{"id":12598,"date":"2026-03-26T05:00:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T09:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/urology\/?p=12598"},"modified":"2026-03-19T11:11:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T15:11:41","slug":"dr-david-friedlander-named-urologys-inaugural-director-of-health-services-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/urology\/dr-david-friedlander-named-urologys-inaugural-director-of-health-services-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. David Friedlander Named Urology\u2019s Inaugural Director of Health Services Research"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dr.The UNC Department of Urology has named Dr. David Friedlander<\/a> as its inaugural Director of Health Services Research<\/em>. This newly established role reflects a growing recognition across academic medicine that improving how care is delivered is just as critical as the treatments themselves.<\/p>\n

Health services research focuses on understanding care in real-world settings \u2013 examining outcomes, access, efficiency, and cost \u2013 to identify meaningful opportunities for improvement. In urology, this work has the potential to shape not only individual patient experiences, but broader systems of care across North Carolina and beyond.<\/p>\n

Building on a Foundation of Impact<\/h2>\n

Since joining UNC Urology, Dr. Friedlander has emerged as a leader at the intersection of clinical care, health policy, and outcomes research. His work consistently reflects a central question: how can we deliver better care \u2013 not just new care?<\/p>\n

His research portfolio has focused on understanding variation in surgical care and identifying pathways that improve outcomes while reducing unnecessary costs. This work has been supported by competitive national funding, including an AHRQ K08 Career Development Award<\/a>, which supports his efforts to develop data-driven approaches to improving care for patients with renal colic and other urologic conditions.<\/p>\n

At the national level, Dr. Friedlander has contributed to shaping how quality is measured and understood in urology. As a co-author of the American Urological Association\u2019s healthcare performance measurement primer<\/a>, he has helped define frameworks that guide quality improvement efforts across the field.<\/p>\n

Within UNC, his leadership has already translated into tangible improvements in patient care. As Co-Director of the department\u2019s Quality Improvement program<\/a>, he has helped implement data-driven initiatives that enhance efficiency, reduce variation, and improve clinical workflows \u2013 efforts that continue to influence care delivery across the health system.<\/p>\n

In parallel, Dr. Friedlander has deepened his engagement with system-level improvement efforts across UNC Health. A former UNC Institute for Healthcare Quality Improvement (IHQI)<\/a> Improvement Scholar, he joined the IHQI Faculty in FY2026, where he collaborates with quality teams across the health system and helps clinicians navigate improvement resources, including coaching and advanced analytics.<\/p>\n

Together, these efforts have positioned Dr. Friedlander as a leading voice in the movement toward value-based, patient-centered urologic care.<\/p>\n

A Vision for Health Services Research at UNC Urology<\/h2>\n

In his new role, Dr. Friedlander will lead the development of a comprehensive health services research program within the Department of Urology \u2013 one designed to integrate research directly into clinical practice and drive measurable improvements in care delivery.<\/p>\n

His vision is grounded in three core pillars:<\/p>\n