Minimally Invasive Surgery Expert Team
Chair
Mark S. Litwin, MD
Chair, Department of Urology. Professor of Urology, Health Policy & Management, and Nursing. He trained at Harvard and specializes in testicular, bladder, prostate and kidney cancer. Dr. Litwin’s research focuses on improving quality of care, quality of life, and equitable access to care in urologic oncology. He created and directs , a state-funded program that provides free medical care statewide for low-income, uninsured men with prostate cancer.
UCLA faculty and Providers
Karim Chamie, MD
Associate Professor of Urology and Society of Urologic Oncology Fellowship Director. He attended Medical School at USC and completed Urological training at UC Davis. Dr. Chamie then completed a SUO certified fellowship in Urologic Oncology at UCLA. His primary research interests are health services research and clinical trials in bladder cancer. His clinical interests include all areas of urologic oncology, with a particular emphasis on bladder cancer and robotic surgery.
Arnold I. Chin, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Urology and Medical Director, Urology-Westwood. Dr. Chin completed his M.D., Ph.D. and Urology residency training at UCLA. His clinical expertise includes urologic oncology and renal transplantation. He performs open, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted surgeries for patients with all urologic malignancies including bladder, kidney, and prostate cancer.
Nicholas M. Donin, MD
Staff Physician and Voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor of Urology. After graduating from Harvard University, he received his medical degree from Columbia University in New York City and completed his internship and residency at New York University. He then completed a 2-year Urologic Oncology Fellowship at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.
Ja-Hong Kim, MD
Clinical Professor of Urology, Division of Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Kim completed her MD at Baylor College of Medicine, Urology residency training at Cleveland Clinic, and Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery fellowship at UCLA. Her clinical areas of interest include voiding dysfunction, vaginal prolapse, and genitourinary reconstruction. She performs pelvic floor reconstruction, laparoscopic, and robotically-assisted surgery.
Stephanie C. Pannell, MD, MPH
Staff Physician and Voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor of Urology. Dr. Pannell earned her medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and then completed her urology residency at UCLA. She also obtained a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. Her clinical interests include diseases of the prostate, bladder, and kidneys, and she specializes in open, endoscopic, laparoscopic, and robotic surgeries.
Aydin Pooli, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor of Urology. Dr. Pooli earned his medical degree from Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). He subsequently completed his urology residency at University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and urologic oncology fellowship training at UCLA’s Institute of Urologic Oncology (IUO), David Geffen School of Medicine. His primary research interests include working on gene expression protocols for high risk prostate and kidney cancers.
Robert E. Reiter, MD
Professor of Urology, Professor of Molecular Biology, Chief of the Division of Urologic Oncology, Director of the Prostate Cancer Program, Bing Research Chair in Urology, Co-Director of the Genitourinary Oncology Program in UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center. Dr. Reiter attended Stanford Medical School, completed urologic training at Stanford and Baylor College of Medicine, completed additional fellowship training in urological cancer at the National Cancer Institute.
Christopher S. Saigal, MD
Professor and Executive Vice Chair of Urology. Clinical practice, UCLA Westwood Campus. He is also on the staff of the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Dr. Saigal has had a longstanding clinical interest in urologic cancers and the surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. His research is focused on patient-centered decision support and quality of care for urologic conditions.
Brian M. Shuch, MD
Associate Professor of Urology, Director of the Institute of Urologic Oncology Kidney Cancer Program, Henry Alvin and Carrie L. Meinhardt Chair for Kidney Cancer Research. Dr. Shuch completed his urology training at UCLA followed by a Urologic Oncology Fellowship at the National Cancer Institute. He is an accomplished surgeon (open/laparoscopic/robotic/and percutaneous) and clinical/translational researcher.
Renea Michelle Sturm, MD
Assistant Professor of Urology. Dr. Sturm’s practice as a pediatric urologist focuses on the care of children with congenital defects and illnesses that involve the kidneys, bladder and genitalia. As a surgeon, she has a particular interest in minimally invasive robotic-assisted and endoscopic surgery.
Caroline L. Wallner, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor of Urology. Dr. Wallner graduated from David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and then completed her general surgery and Urology residency at Loma Linda. Her clinical interests include diseases of the prostate, urinary stone disease, erectile dysfunction, and general urology. She specializes in open, endoscopic, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted surgeries.