Our Faculty
Our faculty share with residents its wide-ranging experience, interests, and clinical and research expertise. They train residents in the use, study and advancement of the most current surgical techniques, including:
- Advanced laparoscopy
- Endoscopy
- Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery
- Pediatric urology
- Robotic surgery
- Urologic oncology
Research. Each faculty member actively engages in clinical and/or translational research as evidenced by the impact of Vanderbilt publications and grants awarded to our faculty. Three Department of Urology research laboratories run by independently funded Ph.D. scientists produce consistent excellence in grant funding, research publication and training of residents and fellows.
Leadership. Many of our faculty hold leadership positions in:
- National urologic, surgical and oncologic organizations
- National and international medical journals
- Changing public medical policy related to urology care
Publishing. Our faculty, fellows and residents are prolific in sharing their study findings, research outcomes and ideas to improve and advance all aspects of urology through publications and presentations.
Faculty Prospective on Residency Program
Residency Program Leadership
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Kristen R. Scarpato, MD, MPH
Associate ProfessorDepartment of UrologyResidency Program DirectorDepartment of UrologyVice Chair of EducationDepartment of UrologyDivision of Urologic OncologyMedical Degree: Tufts University School of Medicine
Residency: University of Connecticut Health Center
Fellowship: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Clinical Interests: Bladder Cancer, Genitourinary Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Prostatectomy, Ultrasound Fusion Biopsy/Artemis
Dr. Scarpato, MD, MPH, is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Urology Residency Program and Vice Chair of Education. She has interests in resident and medical student education, surgical simulation, and mentorship. She remains committed to advancing the field of urology through education and maintains a strong interest in both patient and resident education. She enjoys collaborating on educational endeavors with numerous local and national organizations. Dr. Scarpato’s clinical practice focuses on the diagnosis and management of bladder and prostate cancer. She has a particular interest in focal therapy and salvage prostate ablation, as well as advanced prostate cancer.
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Elisabeth Sebesta, MD
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of UrologyAssistant Residency Program DirectorDepartment of UrologyDivision of Reconstructive Urology and Pelvic HealthMedical School: Columbia University
Residency: Columbia University, Urology
Fellowship: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Clinical Interests: Genitourinary and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, Neurogenic Bladder, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Urinary Incontinence, Urinary Tract Fistula, Bladder Dysfunction, UrodynamicsDr. Sebesta is double boarded in both Urology and Urogynecology, and specializes in bladder dysfunction, urinary incontinence, pelvic floor disorders, genitourinary reconstruction, and female pelvic health. Her research interests include the psychosocial impacts of urinary conditions.
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Abby Taylor, MD, MPH
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of UrologyFellowship DirectorPediatric Urology FellowshipAssistant Residency Program DirectorDepartment of UrologyDirector of Medical Student EducationDepartment of UrologyDivision of Pediatric UrologyMedical School: Northeastern Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio
Residency: Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Jacksonville, FL
Fellowship: Vanderbilt Pediatric Urology Fellowship, Nashville, TN
Clinical Interests: Pediatric Urology, Genitourinary ReconstructionDr. Taylor is program director for the pediatric urology fellowship program, assistant program director of the urology residency program, and director of medical student education in urology.
Departmental Leadership
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David F. Penson, MD, MPH, MMHC
Professor and ChairDepartment of UrologyHamilton and Howd Chair in Urologic OncologyDivision of Urologic OncologyMedical School: Boston University School of Medicine
Residency: University of California, Los Angeles
Fellowship: Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, Yale University
Clinical Interests: Prostate cancer, Bladder cancer, Prostatectomy, Elevated PSADr Penson serves as Chair of the Department and oversees all Departmental activities. He is also a well-known health services researcher, a urologic oncologist who focuses primarily on clinical prostate cancer care and, most importantly, the father of three great kids (all of whom are die-hard Boston Red Sox fans, like their dad).
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Daniel A. Barocas, MD, MPH, FACS
ProfessorDepartment of UrologyExecutive Vice ChairDepartment of UrologyDivision of Urologic OncologyMedical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Residency: New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center
Fellowship: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Clinical Interests: Genitourinary Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Kidney Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Laparoscopy and RoboticsDr. Barocas is an accomplished researcher, focusing on quality of life, quality of care, and comparative effectiveness. He is the principal investigator of a multi-center study on the effectiveness and side effects of different treatments for prostate cancer.
Fellowship Directors
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Niels V. Johnsen, MD, MPH, FACS
Associate ProfessorDepartment of UrologyFellowship DirectorGenitourinary Reconstruction and Trauma FellowshipDivision of Reconstructive Urology and Pelvic HealthMedical School: Tulane University School of Medicine - New Orleans, LA
Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Fellowship: University of Washington, Male Genitourinary Reconstruction and Trauma
Clinical Interests: Reconstructive Surgery, Erectile Dysfunction, Peyronie’s Disease, Urethral Stricture, Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence, Urinary Fistula, Urologic TraumaDr. Johnsen is an active member of both the Sexual Medicine Society of North America and the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons, and serves as co-chair of the ACS Urologic Trauma Guidelines. His research and clinical practice focus primarily on the treatment of sexual and urinary health issues following trauma, surgery, radiation, or any other type of injury.
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Nicole L. Miller, MD, FACS
ProfessorDepartment of UrologyFellowship DirectorEndourology and Laparoscopic Surgery FellowshipDivision of Endourology and Stone DiseaseMedical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency: Univeristy of Virginia Health Sciences Center
Fellowship: Indiana University School of Medicine
Clinical Interests: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Endourology, Kidney Stones, Percutaneous Kidney Stone SurgeryDr. Miller is an internationally recognized clinician specializing in the treatment of kidney stone disease and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) with particular expertise in Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). Her research focuses on the investigation of pathophysiologic pathways in BPH and new laser technologies for kidney stone and BPH treatment. She is also a founding member of the Endourology Disease Group for Excellence (EDGE) Research Consortium which conducts multi-center trials to advance clinical excellence in the treatment of kidney stone disease.
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Kelvin Moses, MD, PhD
Associate ProfessorDepartment of UrologyJoseph A. Smith Directorship in Urologic OncologyFellowship DirectorUrologic Oncology FellowshipDivision of Urologic OncologyMedical School: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Residency: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Fellowship: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Clinical Interests: Advanced Prostate Cancer, Advanced Kidney Cancer, Testis Cancer, Penile Cancer, Adrenal CancerDr. Moses is the Director of the Comprehensive Prostate Cancer clinic and Director of the Urologic Oncology Fellowship. He is the Chair of the NCCN Guidelines Panel on Early Detection of Prostate Cancer. His surgical practice focuses on advanced kidney cancer, including complex IVC thrombectomy and cytoreductive nephrectomy, and advanced testis cancer via retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. He has research interests in health literacy and cancer outcomes, advanced prostate cancer clinical trials, and optimal surgical resection for advanced Urologic cancers.
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Abby Taylor, MD, MPH
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of UrologyFellowship DirectorPediatric Urology FellowshipAssistant Residency Program DirectorDepartment of UrologyDirector of Medical Student EducationDepartment of UrologyDivision of Pediatric UrologyMedical School: Northeastern Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio
Residency: Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Jacksonville, FL
Fellowship: Vanderbilt Pediatric Urology Fellowship, Nashville, TN
Clinical Interests: Pediatric Urology, Genitourinary ReconstructionDr. Taylor is program director for the pediatric urology fellowship program, assistant program director of the urology residency program, and director of medical student education in urology.