Functional & Reconstructive Urology Fellowship

The Functional & Reconstructive Urology Fellowship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine is a two-year clinical and research fellowship under the directorship of Brian J. Flynn, MD, Professor of Surgery in the Division of Urology. Dr. Flynn started the fellowship in 2008. The fellowship’s focus is both male and female reconstructive Urology. We are one of the few remaining programs that are committed to training fellows in all aspects of GU reconstruction that includes male and female GU reconstruction. This philosophy originates from “old-school” of reconstruction built by Richard Turner-Warwick, George Webster, and Gerald Jordan.

In 2012, GURS started a match in GU Reconstructive Surgery, and we have participated in the match and have received a letter of good standing each year the GURS match has existed. In 2012, Dr. Ty Higuchi joined the CU reconstructive urology program and brought additional expertise in urethral, penile and neurogenic reconstruction as well as adding transitional urology to the program.

The CU Reconstructive Urology fellowship has been committed to meeting the curriculum standards to a GURS-based curriculum. We consistently perform in the top 50% in the majority of the index cases. Additionally, the GU reconstructive fellowship overlaps partially with what is now known considered FPMRS/SUFU index cases. The fellows do have some flexibility on case selection based on their own individual experience, interest and future job aspirations.

This clinical fellowship includes a graduated experience focusing on GU reconstruction. This includes pre-operative evaluation, intraoperative management and post-operative care. The fellow will be quite familiar with reconstructive surgery of the ureter, bladder, urethra and penis. The fellow will spend 90% of his/her time functioning as a fellow under the directorship of 2-4 faculty members, spending the majority of time with 2 faculty members. The remaining 10% of his/her time will be spent independently. The fellow will have four of his/her own clinics per month and have the ability to schedule minor cases that come from these clinics. The fellow will have 1-2 days per month of research time. This time is flexible based on the fellow’s research interest and productivity. We will support the fellow’s participation at two national meetings per year to present their research activities.

Program Track

Year 1: Research year

Year 2: Clinical - will submit GURS case log

Functional and Reconstructive Urology Fellowship Open House

This year's open house will be held December 4, 2024 at 6:00pm.

Prerequisites for Admission

One trainee per year will be accepted into the 2-year fellowship training program. Prerequisites for admission are as follows:

Must be a U.S. or non-U.S. citizen qualified to obtain a full medical license in the State of Colorado
Complete all 3 steps of USMLE
Completed an accredited Urology Residency program in the United States
Be board-eligible in Urology
Have a letter of support from their Program Director attesting to the successful completion of the urology training program and recommending them for the fellowship
Two additional letters of recommendation are required

There may be an opportunity of a 1-year research fellowship or 1-3 month observerships, especially for international fellows. This will usually require extramural funding. To date, we have had international scholars visit from Canada, Brazil, Mexico, China, Korea, Italy, Russia, and Jordan.

Fellowship training in Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery is now determined according to a match process through the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons and the American Urological Association. If you are interested in learning more about the match process, please check out the GURS website at https://www.societygurs.org/gurs/initiatives/fellowship.

Please note: Residents/Fellows in University of Colorado training program must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or possess the appropriate documentation to allow the resident/fellow to legally train at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Fellow Roster

Year	Name	Medical School	Residency	Post-Fellowship
2025-2027	Helen Sun, MD	Case Western Reserve University	Case Western Reserve University
2024-2026	Karen Doersch, MD	Texas A&M	University of Rochester
2023-2025	Rohan Bhalla, MD	Vanderbilt University School of Medicine	Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
2022-2024	Nathaniel D. Coddington, MD	Washington University in St. Louis	University of Texas-Houston	Private Practice Denver, CO
2021-2023	Margaret Higgins, MD	University of Kansas School of Medicine	University of Kentucky
2021-2022	Alexandra Berger Eberhardt, MD	Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University	Brigham and Women's Hospital \| Harvard Medical School	Assistant Professor, Brigham and Women's Hospital \| Harvard Medical School
2019-2021	Kirk D. Redger, MD	University of Kansas School of Medicine	University Hospital - SUNY at Stony Brook	Assistant Professor, University of Kansas
2019-2020	David S. Koslov, MD	The Medical University of Ohio at Toledo	Wake Forest Baptist Health	Private Practice San Bernardino, CA
2018-2019	Humberto G. Villarreal, MD	University of Texas Medical School at Houston	University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio	Assistant Professor, Loma Linda Medical Center
2017-2018	Michael A. Avallone, MD	University of Miami	Medical College of Wisconsin	San Louis Obispo, California Private Practice
2016-2017	Lisa M. Parrillo, MD	Eastern Virginia Medical School	University of Pennsylvania	Meridian, Idaho Private Practice
2015-2016	Stephen A. Blakely, MD	University of Maryland	SUNY Upstate Medical University	SUNY Upstate, Assistant Professor
2014-2015	Kirk M. Anderson, MD	Loma Linda University	Loma Linda University	Sacramento, CA Sutter Health
2013-2014	Andrew P. Windsperger, MD	University of Minnesota	University of Kansas	St. Cloud, Minnesota Private practice
2012-2013	Ketul S. Shah, MD	Univ. of Mumbai, Bombay, India	Ohio State University	Columbus, OH Private practice
2011-2012	Dmitriy Nikolavsky, MD	Wayne State University	Beaumont Hospital Royal Oak, MI	SUNY Upstate, Assistant Professor
2010-2011	David A. Hadley, MD	Loma Linda University	University of Utah	Twin Falls, ID Private practice
2009-2010	Christopher R. Knopick, MD	Northwestern University	Wayne State University	San Francisco, CA Attending – Kaiser
2008-2009	Ryan P. Terlecki, MD	Wayne State University	Wayne State University	Univ. Wake Forest Associate Professor

Program Goals and Content Areas

Learning Objectives

Management of anterior and posterior urethral stricture disease
Male incontinence surgery – AUS and male sling
Bladder reconstruction and continent urinary diversion– Augmentation, Mitrofanoff, bladder neck closure, Indiana Pouch
Ureteral reconstruction – pyeloplasty, re-implant, psoas hitch, ileal ureter
Robotic upper and lower urinary tract reconstruction
Penile reconstruction and prosthetic surgery
Management of neurogenic bladder and voiding Dysfunction – Botox, Interstim, TURP, PVP
Recto-urethral fistula surgery
Neurourology and Urodynamics
Complex female pelvic medicine – Complications of pelvic surgery vesicovaginal & urethrovaginal fistula surgery, urethral diverticulectomy, surgery for recurrent SUI and POP

Overall Program Goals by Area

At the end of this fellowship in Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery, the fellow will have obtained knowledge in the core reconstructive urologic procedures. The fellow will be knowledgeable especially in the following areas:

Male Reconstructive Surgery

Management of urethral stricture disease including urethroplasty and substitution urethroplasty using grafts and flaps (both local flaps as well as extra-genital flaps)
The management of male stress urinary incontinence and proficiency in artificial urinary sphincter and male sling implantation
The fellow will be proficient in management of urethro-cutaneous as well as rectal-urethral fistula surgery

Bladder and Ureteral Reconstruction

The fellow will demonstrate knowledge in ureteral reconstruction and be adept in the full array of reconstructive procedures including ureteral re-implantation, uretero-ureterostomy, transuretero-ureterostomy, ileal uretero substitution, boari flap, and pyeloplasty (both open and laparoscopic)
Bladder reconstruction including bladder augmentation, creation of catherizable urinary stomas, urinary diversion

Robotic Reconstructive Urology

The fellow will be exposed to robotic surgery and has the opportunity to log 50 - 75 robotic cases in a single year. The fellow case log is more than double the robotic exposure that a fellow would receive at any other GU reconstructive surgery program. Approximately half of the procedures are FPMRS cases (Fistula surgery, RALS, graft removal from the LUT) and the other 50% are upper urinary tract reconstruction (ureteral recon and pyeloplasty) and lower urinary tract reconstruction (bladder augmentation, mitrofanoff, bladder neck closure, cystectomy with urinary diversion). Robotic GU reconstruction is an exciting area of growth in our field. These cases are lengthy, technically demanding procedures. Minimally Invasive Urology and FPMRS are excelling in GU Robotic reconstructive surgery while GURS fellowships are lagging behind. We are committed to training our fellows in bot open and robotic cases.

Complex Female Pelvic Medicine

Complex female pelvic medicine is a term our fellows coined recently and is reflective of the tertiary FPMRS practice we have at the University of Colorado. This includes management of patients with complications from pelvic surgery, fistula, ureteral obstruction, urethral stricture, recurrent stress incontinence and prolapse. Fellows will have exposure to both the clinic procedures as well as minor and major procedures we perform.

Research

The fellow will be involved in all related clinical research activities. The fellow will be able to select three (3) new or ongoing projects. The expectations for these projects will be completion by years end in the form of a manuscript that is prepared for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Additionally, the research will be presented at a local as well as a national urologic meeting.

Summary

In short, the fellowship is a mix of major abdominal reconstructive surgery as well as male and female reconstruction. Dr. Flynn performs approximately 500 cases per year. The fellow will participate in approximately half of these cases, specifically the cases involving male reconstruction. These cases occur at the University of Colorado Hospital (85%), Denver Health Trauma Center (10%) and Children’s Hospital Colorado (5%). The fellow will have attending privileges and will have their own clinic (4 clinics per month) and cases of his/her own where he/she will function as the staff (approximately 4-8 cases per month). As the year progresses he/she will function as the staff on some combined cases. We do a number on large reconstructive cases especially in the 2nd half of the year (3-5 per month).

Brian J. Flynn, M.D.
Co-Director of UCH Women’s Pelvic Health and Surgery Clinic
Fellowship Director of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery
Professor of Surgery/Urology
University of Colorado Denver, Division of Urology
Academic Office One Bldg.
12631 East 17th Ave., Box C319, room L15-5602
Aurora, CO 80045
Academic Office: (303) 724-2712
Fax: (303) 724-2818
E-mail: Brian.Flynn@cuanschutz.edu

How to Apply

Applications for a fellowship position must be submitted through the Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship Match through the AUA. Information on the application process can be found at the GURS website at https://www.societygurs.org/gurs-fellowships-match/.

In addition to applying online, applicants are required to forward a copy of their GURS application and all supporting documentation via e-mail to the Fellowship Coordinator, Shannon Lamoree at shannon.lamoree@cuanschutz.edu.

CU Deadline: December 31 (1.5 years before the potential start date)

Required documentation includes:

Copy of GURS application (This will be accepted after the deadline of 12/31 or when the application becomes available)
Curriculum Vitae
Medical School Transcripts
One (1) Letter of Recommendation from Residency Program Director
Two (2) Additional Letters of Recommendation

Interviews are typically held in February and March. Please feel free to contact Shannon via email at shannon.lamoree@cuanschutz.edu with questions or to request additional information.

Tools & Resources

CU Campuses

CU Anschutz Medical Campus

Department of Surgery

School of Medicine