草莓社区

I remain fortunate to lead the Department of Urology at Loyola Medicine which has a rich tradition of excellence in patient care, research, and postgraduate training. It is an honor to build upon this historic program, which celebrates over 100 years of quality urologic care and training. From the first chairman, Dr. Frank M. Phifer, to our most recent past chairman, , a tradition of excellence persists.

We are excited to welcome Dr. Ahmad El-Arabi as our Program Director. Dr. El-Arabi completed his residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center prior to pursuing a subspecialty fellowship in genitourinary reconstruction at Loyola University Medical Center. He subsequently joined the faculty in 2022. His clinical commitment to managing complex urologic pathologies, combined with his dedication to innovation and education, make him exceptionally well suited to lead our training program. We look forward to his leadership and vision.

The diversity of training remains amongst the best offered in the country with rotations at Loyola University Medical Center, the Edwards Hines Jr. VA, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, MacNeal Hospital, and the Lurie Children's Hospital. The Loyola University Medical Center is a level one trauma and burn center which provides our residents the experience to diagnose and manage patients with genitourinary trauma and burns in both an acute and delayed setting. The training experience at the Hines VA continues to thrive under the leadership of and direction of . The most recent example was the successful launch of a newly renovated clinic to house the HoLEP program for surgical management of BPH/LUTS in Veterans. The first of its kind in the region. Similarly, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital and MacNeal Hospital provide residents the opportunity to participate in community care where they have the unique opportunity to care for patients with different socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. The technical experience is excellent and includes minimally invasive robotic surgery, focal therapy for prostate cancer, novel prostate biopsy techniques, and HoLEP for BPH/LUTS.

The Loyola University Medical Center endourology and stone treatment service and fellowship training program led by , remains one of the busiest services within the department. Dr. Turk continues to maintain one of the largest referral bases in the Chicagoland region due to his expertise and experience.

Led by , we continue to offer the highest level of surgical care for all genitourinary malignancies. Our multidisciplinary team, which includes dedicated urologic oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists and specialty nursing, provides an individualized approach to cancer care. We offer the latest innovations in diagnostic and therapeutic treatment modalities along with accessibility to clinical trials for our patients with the rarest and most complex genitourinary malignancies. Providers at the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center in Maywood and the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Center in Melrose Park provide easy and timely access for consultations. Urology continues to have a strong leadership and research presence within the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center through the Director of the Clinical Trials Office, .

, Director of the Society of Urologic Oncology fellowship at Loyola, has been a leader in the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - ultrasound fusion guided biopsy techniques, advanced molecular imaging modalities (fluciclovine PET) for prostate cancer detection and staging, and . All of our fellowship-trained urologic oncologists, including , , Dr. Gopal Gupta, and , have extensive experience with robotic surgery with proven oncologic outcomes while preserving urinary and erectile function, commensurate with high quality care.

Since the publication of the landmark study led by Dr. Robert Flanigan identifying the role of cytoreductive nephrectomy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma, Loyola has been a center of excellence for kidney cancer. Our urologic oncologists have been at the forefront of surgical innovation, employing techniques such as robotic-assisted laparoscopic retroperitoneal enucleation for small renal masses, percutaneous cryoablation, as well as taking on the most complex locally advanced tumors involving vascular structures and adjacent organs.

Our comprehensive multidisciplinary bladder cancer program is one of the most robust in the Midwest. We are also one of the highest volume centers in the area performing radical cystectomy for high-risk invasive bladder cancer and we offer all forms of urinary reconstruction tailored to the individual patient. Our standardized enhanced recovery protocols and extensive experience with the disease have led to improved perioperative outcomes, reduced hospital stays, and decreased readmissions. Our twice monthly Multidisciplinary Genitourinary Tumor Board fosters real-time collaboration across specialties, ensuring personalized and optimized treatment plans.

, led by , is a joint venture between the departments of Urology and Obstetrics/Gynecology that is focused on the medical and surgical treatments of women’s pelvic floor conditions. Since its inception in 2000, the division has participated in numerous NIH funded research initiatives that have resulted in ground-breaking clinical trials. The FPMRS division trains future leaders in FPMRS who have completed a urology or obstetrics/gynecology residency in their American Board of Urology (ABU) and American Board of Obstetrics/Gynecology (ABOG) approved fellowship. In addition, all residents from both departments rotate on FPMRS during their residency. In collaboration with Loyola’s basic scientists from the departments of Microbiology and Immunology, the division has formed the Loyola Urinary Education & Research Collaborative that is recognized as a leader in understanding the urinary microbiome and its relationship to health and disease.

For pediatric urology training our residents continue to rotate through the Lurie Chicago Children's Hospital, one of top pediatric hospitals in the world. The Loyola Department of urology has had a relationship with Lurie’s for the past 35 years. The Lurie’s pediatric urology division provides state of the art family centered care for children and adolescents with congenital and acquired conditions of the kidneys, bladder, and genitalia. It remains a top rotation for our residents.

The Loyola Medicine opened its doors in Burr Ridge in 2020, the first of its kind amongst academic medical centers in the Chicagoland area. The Center provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary care focused on men's health. On site expertise provides novel diagnostic and treatment options for men with enlarged prostate, LUTS, low testosterone, sexual dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease, and infertility. Cancer survivorship care through the Center provides men with treatment options, including prosthetics, for erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. The Center, as well as the GURS fellowship training components, are supported by Associate Fellowship Director, , a nationally recognized expert in men's health, BPH and sexual dysfunction. The department of urology also has internationally recognized expertise in genitourinary reconstruction for men with urethral stricture, previous hypospadias repair related complications, pelvic fracture related urethral injury, concealed penis, and urethral fistula. This program was established by and now involves Dr. Ahmad El-Arabi who specializes in cancer survivorship along with upper and lower This includes patients with complex ureteral strictures, congenital anomalies, and post-radiation, post-transplant, and post traumatic ureteral and urethral strictures. Robotic expertise is offered. We are most excited to announce the addition to the team of two outstanding fellowship trained reconstructive urologists who will join the faculty in the summer of 2026, Dr. Peris Casteneda and Dr. David Han.

We retain the protected year of research where residents are encouraged and supported to pursue hypothesis-generated ideas with faculty mentorship and guidance. The residents continue to excel across clinical, academic, and leadership domains, highlighted by the recent prestigious awards our residents were granted including the AUA Leadership Retreat Scholarship, EAU Short Visit Scholarship, and the American Board of Medical Specialists Visiting Scholarship. Our residents continue to have a robust presence at meetings locally for the Chicago Urologic Society, Illinois Urologic Society, North Central Section of the AUA, and nationally, at the Society of Urologic Oncology, Society of Benign Prostatic Disease, and the American Urological Association.

Dr. Kevin McVary was named new Medical Director of Loyola’s Clinical Research Office of Loyola’s Stritch School of Medicine. He is an experienced investigator in prostatic disorders and erectile dysfunction (ED), Dr. McVary has been principal investigator for several R01, UO1, P20, P50, STTR awards along with more than 80 clinical trials. His research has generated more than 500 publications, including refereed journal articles, books, book chapters, and abstracts.

Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Robert Flanigan for remaining on faculty and providing his teaching and wisdom to our trainees and faculty. We are lucky to have him.

As the Loyola Medicine Department of Urology enters its second century of leading-edge patient care, urologic training, and translational research, I remain very optimistic regarding the future of the department and its continued growth and accumulation of expertise.

Sincerely,

Chief Clinical Officer 
Trinity Health Illinois/Indiana Region
Albert J. Jr. & Claire R. Speh Endowed Professor
Chair, Department of Urology
Stritch School of Medicine
Chief of Surgery
Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood, IL