The UCLA Urology Kidney Transplant Team led by H. Albin Gritsch, MD, surgical director, set a new mark for the program in 2015, with 324 patients receiving new kidneys, among the most in the nation.
Frank Clark Urology-Santa Monica expanded to include programs for pediatrics, pelvic medicine, and kidney stones, and added a video urodynamics suite, in addition to their ongoing programs in general urology and urologic oncology.
The Division of Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (PMRS), opened a new state-of-the-art pelvic medicine suite, as part of the Clark Urology Center in Westwood, dedicated solely to the diagnosis, treatment and consultation services that the program offers.
UCLA Urology has expanded to include services at the UCLA Health Specialty Care Office located in Northridge, CA.
The Connie Frank Transplant Center at UCLA opened its 10,000-square-foot suite on the fifth floor of the Peter Morton Medical Building at 200 UCLA Medical Plaza in Westwood.
The UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology (IUO) moved into their dedicated space on the third floor of the Edie & Lew Wasserman Building at UCLA, bringing together members of all disciplines involved in caring for patients with urologic cancers in a shared space.
The endowed chair, The Jean B. deKernion, MD, Chair in Urology, was established to pay tribute and carry forward the legacy of Dr. deKernion, who retired in 2011.
2000 - 2009
UCLA initiates their donor exchange program that successfully transplants some of the first Chain/Exchange recipients in the United States.
Dr. H. Albin Gritsch performs his 2,000th kidney transplant and Dr. Jeffrey Veale performs UCLA's 5,000th kidney transplant.
The Kidney Transplant program successfully ships the first living donor kidney, "coast to coast" across the United States, unaccompanied on a commercial airline.
Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center were awarded $700,000 from the Prostate Cancer Foundation to investigate the causes of and treatments for advanced prostate cancer.
The National Institutes of Health and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation award a five-year, $3.6 million grant to research the clinical application of kidney and islet (pronounced "eye-let") cell transplantation for patients who suffer from kidney failure and type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes.
Pediatric urology faculty members develop the renal parenchyma volume test, a noninvasive assessment of the operating volume within the kidney.
The National Institutes of Health awards a $6 million grant to the UCLA Bio-Engineering Research Partnership, spearheaded by Principal Investigator Bernard Churchill, M.D., to develop a uropathogen detection system that would identify uropathogens quickly and enable point-of-care diagnosis and treatment for urinary tract infections.
UCLA's Urologic Oncology Fellowship Program receives a five-year accreditation from the Society of Urologic Oncology. UCLA is one of only six accredited programs in the country.
The Female Sexual Medicine Center is established.
Development of robotic surgery.
The UCLA Integrated Staging System (UISS) is developed, making it possible to use statistical tools that can accurately define an individual kidney cancer patient’s probability of survival.
Cryosurgery techniques/treatments are used for the treatment of prostate cancer.
A Molecular marker identified by UCLA researchers is shown to suppress cancer and can help detect patients at high risk.
Radioactive seed implants (brachytherapy) first used for the treatment of prostate cancer.
The Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery and Endourology is established within the UCLA Department of Urology.
The Stone Treatment Center is established.
The Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology (CASIT) opens as a collaboration between the Departments of Urology and Surgery at UCLA. The new center promotes clinical, educational and research use of surgical robots and digital imaging in surgery and medicine.
Prostate Cancer Program at UCLA designated as a Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) by the National Cancer Institute.
Research by Dr. Lily Wu leads to the discovery of a new tracking system that locates prostate cancer metastases in laboratory models.
The National Cancer Institute awards a $6 million grant to The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Department of Urology at UCLA to identify bladder cancer biomarkers in current and former smokers that may enable researchers to develop a test similar to the PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test for prostate cancer over the next 5 years.
UCLA awarded a $50-million, state-funded prostate cancer treatment program, called IMPACT, to help uninsured men with prostate cancer receive critical medical care.
Dr. Charles Sawyers wins the Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award, designating $1.5 million to support further research into a gene mutation called PTEN present in men with prostate cancer.
The National Institutes of Health awards $6.9 million to researchers from UCLA, Rand Corporation and the Veteran’s Administration for a five-year project, Urologic Diseases in America. Drs. Christopher Saigal and Mark Litwin head the project.
1990 - 1999
The UCLA Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Program was formally established.
The UCLA Prostate Cancer Research Program was initiated at UCLA.
The Pediatric Urology Program established at UCLA.
Urology becomes a Department of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Development of the UCLA neobladder.
Jacob Rajfer, M.D. identifies the role nitric oxide plays in erectile dysfunction, leading to the development of Viagra.
The Cancer Research Institute awards $300,000 to Drs. Owen Witte and Robert Reiter for their collaboration on Prostate Stem Cell Antigens.
Dr. Robert Reiter discovers a new gene—called Prostate Stem Cell Antigen—that serves as a biomarker for the development of prostate cancer cells.
First use of monocoloidal antibodies in treatment of bladder cancer.
The Spina Bifida Center opens at the Clark-Morrison Children’s Urologic Center at UCLA.
Laparoscopic prostatectomy developed for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Dr. Shlomo Raz develops the Raz technique (bladder neck suspension) for the treatment of incontinence.
Dr. Shlomo Raz develops the Raz technique for the treatment of vaginal prolapse.
Dr. Shlomo Raz compiles the first definitive Atlas Of Transvaginal Surgery, now in its second edition.
Dr. Shlomo Raz authors Female Urology, the standard textbook used in medical schools for this specialty.
Mark Litwin, M.D. develops the UCLA Quality of Life Index, the first comprehensive study of outcomes in prostate cancer patients. The index is now the standard instrument used in measuring outcomes and quality of life in prostate cancer patients around the world.
The National Cancer Institute awards a team of UCLA researchers $3 million over five years to explore possible treatments for prostate cancer and develop new research models to advance studies of the disease.
1980 - 1989
The Kidney Cancer Center is established at UCLA.
The Department of Urology presents the first annual UCLA State-of-the-Art Urology Conference, which becomes the premier annual event for urologists worldwide.
1970 - 1979
The Division of Female Urology, Reconstructive Surgery and Urodynamics is established at UCLA School of Medicine.
Fellowship Program for the specialty of Female Urology established at UCLA.
1960 - 1969
First infant-to-infant transplant performed in the world.
Dr. Willard Goodwin, M.D. establishes the first kidney transplant program in the country.
Dr. Willard E. Goodwin pioneers the use of steroids to combat rejection after organ transplantation.
First successful methods of radionuclear imaging of the kidney developed.
A new method of using a portion of the bowel to reconstruct the urinary tract in adults and children was performed by Dr. Goodwin and another urologist, William Casey, M.D.
Percutaneous drainage proven safe and effective.
First study of the upper urinary tract developed.
First procedure for ureteral substitution developed.
Dr. Kaufman develops the Kaufman prosthesis for treatment of incontinence.
1950 - 1959
The Division of Urology is established within the UCLA School of Medicine’s Department of Surgery.
