Advanced Practice Providers

Molly Band is a certified Physician Assistant who joined Yale Urology in 2020.  Prior to joining Yale, Molly worked at Connecticut Children's in both Pediatric Urology and Pediatric Nephrology.  Molly is thrilled to bring her prior experience to her current practice.  Her practice is focused on children and adolescents with voiding dysfunction/dysfunctional elimination syndrome including urinary urgency, urinary frequency, urinary tract infections, and constipation.  She also has experience in treating patients with congenital renal anomalies including solitary kidney, vesicoureteral reflux, and hydronephrosis, as well as diagnosing and managing kidney stones.  Molly also has interest in evidence-based medicine and quality improvement.  In her prior role at Connecticut Children's, she worked on developing Clinical Pathways in efforts to standardize care for pediatric patients across the hospital system.

Kelsey Bestall is a board-certified physician assistant specializing in urology. She grew up in Colorado and received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology at the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon. Prior to becoming a physician assistant, she spent a few years as a clinical research coordinator for trauma and surgery at Oregon Health and Science University where her passion for helping take care of patients led her to get her Master of Health Science from Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant program in 2018. She settled along the Connecticut shoreline and started her career in both general surgery and inpatient urology in 2018, primarily first assisting in the operating room. She has first assisted hundreds of surgical cases, is certified in Da Vinci Robotics, and officially joined Yale Urology full-time in 2023 where she currently serves as Lead APP of the Eastern Region at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital. Kelsey works inpatient and outpatient and connects closely with the urologic oncology patients. She also is involved with the cancer survivorship program and surgical management of urology patients. She sees a variety of general urology conditions in the clinic. She’s a member of the AAPA and AUA. When she’s not at work you’ll find her spending time with family, her dog, golfing, running, or finding a new restaurant to try.

Therese Collett-Gardere is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who joined Yale Urology in 2017. Prior to Yale, she was part of a busy pediatric urology private practice for more than 16 years. As a nurse practitioner, she has worked extensively in primary care and has a solid background in child development, acute and chronic pediatric illness. Her role in Yale Pediatric Urology is diverse as she manages pre- and post-operative surgical issues ranging in difficulty from simple ambulatory procedures to complex urologic reconstruction. She has worked extensively with children who have voiding dysfunction and has been on the forefront of implementing new treatment measures. Her practice is focused on voiding dysfunction, dysfunctional elimination syndrome and the array of diagnosis that it encompasses, including but not limited to urinary incontinence, urinary urgency, urinary frequency and constipation. She has extensive experience managing children with vesicoureteral reflux as well. She is trained in performing urodynamic testing and interpretation. Therese Gardere is a graduate of S.U.N.Y Brockport with Bachelor of Science in Nursing, graduating with honors. She completed her master’s degree and nurse practitioner training at S.U.N.Y Stony Brook, where she also graduated with honors.

Meaghan Conway is a board certified Physician Assistant specializing in urology. She received her bachelor of science degree in biology at the University of Connecticut and subsequently received her masters in physician assistant studies at Hofstra University. Meaghan works closely with the urologic oncology patients, managing patients both on active surveillance and within our cancer survivorship program. She also manages a variety of urologic conditions including, but not limited to, benign prostatic hyperplasia, erectile dysfunction, recurrent UTIs, lower urinary tract symptoms, and urinary incontinence. She currently serves as our Lead APP for our outpatient APP team.

With more than twenty years of experience working as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Cynthia Curto has been providing care to urology patients since 1990. An ANCC (American Nursing Credentialing Center) board-certified family nurse practitioner, Cynthia has been published and honored with the Medical/Surgical publication award, receiving state recognition for her clinical excellence at Yale. She graduated with honors form Salve Regina University with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Cynthia was elected to the academic honor society, Sigma Theta Tau. She later earned her Master's Degree in Nursing at Sacred Heart University and completed her master's thesis on the Quality of Life of Bladder Cancer Patients after Urinary Diversion. Cynthia's areas of interests encompass both male and female urological conditions. She also practices independently at Yale University providing urologic care to employees, graduate students and faculty.  Cynthia is a member of AANP and SUNA.  Cynthia resides in Glastonbury with her husband and three children.

Graduate of Yale University Physician Associate Program [1984]Have practiced for 35+ years in the field of urology.Spent many years serving our veterans in the VA Medical System.Became clinical manager of Advance Practice Providers [APPs] in the urology department at Yale University and Yale New Haven Health in 2017.Currently working part-time with a focus on men's health under the mentorship of Stanton Honig, MD.

Kristie Hotchkiss is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (ANCC). She received her master's in science degree from Southern Connecticut State University where she graduated Cum Laude. Prior to becoming an FNP she worked as a Registered Nurse in multiple local Emergency Departments for 4 years.  She currently practices as an Advanced Practice Provider on the inpatient Urology Service at Yale New Haven Hospital for almost 4 years.  She manages patients on the floor, see consults, and first assists in the robotic cases in the OR. She is a member of the American Urologic Association.

Victor Quintanilla is a Physician Assistant in the Department of Urology at the SRC campus of Yale New Haven Hospital. He has been working in the inpatient setting since 2004. He received his Masters of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Yale University School of Medicine in 2003.  He is certified in Da Vinci robotic systems and has first assisted in over 900 robotic urology cases.  In addition to assisting in surgery, he manages the inpatient service census along with hospital consultations and urology admissions.My goal is to provide excellent patient care and to work with my colleagues as a team to allow for a satisfactory patient experience.

Jamille Rancourt is thrilled to be a member of the Pediatric Urology team at Yale. Before joining pediatric urology, she practiced in Neonatology for the last 5 years, both in the Yale system and at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC). In her time at Connecticut Children’s, Jamille was part of the respiratory task force which created and implemented new protocols in an effort to decrease rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. She has co-authored multiple posters for this project which have been presented at the Pediatric Academic Society 2021 virtual meeting as well as the 2020 Vermont Oxford Network (VON) Improvement Science Virtual Expo. Additionally, she is an adjunct faculty member at the Pace University Physician Assistant program.In addition to her passion for quality improvement, she believes in just and equitable healthcare for all. She was an advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at Connecticut Children’s and presented at APP Grand Rounds on “Belonging in the APP Profession.” She received her Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Sciences from the University of Connecticut.  She completed her master’s degree and physician assistant training at Pace University.

Lee Venancio is a certified physician assistant with Yale Urology and over 15 years experience in general urology, a first responder for urologic inpatient consults, and first assists in open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery. Lee grew up as an ocean lifeguard in RI, rendering first aid and saving lives at a young age. He joined the U.S. Naval Reserve, completed hospital corpsman training, and served his country during Operation Desert Storm. He received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Distinction from Emmanuel College. He practiced as a travelling ER nurse at several institutions including Boston Medical Center and UCSF. He received a Master of Health Science from Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant Program in 2006. He is a two-time Ironman finisher, remains active with running and rowing, and lives in Guilford with his wife and two children.