BackTable Urology

What do you do when metastatic urothelial cancer responds dramatically to systemic therapy? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Abhinav Khanna (Mayo Clinic) speaks with host Dr. Daniel Roberson about the growing question of consolidative surgery after enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab. They discuss how EV-pembro has reshaped treatment expectations, why unexpected complete or near-complet...

Is transecting urethroplasty still the default, or is reconstructive urology moving beyond it? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Ben Breyer (University of California San Francisco) joins host Dr. George Koch (Ohio State University) to discuss evolving approaches in reconstructive urology with an emphasis on complex stricture cases. --- SYNPOSIS Throughout the conversation, Dr. Breyer refle...

When is active surveillance the right choice for intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Claire de la Calle, Assistant Professor of Urology at the University of Washington, joins Dr. Ruchika Talwar to unpack how active surveillance has evolved beyond low-risk disease and why select Grade Group 2 patients may be appropriate candidates now with thoughtfu...

Is the era of cisplatin over, or are we simply becoming more precise about who benefits from it? As perioperative strategies in bladder cancer continue to evolve, emerging tools like circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) are playing a bigger role in how clinicians assess recurrence risk and tailor treatment. In this episode of BackTable Tumor Board, host Alan Tan, medical oncologist at Vanderbilt-Ingram C...

In reconstructive urology, preventing infection often means prolonged antibiotic exposure, raising important questions about stewardship and long-term harm. In this episode of BackTable Urology, Joshua Sterling of Yale University joins host George Koch to examine how antibiotic stewardship and emerging insights into the urinary microbiome are reshaping infection management in reconstructive practi...

Vaginal rejuvenation is often misunderstood, misrepresented, and overdue for honest conversations in medicine. In this crossover episode between BackTable Urology and BackTable OBGYN, Dr. Nirit Rosenblum, a urology and OBGYN professor at NYU Langone Medical Center, is joined by Dr. Karyn Eilber, Chair of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Group Department of Surgery, and Dr. Ariana Smith, Chief of Urology a...

Gender affirming surgery is becoming a more visible part of urologic practice, raising practical questions about surgical training, case volume, and multidisciplinary support. In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Eric Walton of The Ohio State University joins Dr. George Koch to examine how gender affirming surgery is being integrated into contemporary urology. Dr. Walton discusses his path in...

What determines success in the early years of urology practice? In this BackTable Urology episode, produced in collaboration with the Society of Women in Urology (SWIU), this episode of the BackTable Urology Podcast brings on Dr. Raveen Syan, Dr. Helen Hougen, and host Dr. Michelle Van Kuiken to discuss the transition to early career practice in urology. --- SYNPOSIS Together, the doctors explore...

The microhematuria guideline just changed. Here’s what clinicians need to know. In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Daniel Barocas (Vanderbilt University) joins host Dr. Ruchika Talwar to break down the 2025 updates to the American Urological Association (AUA) Microhematuria Guideline and why these changes matter in everyday practice. --- SYNPOSIS They walk through the evidence driving the u...

How are local and international teams working together to offer reconstructive urology in resource-constrained settings? This week on BackTable Urology, Dr. Jane Kurtzman (University of Utah) joins Dr. George Koch (Ohio State University) to discuss the realities, challenges, and opportunities of international surgical work. --- SYNPOSIS They break down how global urology programs differ in structu...

Can genomic classifiers close the gap between what we see and what a tumor will do? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Carissa Chu (UCSF) joins Dr. Ruchika Talwar (Vanderbilt) to explore how genomic classifiers are reshaping the way clinicians diagnose and manage bladder cancer. --- This podcast is supported by: Veracytehttps://www.veracyte.com/decipher-bladder --- SYNPOSIS They discuss the...

If you’re navigating pregnancy, postpartum, or return-to-work stress, you are not alone. In this BackTable Urology × SWIU collaboration, Dr. Danielle Velez (Rutgers Health) joins host Dr. Helen Bernie (Indiana University Health) for a candid conversation on navigating parental leave, lactation, and the emotional turbulence of stepping back into clinical practice. Together, they unpack boundary-set...

When it comes to GU cancers, fear and uncertainty often shape a patient’s treatment decisions well before the clinical data does. Dr. Hung-Jui (Ray) Tan of UNC Health sits down with host Dr. Ruchika Talwar to unpack why decision-making around small renal masses, low-risk prostate cancer, and other GU conditions can be so challenging. Dr. Tan explains the concept of decisional conflict, a patient’s...

One of the most common dilemmas in urologic oncology: what do you do when a patient has T1 disease in both the bladder and the ureter? In the final episode of the 2025 NMIBC Creator Weekend™ series, Dr. Vignesh Packiam, Dr. Mark Tyson and Dr. Sarah Psutka share how they approach complex bladder cancer cases with upper tract involvement. --- This podcast is supported by:Ferring Pharmaceuticals ---...

Can we reduce OR waste without compromising patient care? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Sunil Patel (Johns Hopkins) joins host Dr. Ruchika Talwar (Vanderbilt) to explore strategies for improving environmental sustainability in surgical practice. --- SYNPOSIS They discuss the scope of OR-generated waste, the impact of plastics and carbon emissions, and emerging data linking environmenta...

When standard therapy fails, it does not have to be the end of the road for high-risk bladder cancer patients. Modern treatments, biomarkers, and clinical studies have opened up new avenues for treating recurrent non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The penultimate episode of the 2025 NMIBC Creator Weekend™ series features urologic oncologists Dr. Vignesh Packiam, Dr. Mark Tyson, and Dr. Sa...

For the first time in history, a human bladder was transplanted. Dr. Nima Nassiri (UCLA) joins Dr. Ruchika Talwar to share how his team completed this landmark operation alongside a kidney transplant. He walks through the clinical scenario, key steps in donor and recipient selection, and how years of preclinical work informed the operative approach. --- SYNPOSIS The conversation explores the broad...

With the right protocols (and the right team!), urology clinics can proactively manage the side effects of intravesical therapy. This in-studio episode from the 2025 NMIBC Creator Weekend™ series features unique perspectives from Vanderbilt nurse practitioner Meredith Donahue and surgical neuro-oncology nurse Brynn Moore, both with focuses in urologic oncology. Hosted by Dr. Ruchika Talwar, we cov...

What does it take to save both life and function in a rapidly progressing infection? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Judith Hagedorn (University of Washington) joins Dr. George Koch (Ohio State University) to unpack the complexities of Fournier’s gangrene management. --- SYNPOSIS They discuss advances in surgical techniques like skin-sparing debridement and the value of high-volume cente...

As new genetic and AI-powered tools emerge for bladder cancer screening, are we getting closer to reducing the need for invasive cystoscopies? In part five of the 2025 BackTable NMIBC Creator Weekend™ series, host Dr. Vignesh Packiam engages in an insightful discussion with Dr. Sarah Psutka from the University of Washington and Dr. Katie Murray from NYU about the complexities and potential benefit...

Considering a reconstructive urology fellowship or already in the thick of it? This episode is for you. Dr. Rachel Mann (University of Minnesota) sits down with Dr. George Koch (Ohio State University) to discuss her journey in reconstructive urology and the mentors who shaped it. Together, they explore how creativity, adaptability, and mentorship fuel progress in this evolving subspecialty.---SYNP...

We have relied on PSA for decades, but what’s next in precision screening for prostate cancer? In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Jason Hafron from the Michigan Institute of Urology joins host Dr. Ruchika Talwar to discuss the evolving role of biomarkers and artificial intelligence in prostate cancer screening.---This podcast is supported by:Cleveland Diagnosticshttps://www.isopsa.com/---SY...

With the introduction of checkpoint inhibitors into non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) management, who’s on point for planning, administering, and optimizing combination therapies? Is it still the urologist, or does medical oncology play a more significant role now than it did before? In this episode of the BackTable 2025 NMIBC Creator Weekend™ series, host Dr. Bogdana Schmidt sits down wi...

New FDA-approved therapies for BCG-refractory non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)–where do they fit in the treatment algorithm, and how do you administer them? This installment of the 2025 NMIBC Creator Weekend™ series features host Dr. Bogdana Schmidt, assistant professor of Urologic Oncology at the University of Utah, and leading urologic oncologists Dr. Mark Tyson from Mayo Clinic Arizon...

When a patient is diagnosed with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), how do you tailor the conversation and treatment plan to their individual needs (and fears)? In part two of the 2025 NMIBC Creator Weekend™ series, host Dr. Vignesh Packiam is joined by Dr. Sima Porten from UCSF and Dr. Patrick Hensley from the University of Kentucky to discuss patient-centered diagnostic and therapeutic...