Description of Training

The Fellowship Program in Endourology and Metabolic Stone Disease at Duke University Medical Center offers prospective candidates the option to pursue either a one or two year training experience focused on endourology and stone disease. Our goal is to provide trainees with opportunities to develop the clinical, surgical, and research skills needed to be a leader in kidney stone management and research.

Fellows have the opportunity to work with Glenn M. Preminger, MD, Gary J. Faerber, MD, Mike E. Lipkin, MD, Charles D. Scales, MD, Chad M. Gridley, MD, Robert A Medairos, MD and Jodi A. Antonelli, MD in clinical, surgical, and research capacities. The Fellowship is structured to encompass a combination of clinical/surgical (75%) and research (25%) training over either a one or two year period, depending on the nature and degree of research focus. Our clinical volume and research infrastructure enables an applicant to get a comprehensive clinical and research fellowship experience in one year, however, if there is a particular research interest that could be better served with an additional year of research this could be accommodated. Areas of research interest include studying the bioeffects of shock wave lithotripsy and intracorporeal lithotripsy, shock wave and laser physics, advanced imaging technologies, development of novel endourologic devices, medical management of nephrolithiasis, innovative management of BPH, and health services/outcomes research as it pertains to stone disease and endourology.

Clinical/Surgical Training
Fellows work primarily with Drs. Scales, Antonelli, Medairos, Lipkin, and Preminger concentrating on developing the skills to master the clinical and surgical management of nephrolithiasis, including complex metabolic and anatomic cases. From a clinical perspective Fellows learn the fundamentals and nuances of metabolic stone evaluation and management so they are prepared to successfully manage even the most challenging metabolic cases in stone disease. Surgically, there is specific emphasis on developing proficiency with an array of techniques for PCNL including obtaining percutaneous access with fluoroscopic, ultrasound, and endoscopic guidance as well as mini-PCNL. Additionally, there is opportunity to use a wide range of technologies for ureteroscopic management of stones. Finally, for those interested applicants, there is the opportunity for training in the innovative management of BPH including holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) with Dr. Chad Gridley.

The Fellow is also an important part of the Endourologic training program for our residents including assisting in teaching basic and advanced ureteroscopic and percutaneous procedures and contributing to journal clubs and resident teaching conferences. The Fellow will be employed as a junior faculty member and will be responsible for 2 weeks of faculty call per year.

Laboratory Facilities and Research Supervision
Full research facilities are available at the at the Comprehensive Kidney Stone Center at Duke University Medical Center, including basic science bench-space for SWL and intracorporeal lithotripsy bioeffects studies, the Duke Lithotripsy Laboratory in the Department of Engineering, and two dedicated research lithotripters for animal studies. The Duke University Medical Center Vivarium with full veterinary and technical support is located immediately adjacent to the Medical Center and Department of Engineering.

Pei Zhong, Ph.D., will act as the immediate supervisor for performance of the basic physics studies and intracorporeal lithotripsy research. High-speed photographic analysis, acoustic emission equipment and a cavitation detection system will all be available to perform such physics studies. NIH funding is currently in place to cover the cost of performing many of these studies.

Health services research activities in Endourology occur at the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) under the direction of Charles D Scales, MD.  The DCRI houses several large administrative datasets that provide insights into quality of care. NIH and other  funding is currently in place to cover many of these studies.

Surgical Volume

Past Fellows

*In Academic Urology

**AFUD Scholar