Meet The Faculty

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Boyd Viers, MD, PhD, Surgical Consultant in Urology, and surgical team members, wear loupe magnifiers and headlamp and focus toward the surgical field in the operating room.

The Department of Urology faculty members are well-regarded in their fields and are committed to teaching and the growth of medical knowledge.

From the program director

Boyd Viers, M.D. Mayo Clinic provides broad exposure to all aspects of urology with leaders/mentors in all urologic subspecialties. We annually match six residents into a five-year program with an optional sixth dedicated year of research. The intern year includes six months of urology along with trauma, ICU, general surgery, plastics/transgender, colorectal, and transplant surgery.

One unique aspect of our residency is the preceptorship model, whereby residents are matched 1:1 with faculty members for two-month rotations. In this environment, residents participate in outpatient clinic, OR, and postoperative care of the same patients, maximizing continuity and providing early surgical exposure. Our chief residents spend approximately half of their year managing their own service, and function as faculty advisors to junior residents rotating on their service.

With some of the most unique and well-organized databases, research opportunities are abundant and our residents graduate with an average of nine or more peer-reviewed publications. Our residents also graduate with well-balanced skills in robotic, open, and endoscopic techniques, and are ready to immediately manage a high-volume clinic.

Boyd Viers, M.D.
Urology Residency Program Director

Faculty

In addition to caring for patients in their clinical practices, our 29 faculty members are committed to teaching and facilitating the growth of medical knowledge. Many of our faculty members have published and lectured extensively and are well-regarded in their fields.

You have direct access to the faculty throughout the Urology Residency.

	Katie Anderson, M.D. Assistant Professor of Urology Interests: Neurogenic bladder Urinary diversions Urethral stricture disease Ureteral stricture Genitourinary fistula External genitourinary reconstruction and buried penis View full profile
	Ross Avant, M.D. Assistant Professor of Urology Interests: Benign and malignant scrotal conditions Benign prostatic hyperplasia/enlarged prostate Bladder cancer Erectile dysfunction Gross and microscopic hematuria Management of kidney stones Minimally invasive/robotic surgery for treatment of prostate cancer and kidney cancer Vasectomy
	Stephen Boorjian, M.D. Professor of Urology Interests: Surgical management of advanced renal cell carcinoma Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for testicular cancer Nerve-sparing robotic prostatectomy Management of high-risk prostate cancer Orthotopic neobladder reconstruction View full profile
	George Chow, M.D. Assistant Professor of Urology Interests: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy Laparoscopic specimen extraction Radiofrequency ablation of adrenal/kidney Urologic surgical robots Uroradiographic imaging View full profile
	Meghan Cooper, D.O. Assistant Professor of Urology Interests: Male overactive bladder Male urge incontinence Male urinary retention Non muscle invasive bladder cancer Stone disease BPH Scrotal conditions View full profile
	Daniel Elliott, M.D. Professor of Urology Interests: Male incontinence Artificial urinary sphincter and voiding dysfunction Management of vaginal mesh complications Female urology/incontinence Surgical and nonsurgical management of female incontinence and voiding problems Vaginal prolapse BPH treatment View full profile
	Igor Frank, M.D. Professor of Urology Interests: Nerve-sparing robotic prostatectomy Management of localized and advanced prostate cancer Bladder cancer surgery and reconstruction including bladder replacement Research interests in urologic oncology and robotics Single port robotic pelvic surgery View full profile
	Patricio Gargollo, M.D. Professor of Urology Interests: Pediatric genitourinary tumors Rhabdomyosarcoma Wilm's Tumor Testicular cancer Bladder exstrophy Hypospadias Inguinal hernia Vesico-uteral reflux View full profile
	Matthew Gettman, M.D. Professor of Urology Interests: Robotics (daVinci robotic system) Laparoscopic prostatectomy Laparoscopic nephrectomy Cyrosurgery and radiofrequency ablation of kidney Endourology View full profile
	Candace Granberg, M.D. Assistant Professor of Urology Interests: Genitourinary Rhabdomyosarcoma Wilms Tumor Testicular cancer in children and adolescents Hypospadias Ureteropelvic junction obstruction Pediatric stone disease Cryptorchidism View full profile
	Sevann Helo, M.D. Assistant Professor of Urology Interests: Male infertility Fertility preservation Male sexual dysfunction Benign penile and scrotal conditions Peyronie's disease Male hypogonadism and testosterone deficiency View full profile
	R. Jeffrey Karnes, M.D. Professor of Urology Interests: Recurrent and advanced urologic cancers Bladder cancer: urine markers/treatment/surgery including reconstruction and replacement Prostate cancer including nerve-sparing surgery Penile/urethral cancers Residents and fellow education View full profile
	Abhinav Khanna, M.D., M.P.H. Assistant Professor of Urology Interests: Complex robotic surgery Nerve-sparing robotic prostatectomy Robotic partial nephrectomy Robotic radical nephrectomy Robotic radical cystectomy Robotic intracorporeal urinary diversion View full profile
	Tobias Kohler, M.D., M.P.H. Professor of Urology Interests: Male sexual dysfunction Erectile dysfunction Implantation of penile prostheses Minimally invasive therapies for BPH Surgical education View full profile
	Kevin Koo, M.D., M.P.H. Assistant Professor of Urology Interests: Bladder stones Kidney stones Ureterocele Urinary obstruction View full profile
	Eugene Kwon, M.D. Professor of Immunology and Urology Interests: Prostate cancer Clinical trials Immunology research View full profile
	Bradley Leibovich, M.D. Professor of Urology Interests: Surgical management of testicular cancer Management of small renal masses Nephron-preserving renal surgery Open and minimally invasive surgery including robotics Immunobiology of renal cell carcinoma Cancer prognosis View full profile
	Brian Linder, M.D. Associate Professor of Urology and Obstetrics/Gynecology Interests: Management of pelvic organ prolapse including vaginal, robotic, and abdominal surgeries Treatments for stress urinary incontinence including urethral slings (synthetic and autologous) and urethral bulking injections Urinary incontinence Repair of genitourinary fistula Management of urethral diverticulum View full profile
	Derek Lomas, M.D. Assistant Professor of Urology Interests: Prostate cancer diagnostics and risk stratification Trans-perineal prostate biopsy including targeted biopsy Prostate imaging (MRI, Ultrasound) Focal therapy for prostate cancer including cryotherapy and high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) Active surveillance for prostate cancer Minimally invasive treatments for BPH View full profile
	Adam Miller, M.D. Associate Professor of Urology Interests: Benign and malignant scrotal conditions Benign prostatic hyperplasia Bladder cancer Erectile dysfunction General urology Gross and microscopic hematuria Kidney stones Prostate cancer Renal masses Vasectomy
	Lance Mynderse, M.D. Associate Professor of Radiology and Urology Interests: Minimally invasive therapies for BPH and prostate cancer Sexual dysfunction in men and women Men's health specialty clinic Reproductive endocrinology Infertility clinic Women's urologic health clinic View full profile
	Aaron Potretzke, M.D. Assistant Professor of Urology Interests: Stone disease of the urinary tract Surgical management of kidney cancer Management of small renal masses Localized prostate cancer Minimally-invasive (laparoscopic and robotic) surgery View full profile
	Paras Shah, M.D. Assistant Professor of Urology Interests: Benign prostatic hyperplasia Bladder cancer Kidney cancer Prostate cancer Ureteral cancer View full profile
	Vidit Sharma, M.D. Assistant Professor of Urology Interests: Advanced kidney tumors that are large or involving other organs such as lymph nodes or the vena cava. Complex tumors requiring kidney preservation. Prostate cancers requiring either open or robotic prostatectomy. I use the hood sparing technique for robotic procedures. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissections for testicular cancers and kidney cancers. Bladder and upper tract urothelial cancers that require surgical removal. I have research studies that are studying the impact of bladder sparing through partial bladder removal on well selected patients. Penile cancers that are invading into the deeper tissues of the penis or those that require a groin lymph node dissection. View full profile
	Matthew Tollefson, M.D. Associate Professor of Urology Interests: Nerve-sparing robotic prostatectomy Management of localized and advanced prostate cancer Advanced laparoscopic surgery Bladder cancer surgery and reconstruction including bladder replacement Research interests in urologic oncology, robotics, and laparoscopy View full profile
	Boyd Viers, M.D. Associate Professor of Urology Interests: Open and advanced robotic genitourinary reconstruction Male urethral stricture disease Ureteral stricture Genitourinary fistula Urinary diversion Male stress incontinence View full profile
	Nick Warner, M.D. Assistant Professor of Urology Interests: Benign prostate hyperplasia (Enlarged Prostate) Erectile restoration and penile implant surgery Male stress urinary incontinence Transgender care Ureteral stricture disease View full profile
	Kevin Wymer, M.D. Assistant Professor of Urology Interests: Minimally invasive surgical treatment of BPH using Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP). Advanced surgical treatment approaches for urinary stone disease including retrograde intrarenal surgery, standard and miniature PCNL, and percutaneous renal access with ultrasound and fluoroscopic-guided techniques. Medical and metabolic management of urinary stone disease. View full profile
	Matthew Ziegelmann, M.D. Assistant Professor of Urology Interests: Peyronie's disease Erectile dysfunction Male sexual dysfunction Male infertility/oncofertility Male hypogonadism and testosterone deficiency View full profile

Advisers and mentors

You will choose a mentor to serve as your advocate in academic, clinical and personal arenas. Academic progress is monitored, and residents with academic and staff potential are identified early and recommended to the Department of Urology.

Visiting professors

Prominent adult and pediatric urologists visit Mayo Clinic each year as visiting professors. Their visits include formal presentations at evening lectures as well as participation in conferences, surgery, and hospital rounds. You are encouraged to take full advantage of these opportunities.