Volume 5 Winter 2019
Department of Urology
How You Can Support the Department of Urology
Many Strengths. One Mission.
Dear Alumni and Friends, This is the time of year that we look at the successes and contributions of our residents and faculty. Over the last year, the department addressed the growing need of urologic care in the Inland Empire communities and welcomed five new attending physicians with diverse skills and backgrounds. In this issue, I am pleased to introduce to you Dr. Mohammad Hajiha, Dr. Forrest Jellison, Dr. Humberto Villarreal, Dr. Catherine Chen and Dr. Joshua Chamberlin. We completed a successful summer student research program with six students working with our faculty, and in November, our research year residents, Drs. Ruth Belay, Jon Maldonado and Dr. Baldwin, presented six research projects at the 37th Annual World Congress of Endourology, meeting in Abu Dhabi. Over the past six months, our residents have submitted 13 abstracts and have presented at national level urology conferences worldwide. Our residents continue to grow and make an impact in the urology community. We are excited to announce that our chief resident, Dr. Julie Cheng, will receive the 2020 Society of Women in Urology (SWIU) Outstanding Resident Award at the SWIU mentoring
conference in January. Dr. Cheng will be starting a pediatric urology fellowship at Seattle Children’s Hospital in July 2020. Her co-chief, Dr. Hillary Wagner will be staying with us to do a one-year female urology and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive Surgery fellowship. We are looking forward to what 2020 brings and wish each of you an outstanding holiday season and wonderful new year. Thank you for reading our newsletter. I look forward to talking to Loma Linda University Health urology alumni throughout the year. Please connect with us and follow our regular updates on Facebook.
Herbert Ruckle, MD, FACS Roger Barnes Chair and Professor of Urology Loma Linda University Health
The Annual Henry L. Hadley, MD, Excellence in Teaching Award The Annual Henry L. Hadley, MD, Excellence in Teaching Award was presented by the residents to Noel Hui, MD, In Recognition of his Commitment to Graduate Medical Education 2018-2019.
Supporting the Department of Urology Loma Linda University Health Department of Urology is a leading center and resource for urological patient care, training and research in our region. In today’s environment, charitable support for the department’s mission is very important to our continued success. We are blessed to have a busy clinical practice that allows for excellent residency education and is a fertile incubator for innovation and research to advance our specialty. As seen by our projects we are keenly interested in research that is rapidly translated to the bedside for better patient care. Contributions may be made for general academic support, restricted to a specific area within the department of urology (i.e., to support training, specific disease research, equipment), to support a specific memorial chair, professorship or the Roger Barnes Endowment Fund. Any gift allows us to support our “triple aim” of education, research and innovative patient care and progress in our quest to find cures for urological diseases, improve lives and “to make man whole.” Our recent presentations and publications are evidence of the outstanding work of our students, residents and faculty working together supported by our Barnes Research Endowment. Our recent project to begin on MRI/ ultrasound fusion prostate biopsy program has been very successful and we thank our donors who brought the project to fruition. We are deeply grateful for the generous charitable donations from alumni, patients and friends. Thank you to Linda and Chuck Garber of The Pryke Foundation, The Hedco Foundation, Thomas Hendrix and Dr. Edward Allred for your recent and ongoing support and for helping the MRI fusion projects move forward.
Congratulations to our Chief Resident, Dr. Julie Cheng Dr. Julie Cheng was selected as the 2020 SWIU Outstanding Resident Award recipient. The SWIU established this award to honor women residents who fulfill the mission of SWIU to advance the career development and professional success of women urologists – and who have been mentors, teachers, sponsors or coaches for other residents and students of all genders. Last year, Dr. Cheng completed two papers on resident burnout, one of which was accepted, titled: Consistencies and Discrepancies Between the Expectations of Urology Trainees and the Experience of Practicing Urologists.
Welcome New Urology Providers: Mohammad Hajiha, MD, Forrest Jellison, MD, Humberto Villarreal, MD, Catherine Chen, MD, and Josh Chamberlin, MD. Mohammad Hajiha, MD Dr. Mohammad Hajiha completed his undergraduate, medical school and urology residency at University of Toronto, Canada. He went on to complete a two-year fellowship in endourology, laparoscopy, robotic and minimally invasive urological surgery at Loma Linda University. Dr Hajiha’s care philosophy is patient-centered, compassionate and earnest. He is a strong believer in the importance of good doctorpatient communication, as this is key for providing quality healthcare. His goal is to understand each patient’s set of circumstances and tailor their whole person care to each patient’s unique condition. Dr. Hajiha became a surgeon to be able to definitively impact and improve the health of his patients. Forrest Jellison, MD Dr. Forrest Jellison received his undergraduate education at Pacific Union College. He is an associate professor that specializes in reconstructive urology. He graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine where he completed his urology residency. Dr. Jellison completed his fellowship at UCLA, in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Jellison served at Brooke Army Medical Center urology residency as the associate program director in San Antonio. Dr. Jellison’s philosophy of care is based on trust, compassion and communication. As a physician, he aims to accomplish his goal of improving the quality of life for his patients. Dr. Jellison brings with him the experience and discipline of being a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve.
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Humberto Villarreal, MD Dr. Villarreal received his undergraduate education at Texas A&M University. He graduated from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston in 2009. He completed his urology residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2014. After graduating from residency, he joined the faculty at Brooke Army Medical Center where he rose to the rank of major. After nine years of active duty military service, Dr. Villarreal completed a Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons fellowship at the University of Colorado. Dr. Villarreal specializes in male genitourinary reconstructive surgery, men’s health, complex urinary tract reconstruction and robotic surgery. His clinical interests include global health, urologic/pelvic malignancy survivorship and transitional care of pediatric urology patients into adulthood. He believes in shared decisionmaking as it relates to treatment of complex patient conditions and enjoys the collaborative spirit of academic medicine. He receives valuable insight into being an approachable and communicative surgeon from his wife Diana, a pediatrician. Catherine Chen, MD Dr. Catherine Chen received her undergraduate education from Johns Hopkins and graduated from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine. She completed her urology residency at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and her pediatric urology fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern. She is an assistant professor in pediatric urology. Dr. Chen has an expertise in minimally invasive surgery, including laparoscopic and robotic surgery. She specializes in the surgical correction of congenital birth defects of the genitourinary system. She is dedicated to taking care of children and working with families, striving to obtain the best quality of life and treatment for her patients. Dr. Chen’s quality of life is enhanced by her two dogs and her fiancÊ, Ronald.
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Joshua Chamberlin, MD Dr. Joshua Chamberlin is an assistant professor in pediatric urology who specializes in the medical and surgical management of pediatric urology anomalies including reconstructive open, endoscopic, laparoscopy and robotic surgery in children. He received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Brigham Young University and his medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Dr. Joshua Chamberlin completed his urology residency at University of California Irvine and his pediatric urology fellowship training at Children’s Hospital of Orange County. He has a special interest in conducting clinical research to improve the care and outcomes of children with urologic anomalies. He strives to integrate evidence-based medicine in his practice to provide excellent, comprehensive care for children and their families. He understands children better than most, as he and his wife Lauren are the proud parents of five children.
Dr. Ruth Belay Presented at the 2019 World Congress of Endourology Meeting in Abu Dhabi Dr. Ruth Belay Presented: Factors Influencing the Cost of Ureteroscopy Cost containment during ureteroscopy has been advocated recently, in the setting of reduced reimbursement rates. Academic centers must balance outcomes, efficiency and resident training, with little evidence regarding the effect of these factors upon cost. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors during ureteroscopy that can potentially impact hospital cost. Operating room time is the primary determinant of case cost during ureteroscopy. Indirect factors that can impact operating room time include large stone burden, resident training and availability of dedicated operating room staff. All efforts should be made to decrease operative time in order to decrease cost while balancing patient safety and maintaining a quality training environment.
Ruth Belay, MD
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