Urology

Mission

The mission of the Department of Urology is to serve as a leader in teaching, patient care, and research in all aspects of genito-urinary medicine and surgery. We are committed to the superior education of medical students, urology residents, and fellows in the medical and surgical aspects of urology. The faculty and staff in the Department of Urology provide compassionate, professional, and innovative urologic care to the patients we serve in our community and surrounding regions. Our constant commitment to research serves to foster a spirit of inquiry into urologic disease states.

Overview

The Department of Urology’s educational programs have a long-standing tradition of training national and international leaders in the field of urologic disease. The Urology department is active in medical student teaching, starting with mentorship of first- and second-year medical students as well as third- and fourth-year clinical rotations. Electives in general urology and in sexual medicine are offered to fourth-year students. Since 1970, 170 BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine medical student graduates have become urologists. David F. Penson, MD, MPH (CAMED’91), chair of Urologic Surgery at Vanderbilt University, was the recipient of the 2016 Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award. Our graduate medical education in urology is a fully accredited five-year training program, with Boston Medical Center as our partner healthcare institution. Other affiliated healthcare institutions include the Boston Veterans Administration Healthcare System and Boston Children’s Hospital. Most of our graduating residents have gone on to fellowship training in nearly all areas of urologic subspecialties.

Clinical Programs

Our clinical programs at Boston Medical Center provide a full range of urologic services to a unique and diverse patient population. Our clinicians provide care to a vulnerable population as well as provide tertiary care for the surrounding areas of Boston and New England. With our state-of-the-art facilities we are able to utilize the various ancillary and professional services contained within Boston Medical Center and its affiliates.

All faculty physicians in the Department of Urology are fellowship trained in the core areas of urologic disease states and provide the highest quality of medical care to our patients. Expertise is present in the areas of male infertility, transgender medicine and surgery, urodynamics, incontinence and female urology, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, urogynecology, endourology and stone disease, minimally invasive surgery, including laparoscopy and robot-assisted surgery, medical and surgical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and uro-oncology. In addition to the core urology clinical services rendered at BMC, our Center for Sexual Medicine provides evaluation and treatment for those with erectile dysfunction and female sexual dysfunction.

From 2016 to 2022, seven faculty members achieved recognition as “Boston’s Top Doctors” in Urology. Chair of Urology Dr. Toby C. Chai was elected as a trustee of the American Board of Urology for a six-year term from 2023 to 2029.

Research

Critical to the mission of the department is research of urologic disease. Dr. Chai was recipient of the American Urological Association’s 2022 Distinguished Service Award for “exemplary contributions to the science of urology and advocacy for urological research.” The department will continue to mentor medical students and urology residents in order for them to discover the excitement and wonder of research endeavors. Chobanian & Avedisian SOM medical students and urology residents have worked with faculty to present abstracts and posters at both regional and national urology meetings.