Vinaya Bhatia, MD, pediatric urologist at UW Health Kids and CAIRIBU K12 Scholar in the University of Wisconsin – Madison K12 Urologic Research Career Development Program (KURe), has been appointed as a 2024-2026 LEAP Fellow. This fellowship from the Leadership and Education Advancement Program (LEAP) for Diverse Scholars is a testament to her exceptional contributions to the field of pediatric urology commitment to advancing research in urologic health.
Dr. Bhatia received her MD from Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, in 2010. She completed her urology residency at Northwell Health Systems’ Smith Institute for Urology and subsequently pursued a pediatric urology fellowship at Texas Children’s Hospital. At UW Health Kids, Dr. Bhatia treats infants and adolescents with various urologic conditions and specializes in the treatment of hypospadias.
As a K12 Scholar at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a valued member of the CAIRIBU community, Dr. Bhatia is conducting research on the psychological challenges faced by individuals treated for hypospadias. Her work is focused on understanding the impact of multiple childhood surgeries on these patients, which often come with significant complication rates. Dr. Bhatia aims to utilize a hypospadias-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) framework to develop personalized care plans, ultimately improving outcomes for those affected by this condition.
The LEAP program, aligned with the mission of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), provides early-career behavioral scientists with mentorship and leadership development opportunities. As a LEAP Fellow, Dr. Bhatia will receive one-on-one mentoring, participate in grant writing discussions, and benefit from a leadership development curriculum and executive coaching. The fellowship also includes career development funds, which Dr. Bhatia plans to use to further her research on patient-reported outcomes for hypospadias, patient-prioritized surgical decision-making, and genitourinary reconstruction.
Dr. Bhatia’s dedication to research and her outstanding clinical skills make her a deserving recipient of the LEAP Fellowship. Her work continues to inspire advancement in pediatric urology and improves the quality of life for patients with urologic conditions.
Congratulations, Dr. Bhatia!