Dr. Nicholas Kavoussi

Nicholas L. Kavoussi, MD, is an assistant professor of urology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is a graduate of the State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine. Dr Kavoussi completed his residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He then completed a 2-year combined Endourological Society fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Shortly after, he was a physician in residence at the Vanderbilt Institute of Surgery and Engineering. His academic focus is on developing and evaluating new technologies for endoscopic surgery with research support from the NIH and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.

During his fellowship, Dr. Kavoussi was a member of the Vanderbilt Institute for Surgery and Engineering. That experience taught him how to pursue transdisciplinary collaboration for the evaluation of novel technologies for minimally invasive urologic surgery. These collaborations have ultimately led to NIH funding for the development of a navigational system for endoscopic kidney stone surgery as well as an eye-gaze guidance system for surgical education.

Dr. Kavoussi is particularly focused on improving surgical techniques for the endoscopic treatment of kidney stone disease. Ureteroscopy is one of the most common surgeries his practice does as a specialty. However, there is substantial variation in outcomes throughout the country. Residual stone fragments are associated with increased morbidity and cost after stone surgery. He believes more work is crucial to optimize outcomes and develop quality metrics to ensure successful stone treatment.