Department of Urology
Chair's Corner
Pediatric Urology Congrats
Congratulations are in order to Drs. Hittelman and Arlen and the rest of the pediatric urology team. Yale Pediatric Urology has moved up six more spots from last year in the latest U.S. News & World Report ranking. It now places at #18 in the country. With the arrival of Dr. Bortnick and additional planned recruitments, I have no doubt the pediatric team will continue to grow its reputation on the national stage.
Slight Access 365 Delay
Access 365 is in full swing. Nevertheless, the timeline laid down initially has proven to be ambitious and the full implementation has been delayed to December. Please remain engaged in this critical initiative as satisfactorily resolving the access issue will be critical for our collective goal of becoming a destination program.
Identified Metrics Will Soon Be Shared
To measure the progress we are making in becoming a destination department, our leaders have collectively developed a consensus around a series of specific outcomes. These metrics, which focus on the three academic missions – clinical, education, and research - will soon be shared monthly with the division and regional leaders.
In-Person Residency Interviews
On the education front, residency recruitment is upon us. After screening more than 200 applicants, 50 interviews have been offered. I am delighted to report that no one has declined the interview offer. Yale Urology is fast becoming a destination center for trainees. This year, we have decided to conduct the interviews in person. This decision was made deliberately because one of the major challenges in recruitment to Yale is our geographic location. New Haven and Connecticut has much charm, and this can be better shown with an in-person visit.
Urology Now Mandatory for YSM Students
Earlier this month we hosted our annual surgical skills fair, geared toward first- and second-year medical students. Once again, it proved to be a popular and interactive event with 64 students rotating through 11 hands-on practice stations. In addition, for the first time, urology will now be a mandatory rotation for all Yale School of Medicine students beginning in January.
Task Force Reports by End of Year
I am delighted to report that our financial outlook has improved dramatically due to modification of the wRVU payment formula. Nevertheless, budgetary challenges remain. It is anticipated that many of these challenges will be addressed by the two task forces who are expected to provide recommendations by the end of this calendar year.
Bulldog Debates
Finally, this weekend we are hosting the 2nd Annual Yale Urology Bulldog Debates – our destination CME symposium at the Yale Club in New York City. This event is one of the centerpieces of Yale Urology developing a team culture while expanding alumni engagement. We are excited to reveal our inaugural recipient of the Robert M. Weiss Distinguished Alumni Award! Also, at the debates this year, we will be handing out department bow ties and twillies for faculty members and resident alumni. I look forward to seeing you there.
Publications / Abstracts
Discover what many in Yale Urology have been working on. View the NEW quarterly research report showing publications and abstracts from July through September.
Features
- October 09, 2024
Yale Pediatric Urology ranked along with four other pediatric subspecialties at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital [YNHCH] in the latest U.S. News & World Report listing, moving six places higher than last year to be #18 in the country.
- October 30, 2024
A video recap of one of Yale Urology's most popular annual educational events.
Announcements
Happy Halloween
Several academic admins dressed for the occasion earlier this week. Have a favorite costume?
Pumpkin Winner Announced
Each year, Yale Urology's clinic spaces battle it out for the coveted honor of best pumpkin decorator [incisions not allowed]. Votes have been tallied and the 2024 win goes to YPB staff for their "Beetlejuice 2" creation. Congratulations.
View all the contestants [Beetlejuice 1, Construction Worker, Dr. Bladder Squash, and Downtime Susan] in the department's recent social media post.
United Way Raffle Fundraiser
Yale Urology creatively contributed to this year's Yale-United Way Campaign by holding a themed basket raffle. Winners were drawn earlier this week. Congrats to:
- Solange Gonzalez [pictured], who won the Stanley Mug and Candy basket
- Leslie Rickey, who took home the Wine and Chocolate basket
- Soum Lokeshwar, who snagged the Cookie Tray treat
- Gabby Diaz, whose name got picked for the Flower Bouquet giveaway
- Steve Maher, who got the Candle basket
- and Jodi Canapp, who won the Connecticut Local basket
Special thanks to everyone who donated, and a shoutout to Stacy, Michelle, Trish, Solange, Tiffany, and Cheri for creating the baskets. All proceeds go directly to the Yale-United Way campaign. You may still donate online.
Grow & Cut for Men’s Health
Just a few slots left for Dr. Joe Brito's L+M area Men’s Health event. Keep the hair growing till then :)
WHAT: Yale Urology Docs, Care Members, and Staff Finally Shave/Cut/Trim
WHERE: Mike’s Barbershop in Old Saybrook, 100 Main Street
WHEN: Nov. 7, 6 p.m.
HOW: Contact Dr. Brito to sign up/learn more
Stay tuned for details on a similar event in New Haven.
Science Beauty Contest
The YSM Program for Art in Public Spaces invites members of the Yale medical community to submit images for a unique beauty contest. Learn more. Submissions are due by Nov. 22.
People
Leslie M. Rickey, MD, MPH
In September, she was officially given full professor designation at Yale, the first woman in the Department of Urology to achieve this rank.
Preston Sprenkle, MD
He recently received a VA promotion.
Joshua Sterling, MD, MSc
He was recently named associate residency program director.
Dr. Sterling will work alongside Piruz Motamedinia, MD, and Angela Arlen, MD, who will continue in their respective roles as residency director and vice chair of education.
Michelle Carrara, BSN, RN
Hats off to the winner of this year's Claire Puklin Award.
View the presentation and her acceptance speech. And don’t miss Dr. Tran and team’s tribute video to the late Betty Rodrigue-Desnoyers [a former Puklin Award honoree].
Upcoming Events
Everyone All DayIsaac Y. Kim, MD, PhD, MBA - Jill C. Buckley, MD, MBA - Chester J. Koh, MD, MBA - Curtis A. Pettaway, MD - Landon W. Trost, MD - Angela Arlen, MD - Eric Bortnick, MD - Jaime A. Cavallo, MD, MPHS - Fed Ghali, MD - Adam Benjamin Hittelman, MD, PhD - Stanton Honig, MD - Patrick A. Kenney, MD - Thomas V. Martin, MD - Katherine Rotker, MD - Dinesh Singh, MD - Preston C. Sprenkle, MD - Joshua Sterling, MD, MSc - Yi An, MD
Yale Only Taylor Mauriello, PhD
Everyone Jeremy Wiygul, MD
Everyone Christopher S. Cooper, MD, FACS, FAAPZoom Passcode: 507488 For CME credits please text 46284 to 203-442-9435
Organization Only
News You May Have Missed
EPIC upgrades go live on Nov. 10. Providers should have received the following info, tips, and training dates.
The FY24 Annual Brief is now live on Yale Urology's website and available in hard copy.
Reach out to Cheri Lewis if you would like any.
Chief Resident Tashzna Jones, MD, weighed in on recent Yale research surrounding thriveability in residency.
Michael S. Leapman, MD, MHS, was on a recent Yale Cancer Answers podcast, discussing surgical options for prostate cancer: hear his full interview with Eric Winer, MD.
Katherine Rotker, MD, recently spoke on "Fertility Considerations for Men" at the Yale New Haven Health-Smilow-Yale Cancer Center conference - Preserving Hope: Fertility Care for Patients with Cancer and Hematological Disorders.
Issac Kim, MD, PhD, MBA, spoke to Yale Daily News on why the health system's recent milestone of 30K robotic surgeries is significant.
Leslie Rickey, MD, MPH, contributed to this new Yale Medicine article on Kegel exercises.
Here is the latest Alignment Newsletter [providing updates on the health system and school’s combined efforts]
Miss Dr. Martin’s October Must-Know Notes?
Beatrix Profiles
Remember, as long as you have a Yale netID, you can review and update individual YSM website profiles by logging in to Beatrix, the YSM news and profile system. Now, with a new design launched in late July, up-to-date profiles help extend the reach of your work.