The Department of Urology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill delivers excellence in patient care, education, and research. At UNC Urology, we provide patients with a continuum of care and support throughout their recovery process. We strive to find better techniques and treatment options, provide education for patients and their families, and continue to advocate for their needs long after they leave our program.
In addition to their work in Chapel Hill, our faculty are leaders nationally and internationally, advancing the field and mentoring the next generation of leaders in Urology. The Department is moving into the new decade with energy and enthusiasm under the leadership of Professor and Chair Matthew Nielsen, MD, MS, FACS.
Please join us in celebrating the many recent accomplishments of the Department:
Awards
We are proud to have the excellence and leadership of our faculty at UNC Urology, across the mission areas, recognized by patients, peers, and national organizations.
Smith Wins SUO’s 2020 Young Investigator Award and Elected to Nominating Committee
Dr. Angela Smith honored with SUO’s 2020 Young Investigator Award. The Young Investigator Award recognizes clinical practice and/or basic research that has or will contribute to the improvement of clinical care and progress in science.
5 Urology Providers Earn 2020 Carolina Care Excellence Award
Congrats to Borawski, Dunn, Schultz, Smith, and Wallen on winning the 2020 Carolina Care Excellence Award top marks.
5 UNC Urology Faculty Physicians Join Growing List of Department’s ‘Castle Connolly Top Doctors’
Congratulations to Drs. Borawski, Bukowski, Coward, Figler, Nielsen, Ross, Smith, Sutherland, Viprakasit, and Wallen received the 2020 ‘Top Doctor’ designation from Castle Connolly. Drs. Borawski, Ross, and Smith also were included on Castle Connolly’s 2020 list of ‘Exceptional Women In Medicine.’
2020 Hettleman Prize Awarded to Dr. Angela Smith
Angela Smith, MD, MS has been awarded one of the 2020 Phillip and Ruth Hettleman Prizes for Artistic and Scholarly Achievement for her groundbreaking and innovative research at UNC.
Dr. Brad Figler Receives 2019-2020 Faculty LGBTIQA+ Advocacy Award
Dr. Brad Figler received the 2019-2020 faculty LGBTIQA+ Advocacy Award for his work creating the UNC Transgender Health Program as a way to support coordination and quality of care for transgender patients.
Heather Schultz, NP Inaugural Recipient of the AUA’s “APP of the Year Award”
The AUA Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Membership Committee named Heather Schultz, NP as the inaugural recipient of the APP of the Year Award in March of 2020.
Smith Named One of the AUA’s Young Urologists of the Year (2020)
Angela Smith, MD, MS has been named one of the AUA’s Young Urologist of the Year Award Winners for 2020. Alongside eight others, Dr. Smith is recognized for her mentorship as Director of Urologic Oncology as well as a board member of the Society of Women in Urology. Dr. Smith also serves as an Assistant Secretary for the AUA.
Eight UNC Urology Faculty Included in Latest Edition of Best Doctors in America®
Congratulations to our eight faculty physicians who were recently recognized on the 2019-20 Best Doctors List. This year, UNC Hospitals had more Best Doctors specializing in Urology than any other physician group in North Carolina.
National Leadership
Alongside their efforts in Chapel Hill, UNC Urology faculty members provide substantive leadership in service to multiple national organizations in urology.
Smith Wins SUO’s 2020 Young Investigator Award and Elected to Nominating Committee
Dr. Angela Smith honored with SUO’s 2020 Young Investigator Award. The Young Investigator Award recognizes clinical practice and/or basic research that has or will contribute to the improvement of clinical care and progress in science.
Angela Smith, MD, MS Elected to Board of the Society of Women in Urology
Congratulations to Dr. Angela Smith on their recent elections to the Board of Directors for the Society of Women in Urology (SWIU). Dr. Smith will serve a 2-year term on the Board and is currently holding the position as the Member-At-Large.
Matthew Coward, MD, FACS Elected to Board of the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction
The Department of Urology would like to extend its congratulations to Dr. Matthew Coward on his recent election to the Board of the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction (SSMR). Dr. Coward will serve a 2-year term on the Board and is currently holding the position as the Member-At-Large.
Matthew Coward, MD, FACS Elected to Board for the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology
The Department of Urology would like to extend its congratulations to Dr. Matthew Coward on his recent elections to the Board of the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology (SMRU). Dr. Coward will serve a 3-year term on the Board and is currently holding the position as the Member-At-Large.
Eric Wallen, MD, FACS Elected Chair of ACGME Review Committee for Urology
The Department of Urology would like to extend its heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Eric Wallen on his recent election to Chair of the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Review Committee for Urology effective July 1st, 2020.
Dr. Tan Appointed to the AUA’s Data Committee
Congratulations to Hung-Jui “Ray” Tan, MD, MSHPM on his recent appointment to the American Urological Association’s (AUA) Data Committee, an instrumental group in advancing the AUA’s data agenda, collection strategy, and abilities at identifying and prioritizing data and research topics, initiatives and projects.
Nielsen Appointed to CMS Technical Expert Panel
Matthew Nielsen, Interim Chair of Urology, has been appointed to support efforts to update the CMS Quality Measure Development Plan and Quality Measure Index.
Education
The UNC Urology residency, ranked #15 in the country in the US News / Doximity Residency Rankings, attracts candidates from top medical schools around the country, who go on to be leaders in urology across the spectrum of practice settings.
Celebrating the Resident Class of 2020
Members of the department celebrated the graduates of 2020 and Resident of the Year Dr. Solomon Hayon and Attending of the Year Dr. Richard Sutherland.
Urology Resident Mark Ehlers, MD Inducted into UNC Chapter of AOA
Congratulations to UNC Urology Resident Mark Ehlers, MD on his recent induction into the UNC Chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) for commitment and excellence in the teaching of medical students.
Chief Resident Dr. Benjamin McCormick Reflects on Recent AUA-supported Trip to Malawi
“In reflection, my experience will have a profound impact on my career and my practice. I have already started to think about a time when I can return to a resource-limited setting to have a more meaningful and long-term impact on the patients and trainees there.”
William French, MD Speaks on Working Through COVID-19
“As I reflect on this Doctor’s Appreciation Day, what I’m seeing around the world is concerning, but I’m also seeing so much courage. Courage from people who are not willing to give up on other people.”
UNC Residents Pauline Filippou, MD (Urology) and Emily Newton, MD (General Surgery) Play On “Wheel of Fortune”
Two UNC medical residents Pauline Filippou, MD (Urology) and Emily Newton, MD (General Surgery) appeared on the TV game show “Wheel of Fortune” on February 20th, 2020. The two physicians first met during their first years of residency at UNC and appeared on the Wheel of Fortune’s “Girlfriend Getaways” competition.
Match Day 2020 – UNC Urology Residency Class of ’25
Congratulations Obafunbi Abimbola (UNC – Charlotte), Michael Emmerling (Boston University), and Kevin Neuzil (Vanderbilt University) – our UNC Urology Residency Class of ’25. We look forward to greeting you all in Chapel Hill later this year.
Patient Care
UNC Urology is committed to providing our patients with a personalized and caring experience that supports health, delivers value, and is free from harm.
UNC Health Hospitals Earn Top “A” Safety Scores from Leapfrog GroupThe Leapfrog Group awarded multiple UNC Health hospitals with top “A” grades on its Fall 2020 Patient Safety Report Card. UNC Medical Center received its seventh consecutive “A” in Fall 2020, the most recent publication
ACS NSQIP Recognizes UNC Hospitals for Achieving Meritorious Outcomes for Surgical Patient Care
The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) has UNC Hospitals among the recognized 89 of an eligible 607 hospitals for achieving meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care in 2019. UNC Hospitals was recognized and deemed “Meritorious” across the “All Cases” and the “High-Risk Cases” categories
New 2020 AUA Hematuria Guidelines
Dr. Matthew Nielsen, Professor and Interim Chair of the Department, was a panelist and contributing author to the American Urological Association’s new 2020 Guideline for the evaluation of hematuria, released this week. The guideline will be presented by panel co-Chairs at the AUA Live Virtual Experience at 3:45pm on Saturday, June 27.
E-Cigarettes, Smoking, and Bladder Cancer
Join BCAN and Drs. Richard Matulewicz and Marc Bjurlin to answer real questions from participants about smoking and bladder cancer.
Why Quitting is So Important and Resources for Quitting
Join BCAN and Drs. Richard Matulewicz and Marc Bjurlin to talk about why quitting is so important and resources for quitting.
Professional Development
UNC Urology attracts talented faculty from around the country, and we are proud of our faculty’s development into leaders in the field.
Dr. Kristy Borawski Selected for UNC’s Academic Career Leadership Academy in Medicine (ACCLAIM)
Congratulations to Dr. Kristy Borawski, Associate Professor of Urology for her nomination and selection into the Academic Career Leadership Academy in Medicine (ACCLAIM) program.
Dr. Brad Figler Promoted to Clinical Associate Professor
It is with great pleasure that the UNC Urology Department announces the promotion of Dr. Brad Figler to the position of Clinical Associate Professor.
Dr. Coward Selected to 2020-2021 AUA Leadership Program
Congratulations to Dr. Matthew Coward on his recent selection to the 2020-2021 AUA Leadership Program. This highly competitive program identifies urologists who have demonstrated effective leadership skills within organized medicine and the community.
Dr. Tan Selected to Participated in the National Cancer Institute’s TIDIRC Program
We are pleased to announce that Hung-Jui “Ray” Tan, MD, MSHPM has been selected to participate in the 2020 Training Institute for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Cancer (TIDIRC), and program supported by the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS).
Research
Our faculty are leading a variety of practice-changing research efforts to define the standards of care in the field.
TEDx-style ‘Hettleman Talks’ Featuring Dr. Angela Smith and other 2020 Award Winners – 10/19/2020
The 2020 Hettleman Talks took place virtually on Monday 10/19/2020 at 3 pm as part of University Research Week. Dr. Angela Smith will speak on “Engaging Patients for Better Care”
Drs. Bjurlin, Fry, and Kim Awarded Lineberger Innovation Award for Evaluating the Carcinogenic Effects of E-Cigarettes on the Urothelium
Congratulations to Marc Bjurlin, MD along with co-investigators Drs. Rebecca Fry, and William Kim, MD on their recent UNC Lineberger Innovation Award for “Evaluating the carcinogenic effects of electronic cigarettes on the urothelium.”
Dr. Tan Awarded American Cancer Society Grant to Design Visual Tools to Enhance Cancer Surgeon Decision-Making
Hung-Jui “Ray” Tan, MD, MSHPM has been awarded a Mentored Research Scholar Grant in Applied and Clinical Research by the American Cancer Society. This award will directly support Dr. Tan’s research in Designing Visual Tools to Enhance Cancer Surgeon Decision-Making as well as additional career development in medical decision-making, clinical informatics, and implementation science.