Hackensack University Medical Center Urologists Embark on Global Teaching Tour

Surgeons educate international peers on latest robotic surgery techniques during European tour

December 15, 2024

Two internationally recognized experts from the Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center Department of Urology recently returned from a teaching tour, enhancing the standard of urological care worldwide through education in four European countries.

Mutahar Ahmed, M.D., FACS, director of the Center for Bladder Cancer at Hackensack University Medical Center, associate professor of Urology Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, and director of the Robotic Fellowship Program at New Jersey Urology, recently returned from Germany, where he taught single-port robotic surgery techniques.

“Our goal is not just to learn ourselves,” said Dr. Ahmed. “We want to teach others.”

Michael Stifelman, M.D., chair of Urology and director of Robotic Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center, and professor and Founding Chair of Urology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, recently returned from a European tour of Italy, France and Belgium, where he taught a variety of urologic surgery techniques, including single-port procedures for urinary conditions. He also participated in IRCAD—an exclusive course in robotic urology—and taught a course titled Challenges in Laparoscopy Robotics.

Dr. Ahmed and Dr. Stifelman’s prestigious teaching invitations result from the department’s commitment to improving urological care worldwide through education. By sharing their research-backed, evidence-based experiences and outcomes, the Department of Urology is helping other institutions apply the latest, most innovative surgical technology and techniques in their own ORs.

“We take a global approach to advancing patient outcomes, and our work with single-port, robotic and minimally invasive urologic surgery is no exception,” said Dr. Stifelman, who was just named to Newsweek’s America’s Best Prostate Cancer Surgeons 2024 list. “Whether in our own ORs or abroad, our goal is to elevate the surgical standard of care by learning from and sharing our experience and knowledge—so patients worldwide have access to the most minimally invasive, evidence-based treatment delivered with leading-edge technology.”

Learn more about our innovations in urological care.