Georgia Urology’s Dr. Michael Garcia-Roig and Dr. Andrew Kirsch were invited to write an article about the national trends and variations in the management of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) for the American Urological Association News (AUA). AUA, a premier urologic association that prioritizes the highest standard of urological clinical care through education and research, requested that Dr. Garcia-Roig and Dr. Kirsch research the management of VUR, a urological condition common amongst infants and small children in which the flow of urine goes the wrong way. According to the two GU physicians,” the pendulum has swung aggressively towards a more conservative management of vesicoureteral reflux.”

Click here to read the article.

On Sunday, February 3rd, Dr. Ronald Anglade appeared on The Weekly Check-Up hosted by Bruce Feinberg on News/Talk WSB radio.

Dr. Anglade opened up the segment discussing how a couple’s difficulty in conceiving is not always a woman’s problem. Since Dr. Anglade’s specialties include men’s health, sexual dysfunction, urologic health, and male infertility, his expertise filled the conversation with expert advice. In addition, throughout the two-hour segment, Dr. Anglade discussed in detail the contribution that men’s health plays in conception and the issue of infertility.

Finally, Dr. Anglade answered questions regarding what percentage of couples have trouble conceiving, how often lifestyle issues are the culprit, which specialists to see, what treatments are most effective, and what is normal when it comes to the time spent trying to conceive. 

If you missed the show, click here to listen to the recording.

Georgia Urology, the largest urology practice in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast, welcomes Dr. John Stites to its Lawrenceville and Snellville locations in Gwinnett County.

“Georgia Urology is a fantastic place to practice our craft,” says Dr. Stites. “It’s well established, there’s structure and support, and there’s a vested interest on the part of the partners that you don’t have with other practices. It allows autonomy, but also provides amazing guidance when you need it.”

Dr. Stites, a fellowship-trained physician who received his Doctor of Medicine at University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, specializes in prostate cancer, kidney stones, and robotic surgery of the kidney and prostate.

“I have the privilege of working in one of the most technologically advancing fields in our specialty,” Dr. Stites says. “Treatments are becoming less invasive with shorter recovery periods. It’s a win-win, because we’re able to do our job more efficiently with a lower complication rate, and patients reap the benefits.”

With the addition of Dr. Stites, current and future Georgia Urology patients are gaining greater access to a growing team of dedicated experts. Dr. Stites offers patients in Gwinnett County more convenient and accessible care, as well as a diverse clinical and technical experience.

Dr. Stites is actively involved in several professional organizations including the American Urological Association, the American Medical Association, and the Endourological Society. An author of numerous urological papers, Dr. Stites recently co-authored a chapter in Campbell-Walsh Urology, the field’s definitive textbook.

“Georgia Urology is a busy practice so it requires a mutual effort, work ethic, and a sense of team membership among the staff,” Dr. Stites says. “And I’m grateful to be a part of such an amazing team.”

Georgia Urology’s Dr. Andrew Kirsch, recently named President-Elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section of Urology, regularly lectures throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Dr. Kirsch has been an invited lecturer and surgeon to more than 25 countries. He continues sharing his expertise in robotic surgery innovation and the minimally invasive treatment of urinary reflux with international colleagues. In the past several months, Dr. Kirsch spoke to pediatric urologists in Rio de Janiero and Salvador, Brazil, Zagreb, the capital city of Croatia, and most recently he spoke with colleagues in Delhi, India.

“The resources are less in some of these countries, especially India and Brazil,” says Dr. Kirsch. “In terms of robotic surgery, they’re just starting. My talks help them understand where we started and where we are today. Now that they’ve seen where you can go with it, they’re enthusiastic and want to learn more.”

In addition, Dr. Kirsch spoke about the treatment of urinary reflux, specifically the development of an endoscopic technique that has become the standard of care for children across the globe. He has personally trained more than 500 physicians on the procedure worldwide.

“It’s rewarding to bring innovation to others,” says Dr. Kirsch, “and to speak from our large experience in Atlanta, because we have one of the busiest practices in the United States.”

While the diseases remain the same, Dr. Kirsch says many international pediatric urologists approach things differently due to cultural and economic obstacles.

Outside of the U.S., he says pediatric urology training differs because the field is an offshoot of pediatric surgery. This means few surgeons performing pediatric urology procedures in other countries are specifically trained in pediatric urology.

However, Dr. Kirsch says he sees the tide turning with more international pediatric urologists receiving stateside training and others expressing interest in the formal concentration. Many international trainees have already come to observe Dr. Kirsch in Atlanta.

“I think pediatric urology will become more specialized internationally and probably separate from pediatric surgery,” he says. “That’s basically what happened in the United States, which has resulted in better care for children with genitourinary diseases”.

Drs. Brent Sharpe and Froylan Gonzalez perform cancer surgeries for first time in area

Georgia Urology, the largest urology practice in the Southeast, is known for providing innovative procedures to metro Atlanta. Drs. Brent Sharpe and Froylan Gonzalez recently widened that scope by debuting two new minimally-invasive robotic procedures at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Braselton.

On June 27, the physicians combined their expertise to perform a nephrectomy and an adrenalectomy on one patient, and a prostatectomy on another. This marked the first time bilateral cancer operations were performed through the same minimally-invasive, robotic incisions. The second case was a simple robotic prostatectomy for an enlarged prostate, which traditionally is done through a large open incision.

Dr. Sharpe used the XI DaVinci System, the latest in advanced robotic surgical equipment, to perform the surgeries. During each procedure, the surgeon operates joystick-like controllers. The surgeon’s movements are transferred in real-time to the robotic device, which is positioned over the patient and has the actual surgical instruments attached.

“We use the robotic system to do minimally-invasive surgery with what have traditionally been maximally-invasive procedures,” said Sharpe, who has performed more than 700 robotic surgeries. “By using the robotic system we are able to drastically reduce surgical complications and patient recovery time. In these two patients, recovery time will be reduced six-to-12 weeks.”

The nephrectomy and adrenalectomy procedures are unique in and of themselves, and serve as a tangible example of Georgia Urology being on the forefront of technology. The doctors expect this robot-assisted surgery to have been curative. They first removed the cancerous right kidney, and then repositioned the patient and robot to remove the left adrenal gland where the cancer had spread. It’s unusual for this type of surgery to be performed on opposite sides of the same patient in one sitting. The fact that there is new, cutting-edge robotic equipment at this hospital allows for easier repositioning and cuts down on surgical time.

Georgia Urology physicians offer a volume of these procedures that other health care systems in North Georgia do not. A total of 10 Georgia Urology physicians are highly experienced robotic surgeons. Collectively, these doctors have performed more than 5,000 robotic surgeries.

“I feel privileged to help bring these procedures to the Braselton area and to offer personalized care for patients,” said Dr. Sharpe. “Our goal is to meet patients where they are and to offer them and our community hope.”

Georgia Urology is the largest urology practice in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast. Georgia Urology has more than 30 locations and six ambulatory surgery centers. The practice is comprised of more than 40 physicians, many of whom are fellowship-trained and hold advanced specialty training in oncology, robotic surgery, laparoscopy, infertility, incontinence, and pediatrics. Georgia Urology physicians use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and advanced treatment techniques, including robot-assisted technology and minimally-invasive procedures, in order to manage all urological problems in men, women, and children. It is the practice’s mission to inform and partner with patients to develop a personalized, compassionate, and comprehensive treatment plan for all of their urological conditions.

We’re proud to announce that Georgia Urology has been ranked #9 as one of the internet’s Best Urology bloggers!

We were recognized in a comprehensive list of best urology internet content that is ranked on criteria such as Google reputation and search ranking, social media influence, and quality and consistency of the postings. To learn more about Georgia Urology’s recognition, click here. Visit this page to check out the blogs that helped us earn this title.

On Sunday, December 9th, Dr. Lewis Kriteman appeared on The Weekly Check-Up hosted by Bruce Feinberg on News/Talk WSB radio.

At the beginning of the two-hour segment, Dr. Kriteman discussed his background at Yale University and his experience working as an investment banker on Wall Street before heading to medical school.

However, for the majority of the interview, Dr. Kriteman explained how the common myth of benign prostatic hyperplasia being connected to prostate cancer is not true. He also examined the minimally invasive and surgical options for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, including transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), greenlight, aqua ablation, and Urolift procedures.

Dr. Kriteman closed the segment emphasizing how medication doesn’t have to be the first option of patients suffering from BPH. He stated, “Once I have all of the information on my patient’s case, I can better guide the patient on what their options are. Then, it’s a shared decision between the patient and the surgeon to figure out what’s going to be the best way to achieve the restoration of confidence and health.”

If you missed the show, click here to listen!

On Sunday, October 28th, Dr. Barry Zisholtz of Georgia Urology joined “The Weekly Check-Up” radio show on WSB, alongside host, Dr. Bruce Feinberg. This episode’s focus was unique to the show’s typical healthcare conversation and emphasized the power of healing and helping our children understand the world around them.

Dr. Zisholtz discussed an article he wrote that touches on the importance of educating young men about the changes they will face during puberty. He urged parents to have these discussions before puberty begins so their sons could be more prepared for the changes to come. Dr. Zisholtz also stated how the Me Too Movement should prompt parents to instill values of consent and respect in their sons as early as possible.  

Dr. Zisholtz also took questions from callers inquiring about ureteral stents, prostate cancer screenings and treatment procedures, and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

If you missed the show, click here to listen.