News and Events
UCLA Urology in the News
The UCLA Department of Urology provides cutting-edge diagnosis and treatments and supports a staff of renowned physicians, surgeons, and researchers. Demonstrating continued excellence in the field of Urology, the UCLA Department of Urology along with its varied Centers of Excellence, is often the subject of stories in newspapers, magazines, and journals. The Department also frequently issues news releases to keep the community informed on the latest developments in urology, the treatments available at UCLA, and various milestones within the Department. We include here a collection of recent stories, and an archive of older articles, for your further information.
November 29, 2023
Dr. Mark S. Litwin, MPH, UCLA Urology professor and chair, was selected as a recipient of the 2023 UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine JEDI Trailblazer Award. The JEDI Trailblazer Award recognizes years of commitment embodying leadership and excellence in advancing ideals of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and is presented in collaboration with the AAPI Faculty Alliance and BLNA Collective (Black, Latinx and Native American Faculty Collective) at the School of Medicine.
November 17, 2023
UroToday The Current and Future State of Telehealth in Urology – Expert commentary from Dr. Juan Andino, assistant clinical professor of UCLA Urology.
November 16, 2023
Urology Times Dr. Mills on CCH treatment in the acute phase of Peyronie’s disease - Expert commentary from Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the Men's Clinic at UCLA.
November 14, 2023
CityBiz Urology Care Foundation Announces Kymora Scotland, MD, PhD as Recipient of the 2023 Rising Stars in Urology Research Award - Dr. Kymora Scotland, assistant professor of urology, director of endourology research and associate director of Endourology Fellowship Program at UCLA Health. Learn more on the UCLA Health Newsroom.
October 30, 2023
Carol Bennett receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Black Women Physicians. - Dr. Carol Bennett, professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, was the nation’s first Black woman in the field of urology. Dr. Bennett was honored by the association for her significant contributions to the field. Learn more on the UCLA Health Newsroom.
October 26, 2023
UCLA urologists receive Young Investigator Award to help improve prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment - Dr. Wayne Brisbane and Dr. Adam Weiner have each been awarded the Young Investigator Award from the Prostate Cancer Foundation to support work in improving the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. They are among only twenty-eight researchers receiving the awards. Learn more on the UCLA Health and UCLA Health Newsroom.
October 16, 2023
Yahoo News What is delayed ejaculation? Here's what you need to know about this little-talked about problem – Expert commentary from Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the Men's Clinic at UCLA.
October 1, 2023
Dr. Juan Andino, assistant clinical professor of UCLA Urology, appeared on Univision for National Latino Physician Day. Dr. Andino also participated on a panel for UCLA DGSOM’s National Latinx Physicians Day webinar. National Latinx Physicians Day, celebrated every October 1st, recognizes the vital role Latinx physicians play in promoting health in our communities.
September 24, 2023
Dr. Renea Sturm, assistant professor of UCLA Urology, and her research team were awarded the Top Basic Science Prize at the 2023 Society for Pediatric Urology Fall Congress for their research on “Highly Elastic Biomaterials for the Lower Urinary Tract: Materials Testing and In vitro Analysis.”
September 26, 2023
Huffington Post Why you always need to pee when you get close to home - Expert commentary from Dr. Victor Nitti, professor of Urology and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
September 25, 2023
CancerNetwork Selecting patients best suited for AI prostate cancer detection - Expert commentary from Dr. Wayne Brisbane, assistant professor of Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and member of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
September 7, 2023
Uro Today The intersection of technology and humanitarianism in urology - Dr. Kymora Scotland, assistant professor of Urology, director of Endourology research, and associate director of the Endourology Fellowship Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is featured on Uro Today’s series on health disparities.
September 5, 2023
For prostate cancer, PSMA imaging helps diagnosis, staging and treatment decisions - Dr. Robert Reiter, MD, professor of UCLA Urology, chief of Urologic Oncology and director of the Prostate Cancer Program believes Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) imaging provides “a more sensitive way – a better way – to detect and stage prostate cancer." Learn more on the UCLA Health Newsroom.
September 5, 2023
Insights into penile health and tissue engineering - A new study led by Dr. Sriram Eleswarapu, physician scientist in the department of urology at UCLA, explored properties of the layer of the penis called the tunica albuginea (TA), the elastic layer affected by conditions such as Peyronie’s disease, penile fracture and other penile injuries. The study provides valuable data on the biochemical composition, mechanical properties and structural organization of healthy TA. The authors say this information may be helpful for developing engineered replacements for the TA to treat conditions such as Peyronie's disease, which causes deformities and dysfunction in the TA. Learn more on UCLA Health Lab Notes.
September 5, 2023
USA Today Kidney transplants usually last 10 to 15 years. Hers made it 50, but now it's wearing out – Expert commentary from Dr. Jeffrey Veale, director of the kidney transplantation exchange program and professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
August 31, 2023
KCAL/KCBS Transplanting hope – Feature on UCLA Health’s Immunosuppression-Free Kidney Transplant (Tolerance Program), Dr. Jeffrey Veale, director of the kidney transplantation exchange program and professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and UCLA Health patients Micah and Dylan. Dr. Veale was also interviewed live in-studio.
August 31, 2023
Dominica News Online Dominican doctor makes strides in male-dominated specialty – Coverage of 2023 Urology Care Foundation Humanitarian Grant given to Dr. Kymora Scotland, assistant professor of urology and an associate director of the Endourology Fellowship Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
August 25, 2023
Dr. Jeffrey Veale receives Terasaki Medical Innovation Award - Dr. Jeffrey Veale, professor of urology and director of the UCLA Kidney Transplantation Exchange Program, has won the 2023 Terasaki Medical Innovation Award for his role in developing the delayed-immune-tolerance protocol, which can help kidney transplant recipients reduce their reliance on immunosuppressive medications. Learn more on the UCLA Health Newsroom.
August 25, 2023
Urology Times Tool helps improve the accuracy of focal therapy for prostate cancer – Dr. Wayne Brisbane, assistant professor of Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA provided expert commentary to the Urology Times.
August 14, 2023
Milestone procedure for the UCLA Health Kidney Transplant Program - Dr. Hans Gritsch, surgical director of the UCLA Health Kidney Transplant Program, provides expert commentary on how UCLA Health has taken numerous steps to increase the number of kidneys available for transplant as well as decrease downtime via the switch to a minimally invasive method. Learn more on the UCLA Health Newsroom.
August 11, 2023
Dr. Christopher Saigal, a professor and Vice Chair of Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a PI at RAND Corporation, discusses a new treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that has fewer side effects than ‘gold standard’ surgery. The new treatment, Aquablation, is now available at UCLA Health as of June 2023. Learn more on the UCLA Health Newsroom.
August 11, 2023
Dr. Kymora Scotland, assistant professor of Urology, director of Endourology research, and associate director of the Endourology Fellowship Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, was awarded a 2023 Urology Care Foundation Humanitarian Grant to provide urologic screening events in South Los Angeles. Learn more on the UCLA Health Newsroom.
July 31, 2023
Becker’s Hospital Review US News' top hospitals for 15 specialties: 2023-24 – Coverage of 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report hospital rankings. UCLA Health was named no. 1 in California and made the USNWR Honor Roll for the 34th straight year. Thirteen UCLA Health medical specialties placed in the top 10, including UCLA Urology.
July 31, 2023
New York Times The Persistent Confusion Around the U.T.I. - Dr. Ja-Hong Kim, clinical professor of UCLA Urology, provided expert commentary to the New York Times.
July 27, 2023
Dr. Stoyanova awarded $1.5 million NCI grant to uncover new ways to treat advanced prostate cancer - Dr. Tanya Stoyanova, associate professor of Urology and associate professor of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, received the grant to investigate new treatment strategies for neuroendocrine prostate cancer, a highly aggressive form of the disease.
July 25, 2023
PSMA PET imaging improves accuracy of predicting prostate cancer recurrence - A molecular imaging tool developed by researchers at the University of California’s two nationally ranked medical centers, UCLA and UCSF, helps improve the accuracy of predicting the risk of cancer recurrence in patients with intermediate to high-risk prostate cancer who undergo surgery. Dr. Robert Reiter, professor of Urology, is a study author.
July 13, 2023
UCLA researchers confirm mutations that predispose patients to rare kidney cancer syndrome – News-Medical provided coverage of new research from the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center co-authored by Dr. Brian Shuch, director of the Kidney Cancer Program and the Alvin & Carrie Meinhardt Endowed Chair in Kidney Cancer Research at UCLA and Dr. Heather Christofk, director of Basic and Translational Research. ecancer also covered the story.
July 5, 2023
Using Artificial Intelligence to Map Prostate Tumors –The NCI highlighted the study led by Dr. Leonard Marks, professor and deKernion Endowed Chair in Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and member of UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Cancer Molecular Imaging, Nanotechnology and Theranostics Program.
June 27, 2023
Scienmag and News-Medical provided coverage of a new study led by Dr. Leonard Marks, professor and deKernion Endowed Chair in Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and member of UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Cancer Molecular Imaging, Nanotechnology and Theranostics Program, about how an AI model could help improve outcomes of prostate cancer focal therapy.
June 27, 2023
AI model could help improve outcomes of prostate cancer focal therapy. Scientists at UCLA, including Dr. Leonard Marks, professor and deKernion Endowed Chair in Urology, developed an AI model that helps determine how extensive cancer is within the prostate gland.
June 26, 2023
UroToday interviewed Dr. JJ Haijing Zhang, Urologic Oncologist, UCLA Health, about her research exploring the genomic alterations in prostate cancer patients exposed to Agent Orange.
June 23, 2023
UCLA Health announced that Dr. Andrew Goldstein, associate professor of molecular, cell and developmental biology and urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, received an Idea Development Award from the Department of Defense to study how metabolism changes in prostate cancer as a result of hormone therapy, the most commonly used treatment for men with advanced disease.
June 20, 2023
UCLA Health announced that UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital placed in California’s top 5 and was nationally ranked in multiple subspecialties, including urology, in a widely watched assessment of pediatric care published June 20 by U.S. News & World Report.
June 15, 2023
KABC featured a Father’s Day story on UCLA Health patient Anthony Purcell and his journey to parenthood, along with Dr. Jesse Mills, Purcell’s surgeon and director of the Men's Clinic at UCLA. UCLA Health Connect also featured this story.
June 14, 2023
Dr. Carol J. Bennett, Henry E. Singleton Professor of Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provided commentary to Impulso about overactive bladder.
June 7, 2023
The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA featured Dr. Sriram Eleswarapu in their Specialist Spotlight series.
June 4, 2023
Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the Men's Clinic at UCLA, was interviewed by WebMD about how to talk to your partner with prostate cancer.
June 6, 2023
Dr. Paul Boutros, vice dean of research, professor in human genetics and urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Provided expert commentary to USA Today regarding DNA sequencing for cancer patients.
June 2, 2023
Dr. Isla P. Garraway, associate professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, member of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, and member of the Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA, discusses the unique aspects of prostate cancer research within the VA healthcare system on UroToday.
June 1, 2023
Dr. Juan Andino is named a Bruin Scholar. The Bruin Scholars Program was created to retain trainees committed to uplifting underserved populations. As a future faculty member, Juan Andino, MD, MBA, current UCLA Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery Fellow, will focus on mentorship for underrepresented minorities in medicine and research in disparities in urologic care.
May 26, 2023
Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the Men's Clinic at UCLA, provided commentary to The Sun regarding men sitting to urinate.
May 23, 2023
Reprint of press release highlighting UCLA physicians and scientists presenting at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting, including a presentation by Dr. Brian Shuch, Associate Professor of Urology, Director of the Kidney Cancer Program, and Meinhardt Chair for Kidney Cancer Research, regarding the results from the phase 3 ZIRCON study.
May 12, 2023
Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the Men's Clinic at UCLA, provided commentary to Giddy regarding penile vibratory stimulation.
May 10, 2023
Dr. Alexandra Drakaki, Assistant Clinical Professor of Urology and Hematology/Oncology, was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times regarding Dolph Lungren’s cancer diagnosis and the value of second opinions.
May 8, 2023
Dr. Brian Shuch, Director of the Kidney Cancer Program and the Alvin & Carrie Meinhardt Endowed Chair in Kidney Cancer Research at UCLA, provided expert commentary to Cancer Network about how imaging with 89Zr-DFO-Girentuximab may better identify kidney tumors.
May 8, 2023
Dr. Jeffrey Veale, director of the kidney transplantation exchange program and professor of UCLA Urology, spoke with Renal & Urology News about the pros and cons of robotic-assisted vs open kidney translation.
May 5, 2023
Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the Men's Clinic at UCLA, was interviewed by Giddy regarding penile revascularization.
April 27, 2023
Women’s Health interviewed Dr. Stephanie Pannell, urologist at Santa Monica Urology, about common causes for unusual urine odor.
April 27, 2023
Men’s Health featured Dr. Juan Andino, UCLA urology andrology and infertility fellow, about the signs of erectile dysfunction.
April 25, 2023
Dr. Wayne Brisbane, assistant professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provided expert commentary to Urology Times about Unfold AI, an artificial intelligence (AI)–powered software application program, being used for the management of patients with prostate cancer.
April 5, 2023
VICE highlighted expert commentary from Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the Men's Clinic at UCLA, about whether testosterone treatment affects a person’s politics.
April 3, 2023
Nazy Zomorodian, NP, Director of the Genitourinary Clinical Trials Unit and Assistant Professor and Nurse Practitioner for the UCLA Urology, provided commentary to cancernetwork regarding the FDA’s approval of enfortumab vedotin-ejfv (Padcev) plus pembrolizumab (Keytruda) as a combination therapy for patients with urothelial cancer.
February 24, 2023
Dr. Rajiv Jayadevan, an assistant professor of urology at UCLA and male fertility specialist at The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, provided expert commentary to Men’s Health about whether weed affects testosterone.
February 24, 2023
Men’s Health interviewed Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the Men's Clinic at UCLA, about what testosterone can and cannot do.
February 15, 2023
President Biden has appointed Dr. Richard Boxer, Clinical Professor of UCLA Urology, to the National Cancer Advisory Board, which plays an important role in helping guide the director of the National Cancer Institute to set the course for the national cancer research program.
February 7, 2023
UCLA Health Connect shares that more men are taking active steps toward birth control, according to Dr. Jesse Mills, Professor of Urology and Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA.
February 6, 2023
Men’s Health interviewed Dr. Rajiv Jayadevan, an assistant professor of urology at UCLA and male fertility specialist at The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, about whether sex increases testosterone levels.
February 6, 2023
Men’s Health spoke to Dr. Rajiv Jayadevan, an assistant professor of urology at UCLA and male fertility specialist at The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, about what to know about taking tongkat ali to boost testosterone.
February 1, 2023
Dr. Rajiv Jayadevan, an assistant professor of urology at UCLA and male fertility specialist at The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, provided expert commentary to Men’s Health regarding free (unbound) testosterone.
February 1, 2023
Dr. Rajiv Jayadevan, an assistant professor of urology at UCLA and male fertility specialist at The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, spoke with Men’s Health about the value of a testosterone test.
January 23, 2023
Mark S. Litwin, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair of UCLA Urology, was presented the Joseph A. Smith, Jr. Mentorship Award at the 2022 Society of Urologic Oncology Annual Meeting. In this interview with Urology Times, he describes the best ways to be the most effective mentor based on his own experience. Litwin is professor and chair of urology at University of California, Los Angeles.
January 21, 2023
Dr. Isla Garraway, Professor of Urology and Director of Urologic Research, is a key member of the Prostate Cancer Foundation's newly established health equities panel creating prostate cancer screening guidelines for Black men in the United States.
January 19, 2023
The UCLA Gender Health Program care coordination team is the recipient of a Cultural North Star Team Award. This award recognizes the teamwork that serves as the cornerstone of the collaborative environment at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
January 15, 2023
Urban heat islands, redlining and kidney stones The persistent rise in kidney stone prevalence in recent decades has prompted much speculation as to the causes. There has been some discussion about the effect of heat on nephrolithiasis. A review of recent data suggests that heat may play a role in stone formation on a large scale and among African-Americans in particular. A new UCLA-led study led by Dr. Kymora B. Scotland states that African-Americans are the race/ancestry group with faster rates of increasing incidence and prevalence of kidney stones. Researchers also found that urban heat islands in the United States have resulted in part from the effects of redlining, a practice of systematic segregation and racism in housing that led to the development of neighborhoods with substantial disparities in environmental conditions. Dr. Scotland and her team hypothesize that the increased temperatures experienced by residents in redlined communities, many of whom are African American may contribute to the 150% increase in the prevalence of kidney stones in African Americans in recent decades. Read the study in the January 1, 2023 issue of Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension.
January 13, 2023
UroToday/GU Onc Today reports that Dr. Isla P. Garraway, associate professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, member of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and member of the Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA, is a featured panelist on the Prostate Cancer Foundations's newly established health equities panel creating prostate cancer screening guidelines for Black men in the United States.
January 2, 2023
Urology Times provides expert commentary from Dr. Karim Chamie, associate professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, about the interim findings from an ongoing study (NCT03022825) looking at the safety and efficacy of combining Nogapendekin alfa inbakicept (NAI) with BCG intravesical instillation for the treatment of BCG-unresponsive non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).1
