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.
American Urological Association Honors Smith With Gold Cystoscope Award
The American Urological Association presented Angela B. Smith, MD, MS, FACS with the 2022 Gold Cystoscope Award, an award presented annually to a urologist distinguished by outstanding contributions to the field of urology. Dr. Smith is being honored for her outstanding leadership and contributions in bladder cancer outcomes research and is only the third woman to earn the award since its inception in 1977.
Dr. Eric Wallen Receives AOE’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical Education
Congratulations to Dr. Eric Wallen for receiving the UNC Academy of Educators’ (AOE) Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical Education recognizing his 20+ years in sustained excellence in teaching and mentoring medical students, residents and fellows. Don’t worry – Dr. Wallen has no plans of retiring.
Dr. Kristy Borawski Receives AOE’s Craver Professor Award
Congratulations to Dr. Kristy Borawski for receiving the UNC Academy of Educators’ (AOE) Craver Medical Student Teaching Award. With the support and generosity of UNC School of Medicine alum Dr. Joseph M. Craver, this teaching award recognizes an outstanding teacher in their core clerkship field who inspires and changes the lives of medical students through their teaching.
Dr. Matthew Coward Receives AOE’s Educational Mentor/Advisor Award
Congratulations to Dr. Matthew Coward for receiving the UNC Academy of Educators’ (AOE) Educational Mentor/Advisor Award. Dr. Coward was nominated by the faculty, staff, and medical students at the UNC School of Medicine and recognizes Dr. Coward ‘s mentoring and advising efforts to students, residents, and fellows in their career endeavors.
2021 Resident and Attending of the Year Awardees
Each year the Department of Urology bestows two significant figures with the titles of Resident and Attending of the Year. This year’s Resident of The Year Award was given to Yousef Abu-Salha, MD , a current 3rd Year Resident. The Urology Attending of the Year award was presented to Ray Tan, MD, MSHPM.
Dr. David Friedlander Named 2021 Urology Care Foundation Research Scholar Awardee
Congratulations to David Friedlander, MD, MPH for being named one of the 2021 Urology Care Foundation Research Scholar Awardees. Dr. Friedlander was selected to receive this year’s Endourological Society Joseph Segura, MD Scholarship in Endourology and Stone Management Award for a two-year study titled Improving pathways of care for renal colic as a means to address low-value services.
Smith Selected as 2020-21 Yang Family Biomedical Scholar
The UNC School of Medicine recently announced that Yueh Lee, MD, Ph.D., (Radiology), Jiandong Liu, Ph.D. (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine), and Angela Smith, MD, (Urology) have been named as recipients of the 5th annual Yang Family Biomedical Scholars Award. The award recognizes faculty that have made significant scholarly contributions to their field while also receiving national recognition for their research.
Mary Dunn, RN, MSN, OCN, NP-C Wins AUA’s 2021 ‘Advanced Practice Provider of the Year’ Award
The American Urological Association Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Membership Committee has named Mary Dunn, RN, MSN, OCN, NP-C as the recipient of the 2021 APP of the Year Award. This award is presented annually to an AUA APP Member in recognition of their strong leadership skills and outstanding patient care in the field of urology. Mary joins her UNC colleague, Heather Schultz, who was the inaugural recipient of AUA APP of the year in 2020.
Raynor & Tan Expand UNC Urology’s ‘Castle Connolly Top Doctors’ Ranks to 11
Congratulations to Drs. Mathew Raynor, and Hung-Jui (Ray) Tan, on qualifying to be included in Castle Connolly’s 2021 Listing of Top Doctors for the first time. They join 9 other UNC Urology Faculty members who also received this year’s Top Doctor designation again.
Dave Friedlander, MD Named AUA Science & Quality Fellow
Congratulations to David Friedlander, MD, MPH for being named by the American Urological Association (AUA) as the 2020-2021 Science & Quality Fellow. The AUA Science and Quality Fellowship program is designed to prepare the next generation of urologists for key roles in the Science and Quality arena through structured engagement in seminars, conferences, and meetings at the national level.
View 2020 Awards and Recognition News
National Leadership
Alongside their efforts in Chapel Hill, UNC Urology faculty members provide substantive leadership in service to multiple national organizations in urology.
Heather Schultz, FNP-C, MSN Inducted into Fellows Association of Urology Nurses and Associates (FAUNA)
Congratulations to Heather Schultz, FNP-C, MSN for recently being inducted into the Fellows Association of Urology Nurses and Associates (FAUNA) – an innovative program to recognize the sustained and influential work of those members who are transforming urology nursing. Schultz joins the FAUNA Class of 2021 alongside 10 other practitioners from across the country.
Tan To Serve on Advisory Committee for the Prostate MR Image Quality Improvement Collaborative
Congratulations to Dr. Ray Tan, MD, MSHPM for being selected to serve as an inaugural member of the Advisory Committee for the Prostate MR Image Quality Improvement Collaborative, one of four collaboratives that make up the newly-formed American College of Radiology Learning Network.
Dr. Nielsen Approved as Next Chair of the AUA Science & Quality Council
Congratulations to Matthew Nielsen, MD, MS, FACS who has been approved by the Board of Directors of the American Urological Association’s (AUA) as the next chair of the Science and Quality (S&Q) Council. Dr. Nielsen will assume the role of chair-elect on June 1, 2021 and serve a four-year term as Chair, starting 2022.
Dr. Bjurlin Selected For AUA’s Clinical Trials Education Steering Committee
Congratulations to Marc Bjurlin, DO, MSc, FACOS on his recent selection to the American Urological Association’s (AUA) Clinical Trails Education (CTE) Steering Committee. As a member of the CTE Steering Committee, Dr. Bjurlin will make recommendations and help design education programming for the full spectrum of urologic diseases and conditions for both traditional and outcomes-based trials.
Dr. Bjurlin To Lead Imaging Team in AUA’s New Technologies & Imaging Committee
Congratulations to Marc Bjurlin, DO, MSc, FACOS on his recent selection to lead a sub-team of the American Urological Association’s (AUA) New Technologies & Imaging Committee. Dr. Bjurlin has been serving on the New Technologies & Imaging Committee and was recently chosen to lead the Imaging Team within the Committee. The New Technologies & Imaging Committee consists of members who have been appointed based upon their expertise and specialization in robotic surgery, laparoscopic surgery, new technologies, or urologic imaging.
UNC’s Dunn and UW’s Gore Co-Chair New AUA Oncology Education Initiative for APPs
UNC Urology’s Mary Dunn, MSN, NP-C, OCN, RN, alongside University of Washington Urology’s Dr. John Gore, has been Co-Chairing a recent initiative to create part of the American Urological Association’s (AUA) Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Oncology Curriculum. These new Oncology Modules will enhance the ever-growing list of web-based courses available to AUA members online via the AUA University Website.
Dave Friedlander, MD Named AUA Science & Quality Fellow
Congratulations to David Friedlander, MD, MPH for being named by the American Urological Association (AUA) as the 2020-2021 Science & Quality Fellow. The AUA Science and Quality Fellowship program is designed to prepare the next generation of urologists for key roles in the Science and Quality arena through structured engagement in seminars, conferences, and meetings at the national level.
View 2020 National Leadership News
Education
The UNC Urology residency, ranked #12 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.
UNC Urology’s 2021 Residency Program Rankings Continue Year-Over-Year Improvement
Since the first rankings in 2014, UNC Urology’s Residency Program has steadily climbed the national rankings published annually by Doximity as part of their Residency Navigator Tool. The camaraderie among our residents and between faculty makes UNC a unique program and our residents have been extraordinarily successful in obtaining top fellowship matches if they choose to pursue additional training.
Celebrating the Resident Class of 2021
While saying, “see you later” to our graduating residents is never easy – we’re thrilled to watch them move to the next phases of their careers. Dr. Brandon Garren will be started his practice at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Dr. Kate Gessner is staying at UNC to complete her SUO Urologic Oncology Fellowship. Dr. Case Wood joined Lowcountry Urology in Charleston – a practice that includes two other UNC Urology program alumni.
UNC Urology matches Colton H. Walker, MD for Urologic Oncology Fellowship
We are excited to welcome Colton H. Walker, MD as our 2022-2024 Urologic Oncology Fellow. Originally from Louisiana, Dr. Walker completed his medical education at Louisiana State University in New Orleans and is currently completing his urology residency at the University of Michigan.
Match Day 2021 – UNC Urology Residency Class of ’26
Congratulations James Frisbie (University of Maryland), Hannah Kay (University of Texas at Austin), and Asia Matthew-Onabanjo (University of Massachusetts) – our UNC Urology Residency Class of ’26. 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 Urology Welcomes Hans Arora, MD, PhD
We are very excited to welcome Dr. Hans Arora to UNC Urology. Dr. Arora joins both our Adult and Pediatric Urology team – the second new peds faculty member in the last 6 months. Dr. Arora recently completed a Pediatric Urology Fellowship at the Lurie Children’s Division of Urology through the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Arora joins us as an Assistant Professor of Urology and the Director of Robotic Surgery in Pediatric Urology.
UNC Children’s Pediatric Urology Ranked #34 in U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals!
UNC Children’s has been ranked among the nation’s top children’s hospitals, according to U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Children’s Hospitals” 2021-2022, making it 13 straight years that UNC Children’s has received this designation. UNC Children’s is nationally ranked in seven pediatric subspecialties including 34th in the nation for Pediatric Urology!
UNC Urology Welcomes Dr. Katherine Chan, MD, MPH
We are very excited to welcome Dr. Katherine Chan to UNC Urology. Dr. Chan joins our Pediatric Urology team and will be the Director of the Pediatric Kidney Stone Clinic and Pediatric Urology Research. Dr. Chan was most recently at Indiana University School of Medicine and during her time there received a five-year K23 Career Development Award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to develop decision support and outcomes tools for parents and children with hypospadias.
Richard Sutherland, MD to Step Down as Division Chief and Sherry Ross, MD to Assume Role as New Division Chief of Pediatric Urology
Dr. Richard Sutherland, Professor of Urology and Associate Professor of Pediatrics has stepped down from his position as Division Chief of Pediatric Urology effective January 1st, 2021. Dr. Sutherland will remain on faculty, focusing his attention on caring for children with urologic problems, teaching, and mentoring. Dr. Sherry Ross, Associate Professor of Urology and Pediatrics has assumed the role of the new Division Chief of Pediatric Urology.
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 participating in the adult program 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.
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.
Friedlander Selected for Value Innovation Teaching and Leadership (VITAL) Program
Congratulations to David Friedlander, MD, MPH on being selected to participate in the 2021 High-Value Practice Academic Alliance’s (HVPAA) Value Innovation Teaching and Leadership (VITAL) program. The VITAL program provides early-career faculty with the knowledge and experience to lead high-value care projects at their institutions and serve as mentors for medical trainees.
Announcing 2021 Clinical Trialist Training Program Scholars
Marc Bjurlin, DO, MSc, FACOS announced as one of the 2021 Clinical Trialist Training Program (CTTP) Scholars. The scholars will participate in a year-long training program including a clinical trials bootcamp, frequent didactic training, and significant hands-on clinical trial experience.
Drs. Borawski and Smith Elected to Faculty Standing Committees
Each year, the UNC School of Medicine Standing Committees’ election process offers faculty the opportunity to participate in medical school governance by serving on a committee as a faculty representative or by voting for their peers. This year, UNC Urology’s Drs. Kristy Borawski and Angela Smith were both elected to join Standing Committees. Dr. Borawski joins the Fixed Term Promotions Committee and Dr. Smith joins the Promotions to Associate Professor Committee.
View 2020 Professional Development News
Research
Our faculty are leading a variety of practice-changing research efforts to define the standards of care in the field.
Elston Lafata and Smith Land Two Healthcare Delivery, Quality, and Equity Improvement Grants
Congratulations to Drs. Jennifer Elston Lafata and Angela Smith for receiving two separate awards aimed at improving the delivery, quality, and equity of care for patients facing cancer screening and treatment. For both projects Dr. Elston Lafata serves as the principal investigator and Dr. Smith will act as a clinician co-investigator focusing on prostate cancer patients for each respective area. Research will be carried out with the support of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of the leading cancer centers in the nation and the only public comprehensive cancer center in the state of North Carolina. Both Drs. Elston Lafata and Smith are members of the UNC LCCC and work on multidisciplinary teams within the center.
Tan, Lazard, Song, and Nielsen Awarded Nearly $1M US Department of Defense Kidney Cancer Research Grant
It is with great enthusiasm that the Department of Urology announces that a multidisciplinary research team at UNC has been awarded a prestigious Idea Development Award from the US Department of Defense Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP). Hung-Jui (Ray) Tan, MD, MSHPM (UNC School of Medicine Department of Urology), alongside co-investigators Alison Lazard, PhD (School of Media and Journalism), Lixin (LEE) Song, RN, PHD, FAAN (School of Nursing), and Matthew Nielsen, MD, MS, FACS (UNC School of Medicine Department of Urology) have been awarded a 3-year, $929,618 grant to improve the decision-making experience for patients by personalizing how they receive information about their possible kidney cancer. The project will build from an existing clinical trial supported by the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Dr. David Friedlander Named 2021 Urology Care Foundation Research Scholar Awardee
Congratulations to David Friedlander, MD, MPH for being named one of the 2021 Urology Care Foundation Research Scholar Awardees. Dr. Friedlander was selected to receive this year’s Endourological Society Joseph Segura, MD Scholarship in Endourology and Stone Management Award for a two-year study titled Improving pathways of care for renal colic as a means to address low-value services. UNC Urology’s Drs. Matthew Nielsen and Angela Smith as well as Duke Urology’s Dr. Charles Scales will serve as mentors on the project.
Hwang and Tan Awarded Advancing Cancer Treatment (ACT) Pilot Grant
UNC Urology’s Hung-Jui (Ray) Tan, MD, MSHPM and Soohyun Hwang, MPH, a PhD Candidate in the Department of Health Policy and Management have been awarded a pilot grant sponsored by Advancing Cancer Treatment (ACT).