- Hackensack, NJ
- Job Address:
Hackensack University Medical Center
Department of Urology
360 Essex Street, Suite 403
Hackensack, NJ 07601
- Contact Name:
Ravi Munver, M.D., Program Director
- Type/Focus:
Combined
- Duration:
1 Year
- Country:
United States
- Phone:
(551) 996-8090
- Fax:
(551) 996-8221
- Region:
North America
- Contact Email:
[email protected]
Introduction:
Hackensack University Medical Center is a teaching and research institution located in northern New Jersey that is affiliated with Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. It is a tertiary referral center and the flagship hospital of the Hackensack Meridian Health Network, the largest, most comprehensive, and most integrated health system in the state, comprised of 17 hospitals. Hackensack University Medical Center is less than 10 miles from New York City and is the busiest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in New Jersey, as well as a premier medical center that serves New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area. Our physicians, many of whom are on the cutting-edge in their fields, have received their training at many of the nation's most prominent institutions. Hackensack University Medical Center is routinely listed as the top hospital in New Jersey in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital rankings since the rating system was introduced.
Department of Urology:
The Department of Urology has a renowned reputation for elevating the standard of health care not only in New Jersey, but worldwide. Our institution’s tagline “Life Years Ahead,” reflects our department’s commitment to pushing the boundaries to develop one of the nation’s most active and diversified centers for robotic and minimally invasive urologic surgery. Hackensack University Medical Center has an established reputation as a world-class institution and leader in robotic-assisted surgery. The medical center was one of the first robotic surgery training centers in the United States and became the 1st hospital in the world to acquire 2 da Vinci™ Surgical Systems in 2000. At present, the institution has 5 da Vinci Systems, which includes 4 da Vinci Xi Systems and 1 da Vinci SP (single port) System for clinical use. The medical center also has additional robotic systems for training and research. The operating rooms have state-of-the-art OR1 technology, which provides the ideal operating room layout for performing all types of minimally invasive surgical procedures. Each operating room has high-definition imaging systems and high-tech multimedia applications for audio and video recording and communication (telemedicine).
Hackensack University Medical Center is ranked the #1 Urology Department in New Jersey by U.S. News & World Report and is ranked among the top 50 urology departments in the nation. Our distinguished fellowship-trained urologic surgeons have pioneered, performed “firsts in the field,” and continue to develop of some of the specialty’s most innovative procedures, including oncologic, benign, and complex urinary reconstructive procedures.
Fellowship Faculty:
The fellow works primarily under the supervision of Dr. Munver, director of the fellowship program, but will also have ample opportunities to work with other faculty members during robotic, laparoscopic, and endourologic procedures. The fellow will benefit from being exposed to a variety of surgical techniques during the fellowship.
Ravi Munver, MD (Fellowship Director)
- Vice Chair of Urology
- Chief of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery
- Fellowship: New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center
Michael Degen, MD
- Resident Robotic Training and Simulation
- Endourology and Stone Disease
- Fellowship: New York Medical College-Westchester Medical Center
Nitin Yerram, MD
- Co-Director of Urologic Oncology
- Director of Urologic Research
- Fellowship: National Cancer Institute-National Institutes of Health
Michael Stifelman, MD
- Chair of Urology
- Director of Robotic Surgery
- Co-Director of Urologic Oncology
- Fellowship: New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center
Clinical Training:
In 2004, Hackensack University Medical Center founded the first fellowship training program in New Jersey accredited by the Endourological Society. As one of the earliest established fellowships in the country, its outstanding graduates have become leaders at their respective institutions.
The Advanced Clinical Training Program is a 1-year combined robotic/laparoscopic and endourology training program that provides highly specialized and comprehensive training with a strong emphasis on urologic oncology and reconstructive procedures. The focus of this program is to provide the trainee with an armamentarium of robotic, laparoscopic, and endourologic surgical skills through a training program that emphasizes hands-on involvement in operative cases. In addition, clinical research will complement the surgical experience.
The majority of the clinical training is in advanced surgical techniques in which the fellow will perform hundreds of surgical cases spanning routine as well as highly complex surgeries. The fellow is trained in a wide variety of procedures including:
Robotic-Assisted Surgery
- Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy / Simple Prostatectomy
- Robotic-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy / Radical Nephrectomy / Simple Nephrectomy
- Robotic-Assisted Nephroureterectomy
- Robotic-Assisted Donor Nephrectomy
- Robotic-Assisted Radical Cystectomy / Cystoprostatectomy / Partial Cystectomy
- Robotic-Assisted Intracorporeal Urinary Diversion
- Robotic-Assisted Ureterectomy / Ureteral Reimplantation
- Robotic-Assisted Adrenalectomy / Partial Adrenalectomy
- Robotic-Assisted Pyeloplasty
- Robotic-Assisted Ureteral Reconstruction
- Robotic-Assisted Reconstructive Surgery
Laparoscopy
- Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy
- Laparoscopic Renal Cyst Ablation
- Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy
- Laparoscopic Renal Biopsy
- Laparoscopic Orchiectomy
- Laparoscopic Enterolysis
- Miscellaneous Procedures
Endourology / Minimally Invasive Procedures
- Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy / Percutaneous Access
- Ureteroscopy for Benign and Malignant Disorders
- Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy
- MRI-Ultrasound Fusion Prostate Biopsy
- Transperineal Prostate Biopsy
- Laser Therapies, Aquablation for BPH
The fellow actively participates in all aspects of clinical care such as diagnosing and evaluating patients, performing surgery, and postoperative care. Fellows receive a staff appointment and attending privileges at Hackensack University Medical Center. As such, an integral part of the training involves teaching and supervising urology residents and medical students, participating in weekly grand rounds, visiting professor conferences, and teaching postgraduate minimally invasive training courses.
The subspecialty training offered in this fellowship provides an exceptional experience that will prepare the graduate to be a future leader in minimally invasive urologic surgery. Fellows that have specific areas of interest are encouraged to personalize their training in order to enhance their fellowship. In addition to the comprehensive curriculum, the autonomy and hands-on surgical experience will provide the necessary skills to pursue a successful career in academics or specialized community practice settings.
Research:
A portion of the fellow’s time will include research. One of our department’s clinical research efforts involves developing novel surgical techniques and evaluating new technologies. An additional research focus is in the area of outcomes research using validated mechanisms and evidence-based medicine. We currently have robust prospective and retrospective databases with thousands of patients, as well as statistician support for analyses. Research endeavors will enrich the experience of the fellow and provide an opportunity for scholarly pursuit.
The David and Alice Jurist Institute for Research houses and consolidates the medical center’s ongoing research activities into one location. The top floor of this modern facility houses the state-of-the-art minimally-invasive and robotic surgery training and research center containing multiple da Vinci Surgical Systems. This center is fully equipped for animate and inanimate training and the fellow will have access for conducting research studies.
In addition, Hackensack University Medical Center partners with several local institutions and is involved in ongoing research projects. The fellow can be involved in current projects as well as new endeavors with investigators at the Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation and Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.
The fellow will publish and present the results of their research work at national and international meetings.
Why Hackensack University Medical Center?
A unique aspect of the fellowship program at Hackensack University Medical Center is the breadth and depth of surgical training. In addition to the high volume of surgeries, the fellow with benefit from a tremendous hands-on operative experience. Graduating fellows will be comfortable performing robotic, laparoscopic, and endourologic surgery for all types of urologic cancer, including kidney, prostate, bladder, ureteral, and adrenal cancer, as well as benign pathology, and reconstructive procedures.
The Department of Urology is at the forefront of technology and provides the most innovative and integrated patient care. Honors received by our acclaimed faculty include listing in Castle Connolly America’s Top Doctors, Castle Connolly New York Metro Area Top Doctors, Best Doctors in America, New York Magazine Best Doctors, New Jersey’s Top Doctors, America’s Top Urologists, Top Doctors for Cancer, and numerous others.
In summary, the Hackensack University Medical Center fellowship program has an impeccable track record of training a top applicant each year. Our expertise, clinical volume, research endeavors, and innovative approach to new technology, has established the Department of Urology as a national and international leader. The institution offers its complete support in terms of administrative and clinical services, and research facilities, for the training of our fellow.
Previous, Current, and Future Fellows:
Fellow
|
Academic Year
|
Residency Program
|
Ilya Volfson, M.D.
|
2005-2006
|
Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, NJ
|
Stuart Kesler, M.D.
|
2006-2007
|
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, NJ
|
Grant Disick, M.D.
|
2007-2008
|
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY
|
Jayant Uberoi, M.D.
|
2008-2009
|
Boston University School of Medicine, MA
|
Jennifer Yates, M.D.
|
2009-2011
|
Brown University School of Medicine, RI
|
Samay Jain, M.D.
|
2011-2012
|
Washington University School of Medicine, MO
|
Leonard Glickman, M.D.
|
2014-2015
|
Lenox Hill Medical Center, NY
|
Ganesh Sivarajan, M.D.
|
2015-2016
|
New York University School of Medicine, NY
|
Gerald Portman, M.D.
|
2016-2017
|
Yale University School of Medicine, CT
|
John Stites, M.D.
|
2017-2018
|
Maimonides Medical Center, NY
|
Johnson Tsui, M.D.
|
2018-2019
|
Lenox Hill Medical Center, NY
|
Bethany Desroches, M.D.
|
2019-2020
|
Baylor College of Medicine, TX
|
Nermarie Velazquez, M.D.
|
2020-2021
|
New York University School of Medicine, NY
|
Jennifer Kuo, M.D.
|
2021-2022
|
University of Florida College of Medicine, FL
|
Candidates: Applicants must complete an accredited urology residency program and be eligible for an unrestricted medical license to practice medicine in the state of New Jersey.
Application Process: The fellowship participates in the Endourological Society fellowship match program. Details and application forms are available at http://www.endourology.org/fellowship/.
After completing the application, please forward either a paper copy or electronic copy of the application, curriculum vitae, and letters of recommendation to the following address:
Ravi Munver, M.D.
Hackensack University Medical Center
Department of Urology
360 Essex Street, Suite 403
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Electronic applications may be emailed to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.