Research Profile: Ruslan Korets, MD

Ruslan Korets, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School 

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Director, Urology Training Program, BIDMC

Research Group

Peter Steinberg, MD

Research Focus

Clinical Outcomes in Surgical Treatment of Nephrolithiasis

My research focuses on nephrolithiasis with an emphasis on assessing patterns of care and outcomes in patients undergoing minimally invasive treatment of kidney stone disease. Our research team works closely with colleagues within BIDMC as well as with collaborators at outside institutions. Our group has recently examined perioperative outcomes and costs associated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy (a minimally invasive percutaneous surgical procedure), when surgical teams involve single specialty and multi-specialty surgical teams (Speed et al, J Endourol Nov 2017).  Additionally, we examined factors affecting radiation exposure from fluoroscopic imaging used for percutaneous renal access during lithotripsy. We are also developing a prospective endourologic database that will examine stone characteristics of patients treated at our center.

Surgical Education

I have initiated a multi-institutional study assessing a novel online platform to enhance resident education called myTIPreport. This platform is utilized to provide real-time feedback to trainees after each surgical procedure. The evaluations are performed using a Zwisch model to improve the quality and quantity of feedback delivered to surgical trainees. The aim is to encourage dialogue between faculty and trainees, allowing directed and meaningful feedback to be given to residents after each surgical case. The findings from the pilot study were presented at the New England Section of the American Urological Association 2017 Annual Meeting. As a next step, I hope to assess the effect of this teaching platform on surgical skill acquisition.

Accomplishments 2016-2017

During the past year, I assumed the role of director of urologic education at BIDMC and now oversee academic and clinical programs for training the future generation of urology residents and medical students during their urology elective.

During the most recent meeting of the New England Section of the American Urologic Association, I was invited as a panelist to discuss Appropriate Uses of SWL, URS, and PCNL. At that meeting, I was honored to be elected as a representative to the New England Section of American Urologic Association Judicial and Ethics Committee.

Teaching, Training, and Education

Teaching and surgical education are important aspects of my career and practice. I have been involved in several educational initiatives utilizing technology to enhance surgical education. I have contributed to the Robotic Surgery Curriculum, which has been implemented across several of the Harvard Medical School-affiliated teaching hospitals. This curriculum incorporates robotic simulator exercises, as well as one-on-one video review of performed surgeries to help familiarize residents with surgical anatomy and the procedural steps of robotic urologic procedures they will master during training.

During the past year, I served as faculty for the Stone Institute, a Hands-On Training Program for urology residents attending the American Urological Association Annual Meeting. This one-day course consisted of didactic and hands-on sessions aimed at improving surgical aptitude in percutaneous and endoscopic techniques, and attracted over 40 residents from across the country.

Additionally, I was elected to the BIDMC Academy of Medical Educators and continue to broaden my role in surgical education.

Abstracts, Posters, and Exhibits

Manganiello M, Haleblian G, Canes D, Chang P, Wagner A, Korets R. Multi-institutional pilot evaluation of an online feedback platform for surgical skill acquisition. New England Section of American Urological Association Annual Meeting, Montreal, CA; 2017 (abstract)

Bose, S, Bearelly P, Latini J, Korets R. Radiation exposure during percutaneous nephrolithotomy: A comparative analysis of single specialty versus multi-specialty procedures. New England Section of American Urological Association Annual Meeting, Montreal, CA; 2017 (abstract)

Speed J, Wang Y, Leow J, McClintock T, Bhojani N, Trinh Q, Chang S, Korets R. Percutaneous renal access by urologist vs radiologist: Trends and perioperative outcomes in PCNL. New England Section of American Urological Association Annual Meeting, Montreal, CA; 2017 (abstract)

Speed J, Cole A, Latini J, McClintock T, Wang Y, Chang S, Korets R. The effect of marital status on post-operative outcomes after PCNL. New England Section of American Urological Association Annual Meeting, Montreal, CA; 2017 (abstract)

Reese S, McClintock R, Krasnow R, Mossanen M, Chang S, Korets R. Prophylactic antibiotic utilization patterns and postoperative infectious complications following percutaneous nephrolithotomy. World Congress of Endourology, Vancouver, CA; 2017 (abstract)

Selected Publications

Leow JJ, Leow JJ, Meyer CP, Wang Y, Chang S, Chung BI, Trinh QD, Korets R, Bhojani N. Contemporary trends in utilization and perioperative outcomes of percutaneous nephrolithotomy in the United States from 2003 to 2014. J Endourol 2017; 31(8):742-50.

Speed JM, Wang Y, Leow JJ, Bhojani N, Trinh QD, Chang SL, Korets R. The effect of physician specialty obtaining access for percutaneous nephrolithotomy on perioperative costs and outcomes. J Endourol 2017; 31(11):1152-56.