Training Generations of Urologists, Through Unique Leadership and Mentorship

Since its inception more than 90 years ago, URMC’s Department of Urology has cultivated national and international leaders in the field and an environment built on mentorship and collaboration.

The Department boasts leaders in several disciplines and subspecialties and has the largest, most experienced pediatric urology practice in the Upstate New York region. A commitment to mentoring remains at the heart of their work, regardless of stature, title, or length of service. Each team member serves as a mentor to the others.

Ronald Rabinowitz, MD, FAAP, FACS, an internationally renowned expert, created URMC’s pediatric urology practice in 1976. He has trained more than 100 urology residents. As URMC’s Chief of Pediatric Urology, he has helped guide these future caregivers through the critical knowledge of the anatomy and embryology of the genito-urinary system and the importance of precise and ergonomic movements in the operating room.

Rabinowitz continues to perform surgeries and teaches residents and students how to manage pediatric problems.

“I am fortunate to have found a profession that I love, that involves teaching and mentoring,” Rabinowitz said. “I like to think that I have had some influence on others’ careers. My residents and medical students are students, but I really see them as my colleagues.”

A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native, Rabinowitz noted that the Department’s collaborative culture comes from the top down. “As my Pittsburgh Steelers have had only three head coaches since I’ve been here, our department has had only three chairs during that time,” he said. “Every one of them has encouraged us to be mentors and teachers. The relationships between our leadership, faculty, residents, and medical students are outstanding, unlike anyplace else.”

A Unique Culture

Having earned his medical degree at the University of Rochester and collaborated with Rabinowitz over the years on a number of research projects, David Diamond, MD, who joined the Department in 2021, can attest to the unique culture.

“One of the great pleasures in pediatric urology for me is to train residents and medical students,” Diamond said. “It is a privilege to work in an environment that fosters collaboration and to have the opportunity to work with smart and motivated students and resident staff in pediatric urology on a daily basis.”

Prior to coming back to Rochester, Diamond served as Urologist-in-Chief at Boston Children’s Hospital for nine years. When he came to Rochester, he brought a few research projects with him that he started in Boston. Right away, he experienced the pleasure and rewards of mentoring.

He asked a senior resident to work on one of the research projects. In a short time, the resident completed the project with the maturity of a pediatric urology fellow – delivering an excellent book chapter and a paper ready for publication.

“This first experience was an inspiration for me to seek out other opportunities for residents in the future,” Diamond added. “It is clear that Rochester has done a great job at staying true to its values, with an emphasis on teaching, patient care, and clinical research. The importance of mentoring in an academic department certainly deserves to be a major factor for those seeking a faculty position.”

A Two-way Street

Edward Messing, MD, FACS, a celebrated expert in urologic oncology, came to the Department in 1995 and served as chair for 23 years.

One of his mentees was former resident and current Department Chair Jean Joseph, and he continues to help mentor Joseph today. “When COVID hit, we had to give up beds and cancel elective surgeries. Jean came to me to discuss which surgeries should be stopped. Even though Jean primarily conducts prostate cancer surgeries, he decided that we had to cancel those surgeries because bladder cancer patients could not afford to wait.”

Messing has found that mentoring is a two-way street. A bladder cancer study he conducted through a national cancer cooperative group ended when accrual goals were reached. As a result, the medicine stopped being provided to URMC patients because it was funded through the grant. A resident suggested that the medicine could still be provided if they got it through the cancer center’s pharmacy and helped implement the process.

“I learned that, while I can help others through mentoring, they can mentor me as well,” Messing added. “We are still doing this procedure today.”

Another notable Messing mentee is Phillip M. Rappold, MD, PhD, whose research focuses on emerging technologies for kidney cancer care. Messing helped Rappold learn to find a balance between research and clinical time.

Rochester Is The Place To Be

“Rochester has a way of exceeding expectations,” Rabinowitz said. “Once people experience the community and opportunities here, they never want to leave.”

“We are fortunate to have world-renowned leaders in the urology field here in our department,” said Department of Urology Chair Jean Joseph, MD, MBA, FACS. “They could go anywhere they want, but they chose Rochester because of our collaborative culture, our focus on training generations of urologists, and the opportunities that we offer in research and patient care.”