatectomyUrethroplasty outcomesCatheter removalOpportunistic infectionsRisk of antibiotics overuseStricture recurrenceHypospadias repairComplication rateSite infectionSurgical treatmentStricture diseaseUrological proceduresV01-04 DORSAL ONLAY BMG URETHROPLASTY FOR VUAS AFTER RADIATION AND PROSTATECTOMY
Cedars B, Sterling J, Nikolavsky D. V01-04 DORSAL ONLAY BMG URETHROPLASTY FOR VUAS AFTER RADIATION AND PROSTATECTOMY. Journal Of Urology 2025, 213: e56. DOI: 10.1097/01.ju.0001109724.97610.92.04.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRepairing stress urinary incontinence and dehiscence after masculinizing genital gender affirmation surgery: A staged approach
Sterling J, Carbonella J, Golos A, Nikolavsky D. Repairing stress urinary incontinence and dehiscence after masculinizing genital gender affirmation surgery: A staged approach. Urology Video Journal 2025, 25: 100292. DOI: 10.1016/j.urolvj.2024.100292.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStress urinary incontinenceGenital gender-affirming surgeryBuccal mucosa graftGender-affirming surgeryBladder neckStaged urethroplastyUrinary incontinenceRecurrence of stress urinary incontinenceTreatment of stress urinary incontinenceSevere stress urinary incontinenceDorsal lithotomy positionPost-operative complicationsAutologous slingRetropubic slingsLithotomy positionUrinary frequencyFascial slingMucosa graftPerineal incisionRectus fasciaSurgical repairAbdominal incisionStaged approachPenile chordeeNative urethraChapter 48 Multicenter considerations
Passarelli R, Sterling J, Singer E, Kim I. Chapter 48 Multicenter considerations. 2025, 245-248. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-90186-4.00029-8.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
Joshua Sterling, MD, is a reconstructive urologist who is trained in a variety of techniques and approaches for treating urinary problems.
“The goal of a reconstructive urologist is to restore quality of life for patients,” he says. “The patients I focus on are those with urinary complications who are currently managed with tubes in their bladders or kidneys to drain their urine and work to restore normal voiding.”
Patients will often have multiple treatment options, depending on the origin of their problem. The treatments are as simple as a dietary change or other lifestyle modification, or as complex as minimally invasive, robotic, or open surgery. Each of those has its own pros and cons, Dr. Sterling says, and a lot of time is spent educating patients on both their condition and treatment options. For that reason, it’s important for doctors and patients to treat their relationship as a partnership, he adds, and make sure everyone involved has a full understanding of the diagnosis and the treatments.
Dr. Sterling studied biomedical engineering in college. “It's this background that led me to reconstructive urology,” he says. “There is a problem and a desired solution, but no set path to get there. Every patient also has a unique set of circumstances and goals that go with their urologic issues. All of that needs to be taken into account when designing each individualized treatment plan.”
In addition to caring for patients, Dr. Sterling is a researcher with interests in the etiology of urologic stricture disease, buccal mucosa grafting (taking tissue from another part of the body to repair a problem in the urethra), and health care disparities in the transgender population.
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Reconstructive Urethral Surgery
Learn More on Yale MedicinePediatric Incontinence (Enuresis)
Learn More on Yale MedicineFemale Incontinence
Learn More on Yale MedicineReproductive Options for Transgender Individuals
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Board Certifications
Urology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Urology
Yale Medicine News
News
News
- May 21, 2025
Yale Urology at NEAUA Resident Training and Simulation Program - in Photos
- April 15, 2025
Yale Urology Research [Q1: January-March 2025]
- January 16, 2025
Yale Urology Research [Q4: October-December 2024]
- December 31, 2024
YCC Publications 2024
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789 Howard St, FMP 302
New Haven, CT 06519
United States
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