Department of Urology
Chair's Corner
Earlier this month, we hosted the 2nd Annual Yale Urology Bulldog Debates at The Yale Club, our department's flagship CME event. I would like to express my gratitude to the co-directors, Drs. Angie Arlen and Stan Honig, as well as to our distinguished keynote speakers: Drs. Curtis Pettaway [MD Anderson Cancer Center], Landon Trost [Noorda College of Medicine], Jill Buckley [UCSD], and Chester Koh [Baylor College of Medicine].
The event began with the inaugural Robert M. Weiss Distinguished Alumni Medal presentation, which was awarded to Dr. Michel Pontari, resident graduate of the class of '91. Nominations for the 2025 award will open soon. Starting with next year’s Bulldog Debates, we will be extending formal invitations to graduates celebrating their 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-year reunions. We will sponsor the registration fee and lodging for those who accept.
Turning to up-and-coming classes, the selection process for next year’s residents is well underway, led by Drs. Piruz Motamedinia, Angie Arlen, and Josh Sterling. This year, we are returning to an in-person interview format. I’d like to thank the faculty members who have committed three days of their busy schedules to meet with applicants. I know this is especially tough during the holiday season.
We are already making plans for the June 2025 graduation ceremony. Our visiting professor will be Chris Gonzalez, MD, MBA, Albert J. Speh Jr., and Claire R. Speh Professor and Chair of the Department of Urology at Loyola Medicine and Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. We look forward to benefiting from his extensive experience in genitourinary reconstruction.
Before graduation, we will host a special event for our donors to thank them for their support, provide updates on our research, and highlight the continued growth of our department. More details will follow soon!
There are two important clinical updates I will close with:
- IV Fluid and Irrigation Shortage: As you know, due to manufacturing challenges following the hurricane that devastated North Carolina, we continue to experience a shortage of IV fluids and irrigations. As we navigate this issue, I want to thank Drs. Dan Kellner and Jason Lee for their efforts in rescheduling HoLEP cases to help conserve supplies.
- Flu Vaccine Requirement: The deadline for the mandatory flu vaccination is December 1st [for those working in patient-facing locations]. If any member of the department requires an exemption for valid reasons, please notify my office. Otherwise, I encourage everyone to get vaccinated to protect both yourself and your loved ones.
Finally, I would like to wish each of you a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving holiday!
Isaac Yi Kim
Publications / Abstracts
QUARTERLY REPORT
Discover what the Yale Urology team has been asking, deciphering, and answering with this comprehensive list of publications or abstracts in the latest calendar quarter.
PROSTATE CANCER STUDY IN JAMA
Vice Chair of Research Michael Leapman, MD, MHS, and team just published in JAMA Network Open about an interesting prostate cancer treatment trend they found over the last decade. Learn more.
BIAS IN MEDICAL AI
Read about this recently published study by Assistant Professor of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging and of Urology John Onofrey, PhD, and team as they identify medical AI bias and provide practical steps to combat it. This work is among the first to focus on implications and consequences of biased AI in health care.
Feature
No-Shave November / Movember for Men's Health
Cuts, cleanups, and silly mustaches - all for a cause.
Several Yale Urology faculty members and residents got in on the fun earlier this month to help raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancers. Men were also urged to simply pay closer attention to their health.
See Drs. Joseph Brito, Daniel Kellner, and Preston Sprenkle in the hot seats. Some local media provided coverage of the events.
Special thanks to VA urology tech, Frank Maisonet, and Mike Mawdsley of Mike's Barbershop in Old Saybrook for their cutting edge service.
Announcements
Adopt-A-Family for the Holidays
Yale Urology is partnering with the ROB Foundation this year to adopt two families.
The foundation was started by clinical peer to peer coordinator/complex scheduler, Nichole Dill, in memory of her son, Robert Faulk-Dill, who was killed by gun violence in 2018. He was 21.
The first family designated for our holiday help had been homeless and just recently moved into a two-bedroom apartment. They have five children between the ages of three and 14. The second family is a single mother with three children, ages five and under.
If you would like to contribute, please click on this signup link and mark which gift[s] you will be taking care of. The link does not support direct purchasing. Please bring your UNWRAPPED gift[s] to the Fitkin Office no later than Monday, Dec. 16.
Note: This is specifically for those based in New Haven. If you are in a different delivery network, you should check with your unit/region, as you may be doing another donation event for the holidays.
Latest from Faculty and Staff Affairs
Two timely highlights from Yale Urology's latest Faculty and Staff Affairs newsletter:
- It is NOW open enrollment for benefits through Dec. 6.
- The 2024 Yale Employee Engagement Survey is also open and ALL are strongly encouraged to make your voice heard. It only takes ~five minutes and will close Dec. 9.
Education Scholar Fellowship Program
Applications are now being accepted for the 2025-26 education scholar fellowship program, through Dec. 18.
And a special shoutout to Eric Bortnick, MD, MMSc, who was accepted for this year's class.
Engage in Med Ed Day
Abstracts for oral presentations and/or workshops may now be submitted for Medical Education Day at Yale [happening June 5]. Submissions are due by Jan. 10.
Got a Minute?
The Urology Times team is looking for urology professionals to provide rapid [“beat the clock” style] updates regarding upcoming conferences and awareness months, etc. Ideally, in 1 – 2 minutes, you would speak on clinical updates, newsworthy research, and other things to look forward to. Here’s what they’re mainly looking to cover:
- SUO Conference
- Genomic Testing
- Imaging for Urologic Cancers
- BPH
- Kidney Stones
- Female Urology
- OAB
People
Laquiva "Quay" Jones
The urology tech at Yale New Haven Hospital recently received the Ambulatory Circle of Care Award during the 2024 Yale New Haven Health Care Associate Celebration for her dedication to patients, commitment to peers, and service to the community.
Michel Pontari, MD
The Yale Urology residency graduate, class of '91 [right], was recently named the inaugural awardee of the Robert M. Weiss Distinguished Alumni Medal. Find out how he views the honor and why leadership is making this kind of recognition a priority.
Dawoon Esther Jung, PhD; Xiaoling Li, PhD; and Yaru Xu, PhD
Yale Urology’s commitment to research continues to grow with now three associate research scientists as part of the oncology section.
Meet each one and welcome!
Events
- Dec 20245Thursday
The Ins and Outs of Family and Medical Leave
An OAPD Wellness Webinar
Speaker: Anna Maria Hummerstone, MHA
- Dec 202411Wednesday
Ned Blackhawk: Native Peoples & the Unmaking of U.S. History
PERSPECTIVES FOR INCLUSION SERIES
Speaker: Ned Blackhawk, PhD
- Dec 202416Monday
YSM-YNHHS Town Hall: "Advancing Our Academic Health System"
Speakers: Nancy J. Brown, MD, Christopher O'Connor, MHSA, FACHE
- Dec 202418Wednesday
Yale Urology Holiday Party 2024
DJ and Dance Floor Included
- Jan 20259Thursday
31st Annual Hunger and Homelessness Auction
News You May Have Missed
Bulldog Debates 2024 Recap
The 2nd annual CME event featured a new resident surgical skills lab, an inaugural alumni medal, special guest keynotes, and Yale faculty presentations and rebuttals.
Sexual Medicine Research Roundup
At the fall scientific meeting of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America, Resident Ellen Cahill, MD, sat down with Urology Times and spoke on several research projects she and colleagues presented, including:
2nd Annual Kickoff Event for FGLI Individuals in Medicine at Yale
Jaime Cavallo, MD, MPHS, continues to help steer this fledgling mentorship program for Yale School of Medicine faculty, trainees, and medical students. Learn and see more from the recent in-person informational gathering.
News from Vice Chairs, Health System, Plus "Tran's Tips"
Missed Dr. Martin's latest Must-Know Notes?