U OF L’S DEPARTMENT OF
UROLOGY THRIVING AND REVIVED
Aaron Burch
T
he University of Louisville’s vibrant School of Medicine is
home to dozens upon dozens of expansive medical services
and thriving departments. As the base of Louisville’s health
care community, the School of Medicine has been a pioneering
organization since its inception as the Louisville Medical Institute
in 1837. The school’s reputation for perseverance and evolution
remains to this day, and nowhere is that more apparent than the
Department of Urology.
While the study and practice of Urology has been a part of the
University of Louisville since its earliest days, the specialty has
undergone a radical transformation since the turn of the century. Now it’s looking to make a name for itself beyond Louisville
as one of the premier establishments for urologic expertise and
treatment.
“Our department has a lofty vision,” said Department Chair Murali Ankem, MD, FACS. “We want to be the best in the mid-western region. We continuously try to teach, innovate and research.
Eventually we’ll get there.”
Dr. Ankem, who came aboard the department in October 2011,
cites such outstanding universities as Vanderbilt and Indiana as
competition. He has reason to be optimistic. The University of
Louisville’s urology expertise was waning just 8 years ago.
The division of urology, which was successfully housed within
the School of Medicine’s department of surgery for decades, fell
on hard times in 2001 when efforts to create the first urology department fell through. Several physicians, including the division’s
acting chief, Dr. James I. Harty, and prior chief, Dr. Mohammad
28
LOUISVILLE MEDICINE
Amin, resigned their positions while residents were relocated to
other programs.
For years after, all clinical urologic services at the University
were handled by private practices, spearheaded by Dr Greg Steinbock et al. However, the School of Medicine hadn’t given up on
urology. In fact, they were quietly creating an environment to start
a new department.
“Dr. Anthony Casale came and started both the urology department and the residency program,” said Dr. Ankem, who took the
job of department chair the day after Dr. Casale stepped down.
“At the time, it was going through a difficult phase of transition.
Dr. Casale had taken the first steps but he decided to move on. He
finished the ^HH\