Why choose us for urology

Experts in pediatric urology

If your child has a urologic condition, it can be challenging and frustrating and impact the whole family. You want to know their care is in the hands of a compassionate team that can provide the answers and advanced treatment options they need. We can help.

The Division of Urology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is consistently ranked one of the top programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report's Best Children’s Hospitals survey for treatment of complex pediatric urologic issues.

Our team is made up of top experts in pediatric urology. They are skilled in minimally invasive surgery and genito-urinary reconstruction. They can manage various disorders, including issues with sex development, neurogenic bladders, kidney stones and dysfunctional voiding. They offer every type of surgery, including laparoscopic, robotic and open procedures.

Years of experience

Our program is one of the first of its kind in the nation. In the 50 years since our program started, we have changed the field of pediatric urology and made advances that have improved the lives of children born with complex conditions. Every year, our team performs more than 2,000 surgeries and provides complete care for nearly 20,000 children. Families come from all over the world to access our care.

Coordinated care

CHOP Urology is different from many other pediatric urology practices. We are different because we offer complete care for you and your family. We understand that urinary and genital conditions can be painful, challenging to live with, and emotionally difficult for children and families. These conditions can affect everything from a child's ability to control when they pee (also called urinate) to their future ability to have children of their own (called fertility).

We look at not only your child's medical and surgical needs but also their psychosocial needs. Our team includes surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses and clinical psychologists who will help you and your child through any challenges you may face. We also work with your pediatrician, other specialty care physicians and your child's school to ensure your child can function to their fullest potential.

We think it's important to involve patients in a way that fits their age and stage of development. As kids get older, we focus on helping them move from pediatric to adult care. To make this transition easier, we created the Urology Transitional Care Program.

Minimally invasive surgery leaders

The Division of Urology is a world leader in minimally invasive surgery. This type of surgery is done through small incisions no larger than a grain of rice using very small tools and sometimes robots to help.

We have created some of these new and improved surgeries. The methods we've created are used worldwide to help children with urinary issues.

We have performed thousands of minimally invasive procedures, including:

Diagnostic endoscopy. This procedure helps doctors look inside the body to find and learn about certain health problems. It involves using a small, flexible tube with a light and camera on the end, which is inserted into the body. This allows doctors to see the inside of organs and tissues and check for any issues.
Laparoscopic/robotic reconstruction for obstruction, reflux and poorly functioning kidneys. This is a type of surgery that involves making small incisions to insert tiny tools and a camera into the body. This allows doctors to see and work on the inside of the body without making significant cuts.

We also treat certain kidney stones with endoscopy, laser and shockwaves, depending on the size and location of the kidney stone.

Specialized kidney stone center

The chance of a child getting a kidney stone has doubled in the last 25 years. To deal with this growing problem, we created the Pediatric Kidney Stone Center. It is one of the few programs in the country that focuses on treating and studying this painful condition, which affects many children. The center has helped more than 1,300 patients with kidney stones.

Surgical skill for complex conditions

Our team is very skilled in treating complex and rare conditions. We have developed new surgeries that greatly improve the lives of children with conditions like bladder exstrophy. We also train doctors in other countries to help children there.

Our team is made up of experts who are very good at performing these special surgeries. They are well-known around the world for their particular skills. They work with other doctors to ensure patients get the best care possible.

Leading research

We do important scientific research to help children with different urological problems. The John Duckett Center for Pediatric Urology is the research arm of Urology. Our goal is to use what we learn in the lab to create new treatments.

Our medical research helps us improve how we care for children with urological issues. We work with other doctors and scientists across the country to do this research. Our work is important because it helps us find better ways to treat children with these health problems.

Current areas of research include: