School of Medicine


Showing 21-30 of 50 Results

  • Vanessa Gulla

    Vanessa Gulla

    Clinical Assistant Professor, Urology

    BioDr. Gulla is a board-certified urologist with fellowship training in endourology. She is a clinical assistant professor in the Stanford University School of Medicine Department of Urology.

    For each patient, she develops a comprehensive, compassionate care plan customized to individual needs. Her goal is to help each patient achieve the best possible health and quality of life.

    Dr. Gulla performs the complete spectrum of diagnostic and treatment procedures for urological conditions. She treats disorders including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), blood in urine, kidney stones, male and female voiding dysfunction, neurogenic bladder, prostate cancer, and over active bladder.

    She excels at ureteroscopy and cystoscopy (examination of the bladder and urinary tract with a scope), endourology (minimally invasive treatment of kidney stones), laser therapy, ultrasound-guided diagnosis and treatment, urodynamic testing, and other techniques.

    To help advance her field, Dr. Gulla has conducted research. Among the topics she has investigated are voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) testing in children for bladder and urethral abnormalities and for conditions that can lead to kidney infections.

    She has presented her research findings at the national meeting of the American Urologic Association. She also has published papers in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons and elsewhere.

    She is a member of the American Urologic Association.

  • Kathleen Kan

    Kathleen Kan

    Clinical Assistant Professor, Urology

    BioDr. Kathleen Kan is a fellowship-trained pediatric urologist with a clinical practice based at LPCH and additional outreach programs in the South Bay. Her current practice includes general, endoscopic and complex reconstructive procedures and a clinical counseling interest in kidney stone disease and differences in sexual differentiation. She currently serves as the Associate Program Director of the Urology residency program.

    Her current research is focused on understanding why health elementary schoolchildren develop new bladder and bowel problems.

  • John Leppert

    John Leppert

    Professor of Urology and, by courtesy, of Nephrology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur research aims to improve the global quality of care for patients with Urologic Cancer with a particular focus on kidney cancer. We are investigating novel proteomic platforms and assays to diagnose kidney cancer and predict response to therapy. We are evaluating the comparative effectiveness of various kidney cancer surgeries and their impact on chronic kidney disease and its downstream effects. We are applying epidemiology, bioinformatics, and health services methods to urologic conditions.

  • Joseph C. Liao

    Joseph C. Liao

    Kathryn Simmons Stamey Professor

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe overarching theme of my scholarship is to develop precision diagnostics in imaging and biomarkers to guide the delivery of precision therapy for urological diseases including bladder cancer, urinary tract infections, and kidney stone disease.

  • Rustin Massoudi, MD

    Rustin Massoudi, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor, Urology

    BioDr. Massoudi is a board certified urologist specializing in general urology and urologic oncology. He is a clinical assistant professor of urology at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Massoudi has expertise in treating prostate cancer, kidney cancer, kidney stones, and
    enlarged prostate. He also cares for patients with bladder cancer, testicular cancer, urinary retention, and a wide range of other urologic conditions.

    His experience encompasses the complete spectrum of treatment options. This includes advanced, minimally invasive techniques like endoscopy and laparoscopy, as well as robotic surgery, which can enable smaller incisions and potentially shorter recovery times. For cases where a minimally invasive approach isn’t feasible, he performs open surgery.

    Dr. Massoudi partners with each patient and family to customize a treatment plan that fits their needs. He welcomes patients at all stages in their journey—from early to more advanced symptoms—and is dedicated to helping them manage their urologic health long-term. He values the rewards of helping patients through difficult times as they cope with urologic disorders.

    Dr. Massoudi was drawn to urology for its unique combination of medical and surgical care, including the opportunity to use the most innovative techniques and technology. He enjoys establishing a rapport and staying in close communication with referring physicians. To ensure all of his patients receive comprehensive care, he collaborates with Stanford colleagues from endocrinology, nephrology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, and other specialties.

    Building on his passion for biological sciences and bioengineering, Dr. Massoudi’s studies have included translational research into the use of proteomics to target proteins on the metabolic pathway of kidney cancer development. In partnership with the Stanford Kidney Cancer Research Program, he has also explored the role of the molecule IQGAP in kidney cancer cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, polarity, and adhesion.

    While working at the Veterans Administration in Palo Alto, Dr. Massoudi collaborated on an investigation into the utility of nuclear imaging methods for identifying and staging bladder cancer. He also collaborated on research that used novel proteomic technology to understand the signaling mechanisms of renal cell carcinoma; he later performed in vitro experiments on novel biomarkers and therapeutic agents for treating it.

    Dr. Massoudi has authored numerous articles on renal disorders, innovative treatment techniques and technologies, and related topics. His work has been featured in Cell, the Journal of Endourology, European Urology Oncology, Canadian Journal of Urology, American Journal of Medical Genetics, and others. He has made presentations at conferences including the American Urological Association, Society of Urology Oncology, and World Congress of Endourology.

    Dr. Massoudi has received multiple honors for teaching, scholarship, and research including a Stanford Urology Teaching Award for Outstanding
    Mentorship of Co-Residents. In addition, he won a Gold Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award from Stanford University School of Medicine.
    At the 43rd Annual Northern California Urological Society Conference, he won top honors for his presentation on IQGAP.

  • Alan C. Pao

    Alan C. Pao

    Associate Professor of Medicine (Nephrology) and, by courtesy, of Urology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe are broadly interested in how the kidneys control salt, water, and electrolyte homeostasis in the body. Our disease focus is on kidney stone disease. We use cultured kidney cells, transgenic mice, human plasma/urine samples, and electronic health record data to study the pathogenesis of kidney stone disease. Our therapeutic focus is on the development of small molecule compounds that can be used for kidney stone prevention.

  • Christopher K. Payne, MD

    Christopher K. Payne, MD

    Professor of Urology at the Stanford University Medical Center, Emeritus

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsObstetric Fistula Projects:
    1. Preoperative ultrasound evaluation to detect ureteric involvement in vesicovaginal fistulas
    2. Patient narrative study to identify key medical, social and economic factors that lead to fistula formation
    3. Study of urinary continence after fistula repair

    Pelvic pain: investigation into role of pelvic floor in chronic pelvic pain