Overview

Overview

Our Urology Residency Program integrates six months of preliminary training in general surgery and nephrology, one-year of dedicated research time, and four-years of focused training in clinical urology and renal transplantation. According to the Doximity Residency Navigator Survey, the Cleveland Clinic Urology Residency Program is one of the top ranked urology residency programs in the nation for reputation, research and size.

Our program offers robust, high volume clinical training in a tertiary care center with countless challenging clinical experiences spanning the breadth of sub-specialties. We also place a strong emphasis on research and offer numerous opportunities for basic, translational, clinical and outcomes research during the dedicated research year as well as throughout residency.

Department overview

The Department of Urology within the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute offers a full range of urological and kidney care for adults and children. The departmental 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 ranked as one of the nation's top hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

All members of the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute are committed to maintaining an academic environment that fosters the finest urologic training. Our collegial atmosphere and ample support staff enable residents to balance clinical and investigative training with family and personal interests outside the hospital. Our residents also pride themselves on maintaining this balance and pursuing interests outside urology. This philosophy culminates in graduates with the confidence and skill set to thrive in both general and sub-specialized urological care in either academic or private practice careers.

The Department of Urology provides care in the following sub-specialties:

  • 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 Fertility.

History of the program

The history of the Cleveland Clinic Urology department dates back to the 1890s, when the first nephrectomy in Cleveland was performed by Dr. George Crile. He would later go on to form the Cleveland Clinic with his partner Dr. William Lower, who became the first chairman of urology and a pioneer in suprapubic prostatectomy. The reputation of the department grew in the 1950s with the hiring of Dr. Eugene Poutasse, a pioneer in the field of renovascular surgery and a leader in renal artery bypass. Dr. Ralph Straffon then expanded upon this expertise and grew Cleveland Clinic into the world’s most prolific renal transplantation center of the time. This tradition continued with kidney and transplant urologist and department Chairman Dr. Andrew Novick, who is widely regarded as the father of partial nephrectomy. Since this time, the department has continued to grow and now employs over 50 urologists and leaders in every sub-specialty within urology.

Research at Cleveland Clinic

In addition to providing world class clinical care, Cleveland Clinic maintains a vigorous urological research environment for both clinicians and basic scientists alike. The research tradition at Cleveland Clinic began soon after its inception with pioneering work in the 1930s and 1940s by Dr. Goldblatt and Dr. Paige, whose names are synonymous with the renovascular hypertension models they developed. Dr. William Kolff, pioneer in the field of artificial organs and winner of the Lasker Award, was the first physician to design, build, and use a dialysis machine in humans to treat renal failure. Dr. Novick published over 500 peer-reviewed articles in the areas of renal transplantation and nephron-sparing surgery.

This legacy of highly innovative research continues today with numerous multidisciplinary urological research expertise in areas such as bioengineering and biomechanics, the microbiome, genomic medicine, and public health areas of focus. The Genitourinary Malignancy Research Center within the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, led by prostate cancer expert Dr. Nima Sharifi, regularly produces high-impact manuscripts at the forefront of prostate cancer research.

 

Diversity & Inclusion

Discover the role diversity and inclusion plays at Cleveland Clinic and at its Graduate Medical Education program, as well as our diversity and inclusion efforts.

Learn more
Academic Overview

Academic Overview

Resident Responsibilities

From the first day following internship, urology residents are entrusted with independently running their own inpatient services, under the supervision of chief residents. Each rotation comprises a different service tailored to a subspecialty of urology. As residents rotate through each service, they work directly with faculty in a preceptorship to gain experience managing urologic disorders in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Additionally, our residents rotate at Louis Stokes Veteran Affairs, Fairview Hospital, Avon Hospital and Hillcrest Hospital.

Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs

Residents rotate at the Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs Hospital in both their second and third years of residency. The rotation offers junior residents a chance to run their own procedure and continuity clinics. Residents learn to master the basics of endourology and general urology in the operating room.

1.2 miles from Main Campus

West Side Rotation

This rotation includes operating at Fairview and Avon Hospitals as a first and fifth year resident. Case volume is comprehensive and includes general urology, robotic and laparoscopy, endourology and infertility cases. 

13.6 miles (Fairview) and 21.5 miles (Avon) from Main Campus 

Hillcrest Hospital

Hillcrest Hospital is a community hospital that boasts a high volume of urologic cases. Residents in their third and fifth years of training rotate here together. Daily surgeries include a variety of general urology, robotic, open, endourology and female cases.

10.3 miles from Main Campus

Main Campus

The breadth of our urologic training comes from the Main Campus rotation, where residents spend the majority of their six years. In addition to the inpatient unit and outpatient clinics, residents at each level engage in surgical cases three to four days per week. At the junior level, an emphasis is placed on endourology, male genital surgery, and basic laparoscopy. Residents complete pediatric urology rotations during their second, third, and fifth years. During the later years, focus is shifted toward urologic oncology and reconstructive surgery with a balance of open, laparoscopic, and robotic procedures.

Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Rotation

Residents rotate on this unique rotation during the first three years of their residency training. Residents are an integral part of the transplant team, leading a multi-disciplinary inpatient team comprised of transplant nephrology, transplant pharmacy, social work, and transplant surgeons. Residents assist with both living and deceased donor transplants and have the opportunity to participate in organ procurements as well. Transplant procedures are solely performed at the main campus location. 

Call

PGY Call 
 2  5-6 days/month
 3  4-5 days/month
 4  No Call (Research Year)
 5  1 day/month
 6  At home Chief Resident Call

*Call overview for in-house Main Campus call. Regional sites are home call.

Residents participate in education at least twice a week through a series of didactics, which include a weekly chief resident/core-urology curriculum conference, patient management conference, urodynamics conference, oncology journal club, urologic oncology indications conference. The education schedule also includes a monthly journal club, morbidity and mortality review, interdisciplinary oncology conference, and quality and patient safety conference.

Academic Leaders

Cleveland Clinic Urology Residency graduates finish with a diverse set of skills that facilitate successful careers in academia and practice. During the last 10 years, two-thirds of our residents have pursued competitive fellowships, with half of all graduates going on to academic careers. The academic environment in the Department of Urology fosters career development among future leaders in urology, as exemplified by recent graduates going on to fellowship training at institutions such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, National Cancer Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Northwestern University, Mayo Clinic, Vanderbilt University, New York University, University of Toronto, and many more.

Resident Resources

Residents are supported through graduate medical education and departmental funding to attend meetings at which they have research projects accepted for presentation. Additionally, there is funding available to provide both academic and operative resources that facilitate resident education. Second year residents and chief residents also receive support to attend a didactic course each year.

Through Cleveland Clinic’s Educational Institute and in collaboration with surrounding academic institutions, highly motived residents have many opportunities to expand their professional expertise beyond that obtained in residency. These optional programs, for which limited tuition assistance is available from the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, are offered to interested residents beginning in the Research and Academic Skills Year (4th) and include:

  • Clinical Research Scholars Program (CRSP)
    This program, offered at Case Western Reserve University, is a flexible program designed to provide MDs and PhDs in health-related disciplines with rigorous didactic education in clinical research methods coupled with an in-depth mentored investigative experience.
  • Cleveland Clinic Learning Academy (CCLA)
    CCLA is a tuition-free institutional program offering courses designed to enhance competency in key leadership skills, including business and change management, communication, emotional intelligence, finance, professionalism, strategic thinking/planning and talent development. Also available are specialty coursework series in diversity, inclusion and cultural competence, healthcare communication, and quality and patient safety/continuous improvement.

Masters Degrees Available

Several other Master’s-level programs are also available, including:

  • Master of Business Administration in Health Care Management (Baldwin Wallace University and Ursuline College)
  • Masters of Public Health (Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University)
  • Master of Positive Organizational Development (Case Western Reserve University)
  • Master of Adult Education and Development (Cleveland State University)
  • Executive Master of Business Administration in Ethical and Entrepreneurial Leadership (Ursuline College)

Information on these programs is available on the offering institutions’ websites.

Research and Academic Skills Year

Research and Academic Skills Year

The fourth year of residency is devoted exclusively to protected time to pursue both research endeavors and building of academic skills. During this year, residents have no clinical and only limited call responsibilities. They are devoted full time to a faculty-mentored project or projects in basic, translational or health services research. The academic skills curriculum, led by Daniel Shoskes, MD, is geared toward strengthening resident knowledge and skills on topics including manuscript preparation, grant writing, and presentations.

Basic and Translational Research Opportunities

Lerner Research Institute

The Lerner Research Institute is a complex of laboratories, classrooms, libraries and multimedia centers, has been designed to provide a dynamic center for Cleveland Clinic’s research and education activities. The Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute has several basic research laboratories where residents develop their scientific skills during the 12 months of the fourth year. These include:

  • The Novick Center for Clinical and Translational Research facilitates interaction between researchers and clinicians across the departments of nephrology and urology. It also seeks to promote clinical and translational research and to help assure compliance with all federal and institutional regulations. The center allows for the necessary and efficient pooling of resources within the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute. Staff members work closely with the Lerner Research Institute to ensure regulations and mandates are followed and to review existing and future clinical studies for soundness, budget and required resources. The Novick Center also provides easy access to bio statistical support for study design, analysis and reporting.
  • The Center for Male Fertility is performing extensive studies on protein expression and reactive oxygen species formation in human sperm and their role in male infertility. Additional areas of investigation include assessment of human sperm function after cryopreservation and methods of improving post-thaw semen quality in cancer patients.
  • The Center for Pelvic Medicine and Surgery Laboratories (Margot S. Damaser, PhD) is recognized nationally as an elite group focused on characterizing the regulatory mechanisms of benign bladder conditions and pelvic floor injury and repair. Areas of investigation include biomechanical properties of the bladder and pelvic floor, diabetic cystopathy, inflammatory diseases of the bladder, and stem cell homing after pelvic injury.
  • The Minimally Invasive and Robotic Research Laboratory is focused on identifying new minimally invasive and noninvasive treatments for urologic disease and transferring these technologies to the operating room. Research areas include intraoperative imaging techniques, transcutaneous CT- and ultrasound-guided surgery, and development of new laparoscopic technologies.
  • The Transplant Research Group performs studies in basic science mechanisms of graft injury and acceptance using mouse models and studies in immune monitoring of kidney transplant patients for risk of acute and chronic rejection. Current basic science studies by the members of the group include investigating the impact of memory CD4 and CD8 T cells on allograft outcome. Also, we’re investigating strategies to improve the efficacy of ATG. The translational studies are focused on the activation of donor-reactive memory CD8 T cells, the development of improvements in the ELISPOT assay for immune monitoring, use of NanoString technology for non-invasive interrogation of markers indicating acute and/or chronic kidney graft injury. Also, we’re investigating the phenotype and activation capability of T and B lymphocytes in patients that currently have kidney graft survival and good function for more than 30 years.

Current Research Residents

The GL4 year of residency is devoted exclusively to research endeavors and building of academic skills. During this year, residents have protected time and are free of clinical and call responsibilities. They are devoted full time to a faculty-mentored research project, as well as to assisting in departmental quality improvement endeavors, as well as educating the medical students, surgery interns, and junior urology residents through lab-based and didactic sessions.

  • Shree Agrawal, MD
    Research: Impact of Patient-Peer Mentorship on Decision-Making and Perceptions of Survivorship for Men with Prostate Cancer 
    Principal Investigator(s): Petar Bajic, MD and Christopher Weight, MD
  • Madison Lyon, MD
    Research: Use of catheter-free ambulatory cystometry (UroMonitor) in female patients with neurogenic bladders as well as expanding the use of the device to male patients
    Principal Investigator(s): Margot Damaser, PhD
  • Patrick Michael, MD 
    Research:  Evaluating alterations in testosterone and steroid metabolism in the setting of prostate cancer and the implications of these variations on oncologic management 
    Principal Investigator(s): Nima Sharifi, MD
  • Paul Oh, MD
    Research: The Role of the Varicocele in the Male Reproductive Microbiome
    Principal Investigator(s): Scott Lundy, MD, PhD
  • Ayodeji Sotimehin, MD
    Research: Feasibility and efficacy of a novel wireless bioresorbable nerve stimulator in pelvic nerve regeneration in a rat model for stress urinary incontinence
    Principal Investigator(s): Margot Damaser, PhD
     

Research Laboratories

Throughout your residency, the following lab rotations are available:

  • Angiogenesis Laboratory
    Director: Tatiana V. Byzova, PhD
    This laboratory is a leader in the area of tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. Research Program in the lab focuses on the mechanisms of tumor metastasis. Areas of investigations include: tumor angiogenesis, role for circulating tumor cells and their diagnostic value for predicting outcome in prostate and kidney cancer patients, mechanisms of cancer-induced thrombosis, role of circulating platelets in metastasis, discovery of new biomarkers for kidney and prostate cancer.
  • Kidney Stones Laboratory
    Director: Aaron Miller, PhD
    This laboratory is focused on the interactions between the microbiome and urolithiasis. The research program in the lab consists in vitro, in vivo, and clinical arms to explore oxalate metabolism by complex microbial communities, host-microbe interactions associated with oxalate, and the application of high-throughput, multi-omics methods in the development of bacteriotherapies designed to inhibit recurrent stone formation and its complications.
  • Pelvic Medicine and Surgery Laboratories
    Director: Margot Damaser, PhD
    This laboratory is recognized nationally as an elite group focused on characterizing the regulatory mechanisms of benign bladder conditions and pelvic floor injury and repair. Areas of investigation include biomechanical properties of the bladder and pelvic floor, diabetic cystopathy, inflammatory diseases of the bladder, and stem cell homing after pelvic injury.
  • Urothelial Cancer Laboratory
    Director:
    Byron Lee, MD, PhD
    The Urothelial Cancer Laboratory is focused on understanding how chromatin modifier gene mutations affect urothelial carcinoma initiation, progression, and response to therapy. Chromatin modifiers genes are mutated in the vast majority of urothelial carcinomas. They encode proteins that can alter the configuration of the DNA-histone interface, and mutations in these genes can potentially cause changes in gene expression that support carcinogenesis. Our research utilizes both in vitro and in vivo models of chromatin modifier gene disruption to ascertain its functional consequence in the urothelium. Additionally, we are involved in a number of urothelial carcinoma translational and clinical research projects that utilize the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute’s infrastructure for tissue collection and clinical database management.

Prostate Cancer Laboratories

  • Director: Hannelore Heemers, PhD
    Our laboratory's research program focuses on generating insights into the specific molecular mechanisms by which the androgen receptor drives prostate cancer progression. The long term goal of our group is to develop novel prostate cancer-selective forms of androgen deprivation therapy and to optimize and personalize the administration of available forms of androgen deprivation therapy. These goals are pursues through 2 lines of research that study coregulator-dependent direct mechanisms of androgen action and an SRF-dependent indirect mechanism of androgen action. Central to our research efforts are integrated approaches that combine an understanding of the basic mechanism of androgen-dependent gene transcription, systems biology approaches designed to answer specific questions, and clinical relevance of our research findings.
  • Director: Nima Sharifi, MD
    Our laboratory is focused on steroid metabolism and androgen receptor function as it relates to prostate cancer. The first line of therapy for metastatic prostate cancer is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which blocks the release of gonadal testosterone and suppresses intratumoral concentrations of the most potent androgen, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). However, metastatic disease eventually becomes resistant to ADT. Prostate cancer that progresses in the face of ADT, or castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), is frequently driven by tumors acquiring the capability of making their own DHT. We study how this process occurs. Our most important discoveries include identifying the first mutation in the androgen synthesis machinery that is responsible for increasing DHT synthesis in CRPC and demonstrating that DHT synthesis in patients with CRPC follows a pathway that circumvents testosterone. We are currently applying these findings to the study of CRPC as it occurs in patients.
  • Director: Angela Ting, PhD
    Our laboratory investigates the epigenetic underpinnings of prostate cancer through the use of state-of-the-art genomic, biochemical, and molecular techniques. We are currently focusing on fine-mapping the aberrant DNA methylation patterns in aggressive prostate cancer and leveraging this information to guide functional studies that will identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets for lethal disease.
Institute Leadership

Institute Leadership

Awards & Scholarships

Awards & Scholarships

Cleveland Clinic Urology Diversity Scholarship

The Cleveland Clinic Department of Urology is working to further enhance its environment of inclusion and diversity where all are valued and respected. The Cleveland Clinic believes that a diverse clinical workforce is necessary to meet the needs of underrepresented communities and to allow us to reach our full potential. The promotion of cultural diversity and inclusion is a pillar of the Cleveland Clinic value system.

As an important part of residency recruitment initiatives, we are focused on developing a diverse generation of future health care leaders. The Cleveland Clinic Urology Diversity Scholarship is designed to help facilitate the participation of under-represented minorities in our Urology visiting clerkships to expose students to the exceptional training the Cleveland Clinic has to offer, and to allow candidates an opportunity to demonstrate their potential during a 4 week rotation.

To be eligible for this scholarship, medical students must be in good standing at a US medical school (outside of Northeast Ohio), and completed USMLE Step 1. The definition of underrepresented minorities will be the same as that recognized by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) as it relates to the US population.

Two Scholarships for the amount of $2,500 will be available to support the chosen medical student for rotation with us during July or August of each academic year. This funding can be used to cover application, travel, housing, and other costs.

If you are interested in being considered for the Cleveland Clinic Urology Diversity Scholarship please send the following documents to UrologyResidency@ccf.org.

  1. CV (include USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 [if applicable] Scores)
  2. Personal statement or letter of interest
  3. One letter of recommendation from a clinical faculty member

Are you an out-of-state medical student that would like to learn more about our program or participate in an away rotation with us? If so, please reach out via email to UrologyResidency@ccf.org.

2021 - 2022 Award Recipients Award
Shree Agrawal 2022 George and Grace Crile Traveling Fellowship Award
Diego Aguilar Palacios 2022 AUA Great Debate Winner (representing the North Central Section) debated and won against Randall Lee, MD a chief resident representing the Mid-Atlantic section of the AUA on a pediatric case about UPJO/hydronephrosis.
Darren Bryk

Captain of the North Central Section AUA 2022 Resident Bowl Team

Winner of the First GUKI Fitness Challenge

Maxx Caveney KCK Compassionate and Humanistic Care Award from CWRU. Nominated by a student that felt as a resident you have exemplified excellent teaching skills.
Mike Fascelli 2021 Silbar Award from the North Central Section of the AUA. This honors one resident in our section each year for their outstanding efforts with communications, professionalism, teamwork and humanistic medicine.
Brendan Frainey

2021 Best Paper, Engineering & Urology Society Meeting at the AUA - Safety, Feasibility and Accuracy of the UroMonitor: A Catheter-Free Wireless Ambulatory Cystometry Device

CCLCM Outstanding Preceptor for 3rd Year Medical Students
Eiftu Haile Cleveland Clinic House Staff Association Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Kevin Lewis CCLCM Outstanding Preceptor for 3rd Year Medical Students
Madison Lyon CCF Bumpus Award for Project on Rates of COVID in patients on proscar
Bryan Naelitz Best Research Paper, Moderated Poster Session, 2022 Ohio Urological Society Annual Meeting 
Jason Scovell 2nd Place Bizarre and Unusual Case and 3rd Place Podium Presentation, 2022 Ohio Urological Society Annual Meeting
Glenn Werneburg

AUA 2022 Diokno-Lapides Essay Honorable Mention “Machine learning provides an accurate prognostication model for refractory OAB treatment response and post procedural UTI, and is noninferior to human experts

Cleveland Clinic Research Committee Grant Award

SUFU Grant Award 2022

Top 5 Abstract at Annual Patient Safety Day 2022

SUFU Resident Travel Award 2022

Glenn Werneburg, Kevin Lewis, Sandip Vasavada, Hadley Wood, Howard Goldman, Dan Shoskes, Ina Li, Dan Rhoads

2022 Ted and Idarose Luntz Award for Top Manuscript related to Quality and Patient Safety. Contributors: Kevin Lewis, Sandip Vasavada, Hadley Wood, Howard Goldman, Dan Shoskes, Ina Li, Dan Rhoads. Project: Urinalysis exhibits excellent predictive capacity for the absence of urinary tract infection and re-evaluation of the threshold of microbial growth for urine culture positivity

Residents

Residents

Chief Residents

Aram Pedram

Pedram Aram, MD
Hometown: Tehran, Iran 
Undergraduate: Iranian School of Talented Students
Medical School: Islamic Azad University, Tehran Faculty of Medicine 
Academic Interests: Kidney/Pancreas transplant, Urology oncology
Hobbies: family (married with 2 children), traveling, nature, soccer 
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Twitter Handle: @pedramAram2

Rebecca Campbell

Rebecca Campbell, MD
Hometown: Chagrin Falls, OH
Undergraduate: Case Western Reserve University
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Urologic Oncology
Hobbies: CrossFit, running, biking, playing with my dog, reading, eating (but not cooking...)
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Superior Viaduct
Twitter Handle: @rebeccampbell50

Maxx Caveney

Maxx Cavaney, MD
Hometown: Rohnert Park, CA
Undergraduate: California State University, Chico
Medical School: Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Academic Interests: genitourinary reconstruction, resident medical student education
Hobbies: Strength and conditioning, soccer, video games
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Whiskey Island Volleyball Courts for Outdoors, Larder Delicatessen for food
Twitter Handle: @MaxxCaveney

Brendan Frainey

Brendan Frainey, MD
Hometown:  Elmhurst, Illinois (Western Suburb of Chicago)
Undergraduate: Boston College
Medical School: Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Congenitalism, Pediatric Urology and Reconstruction, Neurourology and Urodynamics
Hobbies: Running, Golf, Yoga, Musical theater, Netflix binges
Favorite Spot in Cleveland:  The Van Aken District
Twitter Handle: @bfrains

Rathika Mallpally

Rathika Ramkumar, MD
Hometown: Plano, TX
Undergraduate: The University of Texas at Austin
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Academic Interests: All things urology, health outcomes 
Hobbies: Eating, drawing, soccer, Indian dance, watching my dog sleep
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: North Chagrin Metropark
Twitter Handle: @RathikaRamkumar


5th Year Residents

Daniel Gerber

Daniel Gerber, MD
Hometown: Chicago IL
Undergraduate: Colgate University
Medical School: Georgetown University
Academic Interests: Oncology, Robotics, endourology
Hobbies: Golf, hiking, ultimate frisbee, my dogs
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Terrestrial Brewing
Twitter Handle: @danger_ber

Daniel Hettel

Daniel Hettel, MD
Hometown:  Whitehouse, Ohio
Undergraduate: University of Toledo
Medical School: Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Academic Interests: urologic oncology
Hobbies: golf, working out
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Cleveland restaurant scene/East 4th
Twitter Handle: @DanHettel

Kevin Lewis

Kevin Lewis, MD, MA
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Undergraduate: Northwestern University 
Medical School: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Genitourinary reconstructive surgery, global and public health, and clinical bioethics 
Hobbies: Triathlons, playing with my dogs, backpacking, and traveling 
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Biking through the metropark trails
Twitter Handle: @KLewisMD

Glenn Werneburg

Glenn T. Werneburg, MD, PhD
Hometown: Hicksville, NY
Undergraduate: Stony Brook University
Medical School: Stony Brook University
Academic Interests: Molecular mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of urologic infection
Hobbies: Running, traveling, oenology
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: West Side Market, Phunkenship
Twitter Handle: @gwerneburg

Ao Zhang

Ao Zhang, MD
Hometown: Sichuan, China
Undergraduate: Tsinghua University
Medical School: Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Academic Interests: urological oncology, basic science urology research
Hobbies: Hiking
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Twitter Handle: @AoZhangUro


4th Year Residents

Shree Agrawal, MD
Hometown: Edison, NJ
Undergraduate: Case Western Reserve University
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Reconstructive urology, congenitalism, urologic cancer survivorship, medical and surgical education
Hobbies: Blogging, yoga, exploring the Cleveland food scene, and cooking
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: The Flats near the Cuyahoga river/Downtown, Cleveland Metroparks, discovering new vegan restaurants and farmers’ markets
Twitter Handle: @ShreeAgrawal21

Madison Lyon, MD
Hometown: San Diego, CA  
Undergraduate: UCLA
Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Surfing, cooking, snuggling my dog, hiking, harvesting veggies from my garden, pelotoning, and traveling
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Rocky River Reservation - paddle boarding, lake swimming, long bike rides, river-side walks all in one
Twitter Handle: @Madison_Lyon_MD

Patrick Michael
 
Patrick Michael, MD
Hometown: Lexington, KY
Undergraduate: Auburn University
Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Academic Interests: Urologic oncology, transplant, public health, public policy, healthcare outcomes
Hobbies: Auburn football, Kentucky basketball, watching movies, spending time with friends and family, audiobooks while cooking or running, drinking KY bourbon, and reading about Abraham Lincoln
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Maddie's house, Masthead, West 25th
Twitter Handle: @patmichael93

Paul Oh

Paul Oh, MD
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
Undergraduate: Princeton University
Medical School: Keck School of Medicine of USC
Academic Interests: Urologic oncology, infertility, microsurgery, robotics, surgical innovation 
Hobbies: Gym, DC sports, music
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Anywhere when it’s summer
Twitter Handle: @DoctorPaulOhMD

Ayodeji Sotimehin, MD
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Undergraduate: Emory University 
Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Robotic Surgery, Oncology, Endourology, Healthcare disparities in urology
Hobbies: Traveling, cooking, racket sports, kayaking, scootering, biking, relaxing
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Wendy Park, Edgewater Pier, E 55th St Marina Park, Maddie’s House
Twitter Handle: @AyodejiSotimeh1


3rd Year Residents

sonia cornier martinez 

Sonia Cornier Martinez, MD
Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Undergraduate: University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus
Medical School: University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus
Academic Interests: Female Pelvic Reconstruction, Incontinence, Endourology
Hobbies: Dog mom to Mila, foodie, new to hiking

Michael Gross

Michael Gross, MD
Hometown: Huntington, NY
Undergraduate: Cornell University
Medical School: Stony Brook School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Prostate Cancer diagnosis and epidemiology, Partial gland ablation, administrative and claims-based data research.
Hobbies: Cooking, Skiing, Choral Music, The New York Times Crossword, and Travel (In a pre-COVID world)
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Lakefront Nature Preserve
Twitter Handle: @grossmedicine

Eiftu Haile

Eiftu Haile, MD
Hometown: Hoffman Estates, IL
Undergraduate: Washington University in St. Louis
Medical School: Rush Medical College
Academic Interests: racial disparities in urologic surgery, prostate cancer, post-prostate cancer surgery outcomes
Hobbies: beach volleyball, hiking, trying out new restaurants
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: downtown restaurant scene
Twitter Handle: @eiftu

Ross Liao, MD
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Medical School: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Urologic Oncology, Minimally Invasive Urologic Surgery, Prostate Cancer, Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma
Hobbies: Tennis, Table Tennis, Running, Cooking, Dallas Cowboys Football
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Edgewater Park, Cleveland Metroparks
Twitter Handle: @rossliao

Jason Scovell 

Jason Scovell, MD
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Undergraduate: Baylor University
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Academic Interests: I am currently interested in kidney cancer and hope to one day improve survival for patients with this disease. I am also passionate about male infertility and reproductive health
Hobbies: Golfing, hiking, and spending time with my wife and two hyperactive but wonderful dogs
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: The Metroparks!
Twitter Handle: @JasonScovell


2nd Year Residents

shelby harper

Shelby Harper, MD
Hometown: Waco, Texas
Undergraduate: Wesleyan University
Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Education & Mentorship, all things urology, basic science research (particularly interested in inflammation)
Hobbies: Lots of running, baking to offset all the running, hiking, reading, spending time with my fiancé and golden retriever
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Cleveland Metroparks
Twitter Handler: @ShelbyUro 

annaliese ionson

Annalise Ionson, MD
Hometown: Welland, Ontario, Canada
Undergraduate: Princeton University
Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Sexual Health, Reconstruction, Medical Education, Health Equity, Quality Improvement, Patient-Reported Outcomes 
Hobbies: thrift shopping, hiking/running, road-biking, hunting (for donuts), patio season, cuddling dogs
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Cleveland Metroparks, especially North Chagrin (still discovering all 24,0000 acres of them!), Mitchell’s
Twitter Handle: @AnnalieseIonson

akya myrie

Akya Myrie, MD
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Undergraduate: Stony Brook University
Medical School: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Academic Interests: Prostate Cancer Survivorship, Social Media in Medicine, Health Services Research, Global Urological Health Disparities
Hobbies: Biking, Merchandise/Restaurant Reviewer (Yelp, Amazon, etc.), Traveling, Festivals/Carnivals/Playing Mas
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Cleveland Cultural Gardens (especially at night)
Twitter Handle:@AkyaMyrieMD

bryan naelitz

Bryan Naelitz, MD
Hometown: Amherst, Ohio
Undergraduate: Washington University in St. Louis
Medical School: Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Academic Interests: Andrology, Male Fertility, Urologic Oncology, Hormonal Drivers of Urologic Malignancies
Hobbies: Running, Exploring Cleveland MetroParks, Hiking, Reading The New Yorker
Twitter Handle: @BlitzUro

kassandra zalia

Kassandra Zaila Ardines, MD
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Undergraduate: Hamilton College
Medical School: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Academic Interests: Andrology, GU Reconstruction, DEI initiatives and medical education
Hobbies: Charcuterie boards, dog mom to Cooper
Twitter Handle: @ZailaKassandra


1st Year Residents

Kristina Dortche, MD

Kristina Dortche, MD
Hometown: New Haven, Connecticut
Undergraduate: UCONN
Medical School: Perelman School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Pediatric Urology, Equitable Healthcare in Medicine, AI-based healthcare tool outcomes
Hobbies: Sleeping (former hobby), building IKEA furniture, visiting botanical gardens,photography, traveling
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Luca!

Stacy Jeong, MD

Stacy Jeong, MD
Hometown: San Jose, California
Undergraduate: Cornell University
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Reconstructive urology, medical education
Hobbies: Cooking/eating/baking/thinking about food in general, visiting all the Cleveland breweries, historical fiction, fitness
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Mitchell's, Lakewood Steps, Zhug...the list goes on
Twitter Handle: @stacyjeong1

Saveliy Kelebeyev, MD

Saveliy Kelebeyev, MD
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Undergraduate: Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College
Medical School: Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Academic Interests: All things urology, education, research, innovation
Hobbies: Basketball, football, painting, dancing, trying new food, traveling
Twitter Handle: @SavKeleb

Jacob Knoor, MD

Jacob Knoor, MD
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
Undergraduate: University of Cincinnati
Medical School: Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Academic Interests: Bladder cancer, surgical health disparities, device innovation
Hobbies: Rec league soccer, grilling, breweries, anything with my dog Leo
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Literary Tavern, the Tremont neighborhood
Twitter Handle: @jacobknorr10

Sean McSweeney, MD

Sean McSweeney, MD
Hometown: Burnsville, Minnesota
Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Medical School: University of Minnesota
Academic Interests: Urologic oncology, prostate cancer genomics, artificial intelligence, robotics
Hobbies: Working out, live music, Packer and Badger football, good food, reading, spending time with loved ones
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Westside Market, Cleveland Botanical Garden
Twitter Handle: @SeanTMcSweeney


Past Residents

Where Are They Now?

Former Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute Residents reflect on the personal and career impact of their training.

Learn More
Name Fellowship Current Position
Diego Aguilar Palacios (2022) Faculty, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, Texas
Darren Bryk (2022) Andrology Fellowship, University of Virgina   
Michele "Mike" Fascelli (2022) Gender Reaffirming Surgical Fellowship, Oregon Health & Sciences University  
Sij Hemal (2022) Minimally Invasive Urological Surgery Fellowship, University of Southern California  
Prithvi Murthy (2022) Urologic Oncology Fellowship, Moffitt Cancer Center  
Molly DeWitt Foy (2021)  Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship, University of Minnesota Faculty, Cleveland Clinic 
Kyle Ericson (2021)    Faculty, University Hospitals, Cleveland, Ohio
Scott Lundy (2021)  Male Infertility/Andrology Fellowship, Cleveland Clinic  Faculty, Cleveland Clinic
Anup Shah (2021)    Community Practice 
JJ Haijing Zhang (2021)  Urologic Oncology Fellowship, UCLA   
Daniel Sun (2020)   Community Practice, San Francisco 
Andrew Nguyen (2020)
Clinical Faculty, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Abhinav Khanna (2020) Urologic Oncology Fellowship, Mayo Clinic Faculty, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 
Alice Crane (2020) Transplant Fellowship, Maryland  
Ben Abelson (2020) Pediatric Fellowship, Vanderbilt, Nashville, Tennessee  Community Practice, Phoenix, Arizona 
Anna Zampini (2019) Endourology Fellowship, Mt. Sinai, New York Faculty, Cleveland Clinic
Nitin Yerram (2019) Oncology Fellowship, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland Faculty, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Andrew Y. Sun (2019) Andrology and Male Infertility Fellowship, UCLA - Los Angeles, California Private Practice, Methodist Health System, Dallas, Texas
Paurush Babbar (2019) Male Reconstruction Fellowship, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio Private Practice, The Urology Group, Cincinnati, Ohio
Hans Arora (2019) Pediatric Urology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago at Northwestern, IL Faculty, University of North Carolina Medical Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Yaw Nyame (2018) Urologic Oncology, University of Washington, Washington Faculty, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Bryan Hinck (2018)
Faculty, University of Minnesota
Daniel Greene (2018)
Private Practice, Dignity Health Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz, California
Bradley Gill (2018)
Faculty, Cleveland Clinic
Nima Almassi (2018) Urologic Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York Faculty, Cleveland Clinic
Sam Haywood (2017) Oncology Fellowship, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York Faculty, Cleveland Clinic
Iryna Makovey Crescenze (2017)
Female and Reconstructive Urology Fellowship, University of Michigan, Michigan
Faculty, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
Chad Reichard (2017)
Oncology Fellowship, MD Anderson, Texas
Private Practice, Urology of Indiana, Greenwood, Indiana
Christine Tran (2017)
Private Practice, Northern Virginia
Sarah Vij (2017)
Male Infertility and Andrology Fellowship, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio
Faculty, Cleveland Clinic
Benjamin Cohen (2016)
Private Practice, Baltimore, Maryland
Juan Jimenez (2016)

Private Practice, Cleveland, Ohio
Ganesh Kartha (2016)

Private Practice, Louisville, Kentucky
Catherine Seager (2016)
Pediatric Urology Fellowship, Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts Faculty, Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
Raman Unnikrishnan (2016)

Private Practice, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Chris Brede (2015)
Private Practice, Michigan
Kiranpreet Khurana (2015) Male Reconstructive and Andrology/Infertility, New York University, New York Private Practice, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Pennsylvania
Greg Lieser (2015)
Private Practice, Texas
Ben Larson (2015)
Private Practice, California
Karin Westesson (2015)
Private Practice, Montana
Kevin Chandler (2014) 
Private Practice, New York
Brandon Isaryawongse (2014) 
Private Practice, California
Devon Snow (2014) Pediatric Urology, Chicago Children’s Hospital/ Northwestern University 
Private Practice, Swedish Medical Center-First Hill, Issaquah, Washington
Ina Wu (2014)
Faculty, University of Nebraska
Yuka Yamaguchi (2014)  Male Reconstruction and Andrology/Infertility, New York University
Private Practice, Sutter Health, Palo Alto, California

Darren J. Bryk, MD
Hometown: Hollis, NY
Undergraduate: NYU
Medical School: NYU School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Male infertility and Men's Health
Hobbies: Spending time with my wife and kids, Die-hard New York Jets and New York Mets fan, movies and TV, running, skiing
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Chagrin Falls
Twitter Handle: @DarrenJBryk
Darren J. Bryk, MD
Hometown: Hollis, NY
Undergraduate: NYU
Medical School: NYU School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Male infertility and Men's Health
Hobbies: Spending time with my wife and kids, Die-hard New York Jets and New York Mets fan, movies and TV, running, skiing
Favorite Spot in Cleveland: Chagrin Falls
Twitter Handle: @DarrenJBryk
Featured Resident

Featured Resident

From Bangladesh to Portland: My Surgical Training Journey

Michele "Mike" Fascelli, MD

featured-chief

Training at the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute is an incredible gift, an opportunity to receive top-notch surgical training from experts in the field while connecting future urologists with a broad network of remarkable Cleveland Clinic alumna.  This surgical residency program has afforded me flexibility, resources, and support to pursue my professional interests to care for underserved populations and cultivate a practice in gender affirmation surgery.
 
As a research resident, I was fortunate to connect with Brian Lane, MD PhD, a 2008 GUKI graduate practicing out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, looking for a resident to assist on a medical trip to Bangladesh.  Nearly 90 miles outside of the capital city of Dhaka, Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College and Hospital (KYAMCH) needed help with provision of urologic care.  With the number of patients too innumerable for one individual to handle, Dr Rashid, the urologist at KYAMCH, compiled some of his most complex cases for us to tackle in our weeklong visit.  We went through every major type of case: adrenalectomy, upper tract reconstruction, nephroureterectomy, prostatectomy, cystectomy and urinary diversion, and urethral reconstruction.  We made time to handle a few pediatric cases including orchiopexies and hernia repairs. Our plan was to help those in need and teach the team laparoscopic surgery; instead, we found ourselves learning about collaboration, disparities in healthcare provision, and inequity in resources.  
 
Although the physicians and nurses with whom we collaborated were grossly under-staffed and under-resourced, they had an extraordinary capacity for optimism and creative problem-solving. The residents at KYAMCH learn how to operate from books and YouTube as often as they do from faculty.  During my stay, the entire urology team was made up of one attending and two eager interns. The impact of the procedures we were able to perform was certainly felt and appreciated by the KYAMCH team and local community. To experience how different the practice of urology can be in a resource-limited setting served as a reminder to treasure adaptability, think creatively, and value opportunities.
 
I returned from this trip rejuvenated and excited to explore my future in complex reconstructive urology.  I sought out advice and mentorship of those performing gender affirmation.  After speaking with GUKI program leadership, I decided to coordinate an observership at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU.)  I spent five days in Portland, Oregon and observed gender affirmation surgeries.  Returning from this trip, my passion for LGBT care grew and I committed to my vision of offering gender affirming care and pioneering a program to aid LGBT people with urologic needs.
 
Thanks to CCF GUKI for being supportive and helping me reach my aspirations through unending support and commitment to my personal and professional growth!
Living in Cleveland

Living in Cleveland

Cleveland, an ethnically diverse mid-sized city located on Lake Erie, features a host of cultural and recreational attractions. Cleveland Clinic is located near the University Circle area, which is the major cultural center in Cleveland. This area also features the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Museum of Art, several other museums, and Case Western Reserve University. Downtown Cleveland is approximately 2 miles from the Cleveland Clinic campus.

Interview Dates

Interview Dates

Important Dates

Monday, November 14, 2022
Cleveland Clinic Urology Residency Program—Virtual Interviews

Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Cleveland Clinic Urology Residency Program—Virtual Interviews

Monday, December 5, 2022
Cleveland Clinic Urology Residency Program—Virtual Interviews

Monday, December 12, 2022
Cleveland Clinic Urology Residency Program—Virtual Interviews