News Stories Recognition

Andriole Transitions from Chief of Urologic Surgery

Gerald Andriole, MD, the Robert K. Royce Distinguished Professor of Surgery, has accepted a position as Director of Urology in the National Capital Region at the Brady Urologic Institute at Johns Hopkins University. This new position will allow for Andriole to be closer to his wife, who is Senior Director of Medical Education Research at the Association of American Medical Colleges in Washington, D.C. He will transition from his role as Chief of Urologic Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis to this new role on January 4, 2022.

“Jerry has presided over an unprecedented growth in activity in our urology program,” says Timothy Eberlein, MD, the William K. Bixby Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery and Director of Siteman Cancer Center. “I have a great respect for Jerry as a surgeon. I constantly bump into patients of his who recognize how wonderful a surgeon he is and how well he relates to his patients. This urology program has been one of the most highly funded in the nation for research, and under Jerry’s leadership, urology has developed innovative educational programs for a remarkably diverse population of trainees.”

Andriole joined the Department of Surgery in 1985 as an assistant professor of surgery and chief of urology at the St. Louis VA Medical Center. He has been head of urologic surgery since 1999. Andriole led the division to new growth in NIH funding and presentations at national meetings, while maintaining a busy clinical service. Under his leadership, the program made substantial growth in the areas of prostate cancer, kidney cancer, men’s health, endourology, minimally invasive surgery, stone disease and pediatric urology.

A nationally recognized clinician and researcher, Andriole has made major contributions to the field of prostate cancer screening and treatment. Andriole established an image guided prostate biopsy approach that utilizes MRI and microultrasound techniques at the School of Medicine. Under his leadership, Washington University urologists have expanded their practice to 11 BJC HealthCare clinical locations across the St. Louis area and Illinois. Andriole was the inaugural Vice-Chair for Patient Safety and Quality Improvement in the department, and served in this role from 2014-2020.

“The decision to leave this great University and Department after so many years was very difficult, but it was made easier knowing that a superb Urology faculty remains under the able leadership of Drs. Bhayani and Eberlein,” says Andriole. “I am confident the Division of Urology will continue to flourish in the years to come.”

Andriole earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College. He then completed general surgery residency at Strong Memorial Hospital and urology residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He also completed a fellowship in urologic oncology at the National Cancer Institute.

Sam Bhayani, MD, MS, an internationally respected researcher and urologic oncologist, will become new Chief of Urologic Surgery, effective immediately.

“I have had the opportunity to witness Sam’s growth from junior faculty to a leader in the medical school and hospital system,” says Eberlein. “In each of his roles, Sam has made major contributions to our institution and its success. It is truly exciting to see him leading our urology program.”

Bhayani, who is the Holekamp Family Endowed Chair in Urology, maintains an active clinical practice focused on the treatment of kidney and prostate cancer with laparoscopic, percutaneous and robotic approaches. His research has focused on patient safety and quality improvement, screening and detection for urologic cancers, and developing new surgical techniques to treat kidney and prostate cancer. Bhayani and a team of Washington University urologists established robotic partial nephrectomy as the standard of care for patients with renal cell carcinoma at the School of Medicine. He served as Chief of Surgery at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital from 2012-2018 as well as Chief Medical Officer from 2011-2016.

Bhayani became Chief Medical Officer of the Faculty Practice Plan at Washington University School of Medicine in 2015.

“I have been humbled with the honor of working with Dr. Andriole and Dr. Eberlein for the last two decades, and I am excited to partner with our faculty, the Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, and BJC to continue our mutual goal of national leadership in the field of Urology,” says Bhayani.

Andriole and Bhayani have worked together to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. Bhayani will continue the long tradition of excellence and innovation in urologic care, research and training at the School of Medicine as new Chief of Urologic Surgery.