The UNC Department of Urology is proud to announce that Marc Bjurlin, DO, MSc, FACOS has been promoted to Professor, with permanent tenure. This appointment recognizes Dr. Bjurlin’s continued outstanding achievements and contributions to UNC’s mission of pursuing excellence in clinical care, research and education.
Dr. Bjurlin is Vice Chair of Research and Director of Clinical Trials in the Department of Urology, where he has demonstrated exceptional leadership advancing the Department’s research efforts while maintaining a strong commitment to patient-centered care and academic excellence.
He is an internationally recognized researcher and has presented at numerous medical meetings throughout both the U.S. and Europe, on timely topics and emerging issues related to bladder cancer, innovative approaches to smoking cessation, and new insights into the impact of e-cigarettes.
With regard to this work, one of his external evaluators for promotion noted, “…these importantly are involving multidisciplinary perspectives and contributions from family medicine, epidemiology, radiation oncology, toxicology, and implementation scientists, with co-authors from outside UNC. These substantiate Dr. Bjurlin’s significant role in…meeting the goals of building team science.”
His academic contributions to the field are extraordinary—particularly for an exceptionally busy clinical surgeon. In the period of his appointment at UNC, he has added 76 (for a total of 144) original peer-reviewed publications; five as first author and 29 as senior author, reflecting his commitment to mentorship and promoting his mentees as first author.
“Dr. Bjurlin’s well deserved promotion reflects the depth and impact of his contributions to our Department as well as the larger practice of Urology,” said Dr. Matthew Nielsen, Chair of the UNC Department of Urology.
“His leadership and dedication to advancing multidisciplinary collaborations, and commitment to the highest quality patient care makes him an invaluable member of our team.”
Urologist, Oncologist and Innovator
Dr. Bjurlin is a specialist in urologic oncology and his clinical practice has a significant focus on the treatment of bladder, prostate, testicular, and kidney cancers. Within UNC he is an integral member of the Multidisciplinary Genitourinary Oncology Group at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he routinely collaborates across specialties to ensure delivery of technically advanced yet highly personalized and compassionate, team-based care for patients. His excellent clinical care has been recognized by physicians in the community, with selection as a “Top Doctor” by Castle-Connolly.
Some of his most recent work includes the use of cutting-edge robotic surgical techniques and image-guided diagnostic and treatment modalities, as well as the expansion of innovative clinical trials that bring the most sophisticated therapies to patients at UNC and beyond. This work was noted by another external evaluator: “He has done a tremendous amount of work in the prostate cancer diagnosis space, an area that has changed dramatically in the past 15 years. Indeed, his work on biopsy techniques and use of MRI has informed the prostate cancer detection guidelines from the American Urological Association and NCCN.”
As a highly respected thought leader in his field, Dr. Bjurlin has also contributed to the development of clinical guidelines through his service on committees such as the American Urological Association’s (AUA) Operating Procedure for Prostate MRI, and his participation as a member of the AUA Clinical Research Education Program Steering Committee and New Technology and Imaging Committee. Additionally, he serves as the national director for the AUA course on Molecular Imaging in Urologic Oncology, overseeing education for urologists in this area.
Dr. Bjurlin makes these extraordinary contributions to the field with grace and poise. As noted in a peer faculty evaluation letter accompanying his nomination for this promotion, “Dr. Bjurlin’s professional accomplishments are complemented by his humility, kindness, and collaborative spirit. He exemplifies leadership by treating everyone at our institution with respect and courtesy, including administrative staff, new residents, patients and colleagues. Dr. Bjurlin is a vital asset to our institution, serving as an exemplary role model for students and trainees, a trusted figure for patients, and a highly respected colleague. It is an honor to work alongside him every day.”
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Bjurlin on this well-deserved recognition of his many contributions!