Fellowships

University of Miami Male Reproductive Medicine and Andrology Fellowship

Number of Positions per year: 2
Duration of Fellowship: 1 year
Requirement for Application: Applicant must be a U.S. or Canadian Medical Graduate

Overview of Fellowship Program

The Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery Fellowship will enable the fellow to acquire an advanced body of knowledge and level of skill in the management of reproductive and sexual health diseases in order to assume a leadership role in teaching and research in the field.

This will include:

• an understanding of the classification, evaluation, and treament of erectile dysfunction
  knowledge of radiographic evaluation of the blood supply of the penis with Doppler ultrasound
• the ability to counsel patients on treatment options for therapy for erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s disease
• an understanding of the basic techniques of testicular biopsy, evaluation and tissue processing, recognition of basic testicular pathology, and knowledge of prognostic factors that can help predict the chances of successful sperm retrieval
• an understanding of the procedures for treatment of infertility in men with spinal cord injury (penile vibratory stimulation and electroejaculation)
• an understanding of basic andrology clinical laboratory testing, such as semen analysis, sperm morphology, and viability, sperm FISH testing and sperm/testicular tissue cryopreservation
• organizing a multidisciplinary approach to mens' health and establish a mens' health clinic fellowship summary

The clinical fellows have 80% clinical and 20% research/academic time. They are exposed to about 3 surgical cases/day for 2 days each week. The fellows also attend 1-2 clinic days/wk with an average of  about 50 patients/day. They are expected to attend and present at regular academic grand rounds, national conferences and teach residents and medical students. It is expected that the fellows develop expertise in the medical management of men with male infertility, sexual dysfunction, scrotal pain, and testosterone deficiency syndromes. Including endocrine, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, complimentary medical therapies uses, indications, and expected outcomes.

Andrology Program

Fellows in this program are expected to become experts in penile duplex ultrasound, scrotal ultrasound, and establishing an intracavernosal injection program (for ED) and Xiaflex program (for Peyronies disease). They will gain experience in the andrology laboratory and learn to perform and interpret semen analysis, strict morphology and viability. They will be exposed to starting and establishing a fertility preservation program and learn about procedures involved in semen and testicular tissue cryopreservation. Fellows will develop expertise in the surgical treatment of andrological problems (microsurgical reconstruction – vasectomy reversal, surgical retrieval of sperm – microdissection testicular sperm extraction, resection of prostatic duct cysts – TURED, infertility in men with spinal cord injury – PVS and EEJ, surgery on the penis for penile prosthesis, deformity, surgery for Peyronies disease – grafts).

Program Weighting

• Male Infertility/Sexual function/Andrology: 40%, 50%, 10%

Education Program

Type of Experience (weekly structure):

• Surgery - 2 days/week
• Andrology Clinics - 2 days/week
• Academics/research - 1 day/week

Unique qualities of the program

The clinical program involves evaluation of complex and common types of male infertility, penile deformities, and sexual dysfunction. We also have a very active research program available to the fellows – clinical trials and prospective studies, as well as access to basic science laboratory.

Click here for the Application Form.

For more information, please contact:

Augusto Santana
Mens Health Coordinator, Desai Sethi Urology Institute
Clinical Research Building (CRB) 1120 NW 14th Street Suite 1551C
Miami, FL 33136
Phone: 305-243-6260
Email: a.santana@med.miami.edu

Resources

Sexual Medicine of North America
Society for the Study of Male Reproduction
American Urological Association
Society for Male Reproduction and Andrology

The Reproductive Urology fellowship at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine strongly believes in producing graduates who will lead future advancement of the field. Fellows will have weekly protected research time, and access to a team of skilled investigators with experience in basic science, clinical trials and prospective studies among other investigative efforts.

Ongoing Clinical Trials (funded)

1. Shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction
2. Platelet Rich Plasma for erectile dysfunction
3. Comparison of nasal testosterone vs. intramuscular injections
4. Role of Penile Ultrasound in Peyronies Disease
5. Comparison of compounded vs. commercial testosterone pellets
6. Prospective collection of data on TACTRA malleable prosthesis

Basic Science Research

1. Whole-exome sequencing to identify genetic causes of male infertility
2. Mechanisms of drug action in castrate resistant prostate cancer
3. Role of Leptin in Leydig stem cell function 

Recent Efforts

Here are a few examples of the diverse published research endeavors with which our most recent fellows have been involved.

Comparison of PESA and MESA techniques for men with obstructive azoospermia.
Bitran J, Patel P, Ramasamy R.
Urol Video J. 2019 Sep;3. pii: 100010. doi: 10.1016/j.urolvj.2019.100010. Epub 2019 Aug 26.
PMID: 31825018

A Systematic Review and Evidence-based Analysis of Ingredients in Popular Male Fertility Supplements.
Kuchakulla M, Soni Y, Patel P, Parekh N, Ramasamy R.
Urology. 2019 Nov 17. pii: S0090-4295(19)31006-4. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2019.11.007. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 31747549

Preoperative follicle-stimulating hormone: A factor associated with semen parameter improvement after microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy.
Madhusoodanan V, Blachman-Braun R, Patel P, Ji L, Masterson TA, Owyong M, Greer A, Ramasamy R.
Can Urol Assoc J. 2019 Jun 17. doi: 10.5489/cuaj.5910. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 31658008

A Systematic Review of Human Trials Using Stem Cell Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction.
Lokeshwar SD, Patel P, Shah SM, Ramasamy R.
Sex Med Rev. 2020 Jan;8(1):122-130. doi: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2019.08.003. Epub 2019 Oct 19. Review.
PMID: 31640911

Semen parameter improvements after microsurgical subinguinal varicocele repair are durable for more than 12 months.
Madhusoodanan V, Patel P, Blachman-Braun R, Ramasamy R.
Can Urol Assoc J. 2019 Sep 27. doi: 10.5489/cuaj.6047. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 31599718

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin monotherapy for the treatment of hypogonadal symptoms in men with total testosterone > 300 ng/dL.
Madhusoodanan V, Patel P, Lima TFN, Gondokusumo J, Lo E, Thirumavalavan N, Lipshultz LI, Ramasamy R.
Int Braz J Urol. 2019 Sep-Oct;45(5):1008-1012. doi: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2019.0132.
PMID: 31408289

Advanced paternal age does not affect embryo aneuploidy following blastocyst biopsy in egg donor cycles.
Carrasquillo RJ, Kohn TP, Cinnioglu C, Rubio C, Simon C, Ramasamy R, Al-Asmar N.
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2019 Oct;36(10):2039-2045. doi: 10.1007/s10815-019-01549-z. Epub 2019 Aug 5.
PMID: 31385121

Characteristics predictive of response to collagenase clostridium histolyticum for Peyronie’s disease: a review of the literature.
Masterson TA, Rezk A, Ramasamy R.
World J Urol. 2019 Jun 26. doi: 10.1007/s00345-019-02850-3. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 31250098

Can serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone and insulin-like factor 3 be used as a marker for evaluation of intratesticular testosterone?
Patel A, Patel P, Bitran J, Ramasamy R.
Transl Androl Urol. 2019 Mar;8(Suppl 1):S58-S63. doi: 10.21037/tau.2019.01.16. Review.
PMID: 31143672

Impact of Abnormal Sperm Morphology on Live Birth Rates Following Intrauterine Insemination.
Patel P, Carrasquillo R, Madhusoodanan V, Dadoun S, Patel A, Smith N, Collazo I, Kohn T, Ramasamy R.
J Urol. 2019 Oct;202(4):801-805. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000000288. Epub 2019 Sep 6.
PMID: 31009287

Age Induced Nitroso-Redox Imbalance Leads to Subclinical Hypogonadism in Male Mice.
Lee JA, Kuchakulla M, Arora H, Kulandavelu S, Gonzalez E, Masterson TA, Hare JM, Kaiser UB, Ramasamy R.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019 Mar 28;10:190. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00190. eCollection 2019.
PMID: 30984111

Effect of nitroso-redox imbalance on male reproduction.
Kuchakulla M, Masterson T, Arora H, Kulandavelu S, Ramasamy R.
Transl Androl Urol. 2018 Dec;7(6):968-977. doi: 10.21037/tau.2018.08.14. Review.
PMID: 30505735

Penile duplex: clinical indications and application.
Patel P, Masterson T, Ramasamy R.
Int J Impot Res. 2019 Jul;31(4):298-299. doi: 10.1038/s41443-018-0074-y. Epub 2018 Sep 7. No abstract available.
PMID: 30194373

Natesto Effects on Reproductive Hormones and Semen Parameters: Results from an Ongoing Single-center, Investigator-initiated Phase IV Clinical Trial.
Masterson T, Molina M, Ibrahim E, Ramasamy R.
Eur Urol Focus. 2018 Apr;4(3):333-335. doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2018.08.009. Epub 2018 Sep 1.
PMID: 30177402

Time to improvement in semen parameters after microsurgical varicocelectomy in men with severe oligospermia.
Masterson TA, Greer AB, Ramasamy R.
Can Urol Assoc J. 2019 Mar;13(3):E66-E69. doi: 10.5489/cuaj.5408. Epub 2018 Aug 30.
PMID: 30169150

S-Nitrosoglutathione Reductase (GSNOR) Deficiency Results in Secondary Hypogonadism.
Masterson TA, Arora H, Kulandavelu S, Carroll RS, Kaiser UB, Gultekin SH, Hare JM, Ramasamy R.
J Sex Med. 2018 May;15(5):654-661. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2018.03.002. Epub 2018 Mar 30.
PMID: 29606625

Medical pre-operative considerations for patients undergoing penile implantation.
Masterson TA, Palmer J, Dubin J, Ramasamy R.
Transl Androl Urol. 2017 Nov;6(Suppl 5):S824-S829. doi: 10.21037/tau.2017.03.85. Review.
PMID: 29238662