Dr. Christopher Saigal, professor of urology in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has been elected to the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons in recognition of his accomplishments in the field.
The association, a society of leading academic urologists focused on diseases of the genitourinary system, appointed Saigal during its April 2019 meeting in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Saigal’s award-winning research in the field of shared decision-making for prostate cancer — for which he’s received funding from the National Cancer Institute — focuses on empowering men to make informed treatment choices with which they're more satisfied.
Saigal, who is a member of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, also created an online software program that collects information about people with prostate cancer and predicts prognoses with various treatments. The program, called WiserCare, enables people to input answers to questions and scenarios about their preferences and personal values. It then uses an algorithm to develop a ranked list of individualized treatment options appropriate for the patient in light of those values.
Only 75 physicians in North America may serve as active members of the association at any given time. With Saigal’s appointment, six UCLA urologists now hold active membership, including Dr. Arie Belldegrun, Dr. Mark Litwin, Dr. Victor Nitti, Dr. Shlomo Raz and Dr. Robert Reiter.
