BackTable Urology

Every prostate cancer biomarker returns a number, but the real question is whether that number changes what you do next for the patient. On this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Ruchika Talwar welcomes Dr. Amir Lebastchi, urologic oncologist at Keck Medicine of USC, to discuss how biomarkers are moving prostate cancer care from numbers to meaningful clinical decisions. They define what makes a bi...

How is suction technology changing what it means to be “stone-free” after ureteroscopy? On this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Ruchika Talwar welcomes Dr. Karen Stern, endourologist at Mayo Clinic Arizona, for a practical discussion of how ureteroscopy is evolving in the era of suction. They discuss how thin-slice CT has revealed just how much stone typically remains after surgery, why dusting...

Same risk group, very different benefit. Can biomarkers help identify who needs treatment intensification in prostate cancer? On this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Ruchika Talwar and Dr. Angela Jia, a radiation oncologist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, break down the difference between prognostic and predictive biomarkers and how genomic testing is informing the way clinicia...

How do you decide if a neurogenic bladder is a safety problem or a quality of life problem for each patient, and how do you move from guideline risk categories to a real surveillance plan? On this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Anjali Kapur interviews Dr. Benjamin Brucker, professor of urology and director of neuro-urology at NYU Langone Health, about navigating neurogenic lower urinary tract d...

What is the difference between mentorship, sponsorship, and coaching in a physician’s career, and how can coaching influence your professional development? On this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Helen Bernie interviews Dr. Emilie Johnson and Dr. Angie Smith about the transformative impact of career coaching for urologists. They break down how coaching differs from mentorship and sponsorship, wh...

Adrenal lesions now turn up on four to ten percent of cross-sectional scans, and every urologist needs a reliable way to sort out the harmless ones from the dangerous ones. On this episode of BackTable Urology, co-hosts Dr. Gina Badalato and Dr. Chris Anderson speak with Dr. Ben Ristau to share a practical, case-based framework for evaluating adrenal lesions. They walk through imaging criteria, th...

What does a urologist actually need to know to confidently manage advanced prostate cancer in the clinic? On this episode of BackTable Urology, host Dr. Ruchika Talwar interviews Dr. Kristen Scarpato, director of the advanced prostate cancer clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Dr. Jason Hafron, chief medical officer of the Michigan Institute of Urology. They break down how the land...

How can private practice and academic residency programs work together to shape the next generation of urologists? On this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Jose Silva interviews Dr. Javier Castillo about launching an academic residency within a busy private urology group in Puerto Rico. They highlight the business, training, and research challenges involved, as well as the innovations that make r...

How can reconstructive urologists improve quality of life for cancer survivors beyond the initial cure? On this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. George Koch interviews Dr. Hiren Patel about building a comprehensive survivorship practice that addresses the long-term needs of patients following genitourinary cancer treatment. They discuss moving beyond post-prostatectomy ED and incontinence to incl...

With so many treatment options for bladder outlet obstruction, how do you select the best approach for each patient? On this episode of BackTable Urology, host Dr. Jose Silva is joined by Dr. John DiBianco for a practical discussion on evaluating lower urinary tract symptoms and matching patients with the right intervention. They emphasize confirming that symptoms are truly due to benign prostatic...

Can shared decision-making and patient support change the treatment journey for overactive bladder? On this episode of BackTable Urology, host Dr. Suzette Sutherland and OAB expert Dr. Jannah Thompson discuss how patient education, clear counseling, and ongoing follow-up improve care for patients with overactive bladder and urge incontinence. They cover practical strategies for building an effecti...

What are the key considerations for choosing between surveillance, surgery, and chemotherapy in testicular cancer? On this episode of BackTable Urology, host Dr. Rich Matulewicz is joined by Dr. Sean Kern and Dr. Sam Funt for an in-depth discussion on clinical approaches to testicular cancer. They start with a real-world case, reviewing initial evaluation, imaging, tumor markers, and counseling on...

How can high-stakes surgical cases be optimized for teaching while ensuring patient safety and trainee growth? On this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Ruchika Talwar interviews Dr. Kelvin Moses about intentional strategies for surgical education, especially during complex urologic oncology operations. They discuss workflows that prioritize preoperative planning, structured debriefs, and progress...

Is an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) the beginning or the end of the prostate cancer workup? On this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Ruchika Talwar interviews Dr. Tarik Benidir to explore the “PSA problem,” explaining why PSA is biologically useful but clinically imprecise, often leading to false positives, unnecessary biopsies, and detection of indolent disease. They discuss a rationa...

What should you do differently when a UTI becomes a recurring problem? In this episode of the Backtable Podcast, host Dr. Anjali Kapur is joined by physician-scientist Dr. Glenn Werneburg to discuss the latest approaches to recurrent urinary tract infections, including key updates from the 2025 AUA, CUA, and SUFU guidelines. They use real clinical cases to explore diagnosis, prevention, antibiotic...

Recurrent low-grade, intermediate-risk bladder cancer presents a unique treatment challenge: recurrence is common, progression is uncommon, and the burden of repeated procedures can add up quickly. On this episode of the BackTable Urology Podcast, Dr. Ruchika Talwar interviews Dr. Charles “Chas” Peyton about how to manage intermediate-risk bladder cancer patients while balancing disease control an...

How can you use social media to educate, empower, and inspire as a physician while staying true to your professional values? On this episode of BackTable Urology, guest host Dr. Maheetha Bharadwaj talks with Dr. Rena Malik and Dr. Fenwa Milhouse about building an authentic online presence that educates, inspires, and connects. The conversation highlights the power of visibility, the challenges of...

Hypospadias can be surgically corrected early in life, but many patients drop out of care before puberty or adulthood, leaving important urinary and sexual health concerns unaddressed. On this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Arthi Hannallah and Dr. Nicco Passoni talk with Dr. Vinaya Bhatia about improving lifelong engagement for people with hypospadias. They highlight advances in surgical techni...

Can a drug-eluting bladder device change the treatment algorithm for BCG-unresponsive non–muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Ruchi Talwar interviews Dr. Sarah Psutka to explore the emerging role of a novel intravesical device that delivers sustained gemcitabine therapy for patients refusing or ineligible for cystectomy. They highlight new FDA-approved...

The definitive treatment for adult acquired buried penis is surgery, but successful treatment depends on having a well-coordinated network of patient support, multidisciplinary care teams, and reconstructive urologic surgery expertise. This episode of Backtable Urology overviews this multifaceted disease and dives into reconstructive surgery techniques, featuring Dr. George Koch and Dr. Paul Rusil...

More neuromodulation options mean more opportunities to personalize care. In this episode, Dr. Ken Peters and Dr. Tracey Wilson join Dr. Jannah Thompson to discuss the latest implantable tibial nerve stimulation and sacral neuromodulation technologies for OAB and UUI. They compare available devices, share practical insights on patient selection, and explore how shared decision making, advanced pra...

Can focal therapy truly “thread the needle” between active surveillance and radical prostate cancer treatment? In this episode of BackTable Urology, host Dr. Tiwa Akinsola is joined by Dr. George Schade from the University of Washington to explore focal therapy as a middle ground between active surveillance and radical treatments. Dr. Schade reviews non-radiation energy modalities including HIFU,...

As bladder cancer treatment options expand, so do the challenges of delivering them in real-world practice. On this episode of BackTable Urology, community urologic oncologist Dr. Adam Gadzinski joins Dr. Ruchika Talwar to discuss how evolving therapies for non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) are changing the landscape for both patients and providers. They explore the financial, logistical,...

What opportunities and challenges does private equity bring to urology practices, and how can physicians engage in ways that strengthen their practice and preserve clinical priorities? On this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Ruchika Talwar interviews Dr. Benjamin Lowentritt of Chesapeake Urology and United Urology Group to unpack the realities of private equity involvement in medicine. They disc...

With multiple clinical trials evaluating PARP inhibitor combinations, how do clinicians determine the best approach for advanced prostate cancer? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Alan Tan is joined by Dr. Rana McKay and Dr. Emmanuel Antonarakis to discuss how evolving evidence, patient selection, timing, toxicity, and genetic testing are shaping the use of PARP inhibitor combinations in c...