Ralph Clayman Mentor Award

PROFESSOR GUOHUA ZENG

2025 Ralph Clayman Mentor Award

Professor Guohua Zeng is a world‐renowned pioneer and innovator in endourology, particularly in the minimally invasive treatment of urolithiasis. As the Vice President of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Head of Urological Surgery, and Director of the Guangdong Key Laboratory of Urological Surgery, he has devoted over 33 years to advancing both basic and clinical research on urinary stone disease. Notably, he has independently performed more than 20,000 minimally invasive stone surgeries, setting a new benchmark in the field. 

Among Professor Zeng’s most significant contributions is his development of negative pressure suction-assisted stone extraction in the Super-Mini-PCNL (SMP) technique—which effectively addresses the limitations of traditional mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy. He further advanced flexible ureteroscopy by integrating suction technology to enhance stone clearance rates and by creating the world’s thinnest 7.5 Fr disposable digital flexible ureteroscope, facilitating the global adoption of this cutting-edge approach. 

Beyond procedural innovations, Professor Zeng invented the external physical vibration lithotripsy (EVPL) technique and developed the first EVPL machine, greatly accelerating the stone expulsion process. His epidemiological research on urolithiasis in the Chinese adult population not only illuminated the prevalence of the disease but also demonstrated the preventive benefits of regular aged vinegar consumption in reducing stone recurrence. 

In 2012, Professor Zeng co-founded the International Alliance of Urolithiasis (IAU), now comprising 939 members from 115 countries and recognized as the largest global platform for research in urinary stone disease. He has been instrumental in formulating six international diagnostic and treatment guidelines, three global expert consensus statements, and three domestic consensus documents. With over 200 SCI-indexed publications, seven authored monographs, and 45 patents (including multiple international patents), his prolific academic output and technological breakthroughs have earned him numerous national and international accolades. 

Equally dedicated to nurturing future urologists, Professor Zeng established China’s first minimally invasive urological surgery training center, which has hosted 53 training sessions over the past ten years for more than 8,500 Chinese and nearly 700 international specialists. His surgical demonstrations, delivered across 42 countries, have significantly advanced global practice in minimally invasive urology.