UNC Urology is proud to welcome Dr. Renea Sturm, a board-certified pediatric urologist and translational scientist to Chapel Hill.
Dr. Sturm brings to UNC a tradition of working closely with maternal-fetal medicine and pediatric subspecialists to ensure comprehensive, team-based care for infants, children, and adolescents with complex conditions of the kidneys, bladder, urethra, and genital development.
Dr. Sturm also leads a federally funded translational research program focused on bladder and urethral reconstruction. Her laboratory develops and evaluates the performance of highly elastic biomaterials, bioengineered scaffolds, and surgical technologies specifically designed for dynamic lower urinary tract tissues.
A Dual Fellowship–Trained Innovator
Dr. Sturm’s path to UNC reflects subspecialty training in both pediatric urology and biomedical innovation. She completed medical school at Baylor College of Medicine, followed by urology residency at the University of California, Davis. She then pursued advanced fellowship training in Pediatric Urology at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Northwestern University, before completing a Biodesign fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles focused on medical device innovation.
This dual fellowship training — ACGME-accredited pediatric urology and Biodesign — positions Dr. Sturm uniquely at the intersection of reconstructive surgery and engineering. Working with design teams encompassing a wide range of expertise, her clinical insights directly inform the design of next-generation surgical technologies.
Leading Translational Research in Bladder and Urethral Reconstruction
Dr. Sturm leads a federally funded program that has been supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, including an NIH/NIDDK K08 Career Development Award. Her work integrates biomechanics, computational modeling, and tissue engineering to more closely replicate the viscoelastic properties of native bladder and urethral tissue. By improving material performance and durability, Dr. Sturm’s research aims to enhance reconstructive outcomes while reducing variability in surgical care.
Her innovations have resulted in multiple patent filings and national recognition, including selection as an American Urological Association/Urology Care Foundation Outstanding Graduate Scholar.
Strengthening Pediatric Urology at UNC
Dr. Sturm’s arrival enhances UNC Urology’s pediatric reconstructive expertise while expanding the department’s leadership in regenerative medicine, surgical innovation, and translational science.
Her work exemplifies the modern academic surgeon-scientist: equally committed to meticulous surgical care, rigorous laboratory investigation, and the education of the next generation. By integrating advanced pediatric reconstruction with biomaterials science and device development, she brings a forward-looking dimension to UNC’s mission to advance human health through excellence in education, research, and patient care.
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Sturm to Chapel Hill and look forward to the impact her clinical leadership, scientific innovation, and global engagement will have on children and families across North Carolina and beyond.