Overview

Overview

Cleveland Clinic's Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute’s urology fellowship training programs offer a variety of fellowship opportunities in the following subspecialties, each integrating research and clinical training:

Our fellowship training programs offer a variety of challenging clinical experiences as well as numerous opportunities for basic, translational, clinical and outcomes research and clinical research. The institute’s collegial atmosphere and ample support staff enable fellows to balance clinical and investigative training with family and personal interests outside the hospital.

Urology is a rapidly advancing specialty, and the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute is at the forefront of progress, with strong programs in all of the subspecialty areas. We believe that our fellowship programs are among the best and that they enable our graduates to take their place among tomorrow’s leaders in clinical and investigative urology.

The Urology Fellowship Program brochure and these web pages provide an overview of our program as well as information about living in the Cleveland area.

Living in Cleveland

The city that bears the namesake for Cleveland Clinic is a growing metropolis with excellent quality of life and low cost of living. The city is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Zoo, highly regarded Science and Natural History Museums, and an Art Museum that was recently ranked the second best in the United States. The city also features a world-renowned Symphony Orchestra and Playhouse Square, the second largest performing arts center in the United States. Cleveland is also home to several sports teams including the Cavaliers, Indians, and Browns.

Cleveland is experiencing a renaissance in the restaurant and craft beer scene and has a great mix of restaurants and bars to visit after work. The city is surrounded by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and provides ample opportunity to explore nature. Cleveland is an extremely family-friendly city and provides ample opportunity for significant others, spouses, and children to explore and grow.

History of the Institute

History of the Institute

The Department of Urology has had a long and rich history at Cleveland Clinic. The history of the department dates back to the 1920s with Dr. William E. Lower, one of Cleveland Clinic’s four founders. Dr. Lower was a renowned surgeon known to be one of the first to perform a suprapubic prostatectomy.

Dr. Charles Higgins succeeded Dr. Lower in 1948, and further strengthened the department’s reputation by performing research in kidney stone prevention, urinary diversion in children, and cystectomy for bladder cancer. Thereafter, Dr. Ralph Straffon ushered in a new generation of urologists through the 1960s and helped develop the department into a leader in cadaveric renal transplantation. Dr. James Montie, a renowned urologic oncologist and former resident, succeeded Dr. Straffon as Chairman of Urology in 1983. Dr. Montie’s tenure was followed by Dr. Andrew C. Novick, an esteemed renal surgeon whose contributions to the field of urology include the partial nephrectomy.

Under Dr. Novick’s direction, the Department of Urology underwent tremendous growth and development through its transformation into a team of clinical and surgical subspecialists coupled with a strong basic science infrastructure. This legacy has been furthered by Dr. Klein and our current leadership team who have fostered explosive growth in both the clinical and translational research areas with the development of four basic science laboratories and a committed corps of 46 renowned urologists.

The Department of Urology, housed within the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, offers a full range of urological and kidney care for adults and children. The department’s activities encompass a high-volume practice with challenging clinical cases, extensive basic and translational scientific activities, and in-depth laboratory research within an environment that nurtures the future leaders of its specialties. Cleveland Clinic is recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care.

The Department of Urology provides care in the following subspecialties:

  • Urologic Oncology
  • Minimally Invasive (Laparoscopic and Robotic) Surgery
  • Renal and Pancreas Transplantation
  • Prosthetics and Genitourinary Reconstruction
  • Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
  • Endourology and Stone Disease
  • Men’s Health
  • Pediatric Urology
  • Urologic Congenitalism
  • Male Infertility

Research Support

The Novick Center for Clinical and Translational Research supports the research efforts of all members of the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute. Headed by urology and nephrology staff, the center has a research manager, research nurses, study coordinators, database managers and IT support personnel. The center manages a number of clinical trials and 15 disease-specific databases that serve as a source for clinical projects and outcomes reporting.

Biostatistical support is provided through the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences and center personnel frequently collaborate with scientists in Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute.

Collaborative Learning

At the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, our fellows enjoy active collaboration with our residents in clinical, didactic and research endeavors. For example, fellows have the opportunity to work closely with residents on the wards, in clinic and in the operating rooms, which fosters the exchange of ideas and allows fellows to hone their developing skills as physician educators.

Fellows also have the opportunity to participate in weekly and monthly resident teaching conferences, including case presentations, morbidity and mortality conferences, journal club and various subspecialty clinical conferences.

Because the urology residency is among the few programs in the country to offer a dedicated year of research, there is ample opportunity for resident and fellow collaboration on clinical and basic science research projects, which in the past have resulted in publications and meeting presentations.

Program Directors

Program Directors

Kenneth Angermeier, MD
Vice Chair of Education
Program Director – Male Genitourinary Reconstruction and Prosthetic Surgery Fellowship

Howard Goldman, MD
Vice Chair of Operations
Program Director – Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (Urology) Fellowship

Jihad Kaouk, MD
Department Chair
Program Director – Robotic Surgery and Minimally Invasive Urologic Oncology Fellowship

Sri Sivalingam, MD
Staff
Program Director – Stone Disease & Advanced Endourology Fellowship

Petar Bajic, MD
Staff
Program Director – Genitourinary Medicine and Men’s Health Fellowship

Christopher Weight, MD
Vice Chair of Research
Program Director – Urologic Oncology Fellowship

Scott Lundy, MD
Staff
Program Director – Male Infertility & Andrology Fellowship

Clinical Fellows

Clinical Fellows

 Ahmed Albakr, MD

Ahmed Albakr, MD
Hometown: Gharbeya, Egypt
Medical School: Tanta University Faculty of Medicine
Residency: Hamad Medical Corporation
Fellowship: Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

 

Kristian Black, MD 

Kristian Black, MD
Hometown: Shreveport, Louisiana
Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School
Residency: University of Michigan Hospitals
Fellowship: Male Infertility

Adam Cohen, MD 

Adam Cohen, MD
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Medical School: Texas A.M. University College of Medicine
Residency: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Fellowship: Stone Disease & Advanced Endourology

 Karim Daher, MD

Karim Daher, MD
Hometown: Kfarremman, Lebanon
Medical School: LAU Gilbert & Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine
Residency: Lebanese American University Medical Center
Fellowship: Robotic Surgery & Minimally Invasive Urologic Oncology

Maria D’Amico, MD 

Maria D’Amico, MD
Hometown: Langhorne, Pennsylvania
Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine
Residency: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Fellowship: Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

 Gagan Fervaha, MD

Gagan Fervaha, MD
Hometown: Etobicoke, Ontario
Medical School: Queen’s University, Faculty of Medicine
Residency: University of Toronto
Fellowship: Urologic Oncology

Alexander Koven, MD 

Alexander Koven, MD
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Medical School: University of Toronto
Residency: University of Toronto
Fellowship: Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

 Rui Miguel Marques Bernardino, MD

Rui Miguel Marques Bernardino, MD
Hometown: Ansiao/Leiria, Portugal
Medical School: Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina
Residency: The Central Lisbon University Hospital Centre
Fellowship: Robotic Surgery and Minimally Invasive Urologic Oncology

Mazen Mansour, MD 

Mazen Mansour, MD
Hometown: Nabatiyeh, Lebanon
Medical School: Beirut Arab University Faculty of Medicine
Residency: American University of Beirut Beirut Medical Center
Fellowship: Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

Dynell Pinder, MD 

Dynell Pinder, MD
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine
Residency: St. Joseph’s Medical Center
Fellowship: Genitourinary Medicine & Mens Health

Samarpit Rai, MD 

Samarpit Rai, MD
Hometown: Amritsar, India
Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland School of Medicine
Residency: University of Louisville Hospital
Fellowship: Robotic Surgery and Minimally Invasive Urologic Oncology

Betty Wang, MD 

Betty Wang, MD
Hometown: Yanjiao, Hebei
Medical School: University of Alberta
Residency: University of Alberta
Fellowship: Urologic Oncology

Lin Wang, MD

Lin Wang, MD
Hometown: Shijiazhuang, China
Medical School: Hebei Medical University (Chi)
Residency: Zhongshan San Yuan and Xijing Hospital, China
Fellowship: Robotic Surgery and Minimally Invasive Urologic Oncology

 Lisa Zhang, MD

Lisa Zhang, MD
Hometown: Beijing, China
Medical School: Stanford University School of Medicine
Residency: University of Washington Medical Center
Fellowship: Male Genitourinary Reconstruction and Prosthetics

Past Fellows

Robotic Surgery and Minimally Invasive Urologic Oncology

  • Ali Amin Sharifi
  • Riccardo Autorino
  • Alp Beksac
  • Peter Caputo
  • Jaya Sai Chavali
  • Julien Dagenais
  • Mohamed Eltemamy
  • Ethan Ferguson
  • Juan Domingo Garisto Risco
  • Albert Geskin
  • Aaron Kaviani
  • Jayram Krishnan
  • Humberto Laydner
  • Matthew Maurice
  • Carter Mikesell
  • Ryan Nelson
  • Adriana Pedraza Bermeo
  • Daniel Ramirez
  • Jeremy Reese
  • Daniel Sagalovich
  • Dinesh Samarasekera
  • Zeyad Schwen
  • Clark Wilson
  • Roger Yau
  • Homayoun Zargar Shoshtari

Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (Urology)

  • Nitya Abraham
  • Michael Aleman
  • Omer Anis
  • Humphrey Atiemo
  • Jacquelyn Booher
  • Maude Carmel
  • Marisa Clifton
  • Samir Derisavifard
  • Elodi Dielubanza
  • Farzeen Firoozi
  • Tara Frenkl
  • Laura Giusto
  • Lauren Gleich
  • Juan Guzman
  • Michael Ingber
  • Ashley King
  • Neil Kocher
  • Wesley Kong
  • Ryan Krlin
  • Courtney Lee
  • Jessica Lloyd
  • Brian Marks
  • Sarah Martin
  • Sarah McAchran
  • Louis Moy
  • Alana Murphy
  • Henry Okafor
  • Javier Pizarro Berdichevsky
  • Adrienne Quirouet
  • Jessica Rueb
  • Kamran Sajadi
  • Otto Sandoval
  • Chen Shenhar
  • Christopher Tenggardjaja
  • Tyler Trump
  • Patricia Zahner
  • Jacqueline Zillioux

Urology/Male Genitourinary Reconstruction and Prosthetics

  • Uzoma Anele
  • Paurush Babbar
  • Herman Bagga
  • Nicholas Boncher
  • Amanda Chi
  • Nicholas Hauser
  • Ty Higuchi
  • Nathan Hoy
  • Roger Khouri
  • John Lacy
  • Ryan Mori
  • Javier Santiago
  • Mary Soyster
  • Hanson Zhao

Urology/Male Infertility

  • Yagil Barazani
  • Brittany Berk
  • Dominick Carbone
  • Douglas Dewire
  • Johnathan Doolittle
  • Nicholas Farber
  • Dan French
  • John Kefer
  • Edmund Ko
  • Peter Kolettis
  • Wayne Kuang
  • Scott Lundy
  • Ahmad Majzoub
  • Aaron Milbank
  • Feras Mohder
  • Osvaldo Padron
  • Neel Parekh
  • Alan Polackwich
  • Kashif Siddiqi
  • Aaron Smith
  • Christopher Starks
  • Nicholas Tadros
  • Mariano Tolentino
  • Sarah Vij

Urology/Stone Disease and Advanced Endourology

  • Arash Akhavein Mohammadi
  • Luay Alshara
  • Harmenjit Brar
  • Michael Byrne
  • Ali Cyrus Chehroudi
  • Juan Fulla Ortiz
  • Louisa Ho
  • Rajat Jain
  • Naveen Kachroo
  • Nishant Patel
  • Karen Stern
  • Henry Wright

Urology/Urologic Oncology

  • Tarik Benidir
  • Michael Brooks
  • Rebecca Campbell
  • Cesar Ercole
  • Martin Hofmann
  • Sudhir Isharwal
  • Joseph Klink
  • Evan Kovac
  • Ranko Miocinovic
  • Maria Mir
  • Carvell Nguyen
  • Lewis Thomas
  • Matthew Truong
  • Andrew Wood
  • Joseph Zabell