Endourology and Minimally Invasive Urological Surgery Fellowship

 At the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), we are proud to be a leading tertiary care academic institution committed to advancing clinical care, education, and research. The UAB Department of Urology, established in 2012, has experienced consistent growth in both clinical and research domains, earning national recognition for excellence in patient care and ranking among the top 15 departments for NIH funding. Our department is repeatedly designated as “high performing” for clinical care and is dedicated to training the next generation of urologists through robust educational opportunities. This commitment is exemplified by our successful training of two endourology fellows—Dr. Kyle Wood and Dr. Joe Crivelli—who now serve as faculty members and mentors within the department.

The endourology fellowship at UAB is led by an esteemed team of NIH-funded surgeon-scientists. Dr. Kyle Wood, Vice Chair of Research., oversees the program and guides fellows in both clinical and research pursuits, with a focus on advanced kidney stone surgery and the comprehensive metabolic and genetic workup of stone disease, including rare conditions like primary hyperoxaluria. Dr. Thomas Chi, the newly appointed UAB Endowed Chair of Urology, brings national leadership experience and expertise in innovative kidney stone and BPH treatments, further enhancing the fellowship’s academic and surgical training. Dr. Joseph Crivelli, an Assistant Professor with a research focus on kidney stone epidemiology and clinical trials, collaborates closely with Drs. Wood and Chi to expand fellows' research acumen and surgical expertise. Together, this faculty team ensures that the fellowship provides a rich and comprehensive learning environment for future leaders in endourology.

Program Highlights

This fellowship provides research, clinical and surgical experience for the following disciplines within urology:

• Ureteroscopic and percutaneous surgery for urolithiasis
• Endoscopic and robotic surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia, including holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP)
• Metabolic stone evaluation and management

In addition to a high-volume quaternary health care facility, you will have direct access to multiple research resources, including National Institutes of Health-funded projects.

Accreditation

The Endourology Fellowship is accredited through the Endourological Society.

Certification

A one-year Advanced Clinical Training Certificate is awarded by the Endourological Society at completion of the program.

A two-year Advanced Clinical and Research Training Certificate is awarded by the Endourological Society at completion of the program.

Program History

This fellowship began at UAB in 2016. Typically, one fellow is accepted into the program annually. Beginning 2026, we will accept two fellows, one on a research/clinical track and one on a clinical track.

Program Directors