David M. Albala, MD

David M. Albala, MD

Crouse Hospital

Syracuse, New York

David M. Albala, MD, graduated with a geology degree from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. He completed his medical school training at Michigan State University and went on to complete his surgical residency at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Following this, Dr. Albala was an endourology fellow at Washington University Medical Center under the direction of Ralph V. Clayman. He practiced at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago and rose from the ranks of Instructor toProfessor in Urology and Radiology in eight years. Ten years later, he became a tenured Professor at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina. At Duke, he was Co-Director of the Endourology Fellowship and Director for the Center of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urological Surgery. He has over 247 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has authored three textbooks in endourology and seven in general urology. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Robotic Surgery. Dr. Albala serves on the editorial board for Medical Reviews in Urology, Current Opinions in Urology, and Urology Index and Reviews. He serves as a reviewer for eight surgical journals. He is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Urology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. In addition, he was ranked among the top 2% of urologists in the world by a Stanford University study done in May 2021.

At the present time, Dr. Albala is Chief of Urology at Crouse Hospital and a member of Associated Medical Professionals in Syracuse, New York. He is considered a national and international authority in laparoscopic and robotic urological surgery and has been an active teacher in this area for over 20 years. His research and clinical interests have focused on robotic urological surgery. His other clinical interests include minimally invasive treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), biomarkers in prostate cancer, and the use of fibrin sealants in surgery. He has been a Visiting Professor at numerous institutions across the United States as well internationally in multiple countries including India, China, Iceland, Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, Australia, and Singapore. In addition, he has done operative demonstrations in over 32 countries and 23 states. He has trained 19 fellows in endourology and advanced robotic surgery.

In addition, Dr. Albala is a past White House Fellow who acted as a special assistant to Federico Pena, Secretary of Transportation, on classified and unclassified public health related issues.

Talks by David M. Albala, MD

Telesurgery for Prostate Cancer: Where Are We in 2024? – This Is a Novel Topic and Gaining Traction Around the World

David M. Albala, MD, explores the future of telesurgery, particularly in prostate cancer, emphasizing the intersection of medicine and technology. Dr. Albala relays a history of robotic surgery, beginning in the 1980s with the development of the Da Vinci Robotic System, and the Lindbergh operation in 1991.

In this 14-minute presentation, Dr. Albala highlights the importance of telesurgery in leveling global healthcare disparities. He also notes the successful implementation of telesurgery in urological procedures, such as prostatectomies and partial nephrectomies.

Despite the technological advancements, challenges persist, including economic constraints, patient awareness, and resistance to adoption. The presentation underscores the need for reliable and secure systems and robust training programs to ensure the safe implementation of telesurgery.

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Update on Robotic Prostatectomy PSMA Scanning – Setting up a Program in Your Practice

David M. Albala, MD, outlines the steps and considerations for establishing a PSMA screening program within a urology practice, emphasizing its potential as a transformative tool for prostate cancer management.

In this 12-minute presentation, Dr. Albala discusses the key considerations for implementing PSMA screening, including regulatory, logistical, and financial planning. Significant capital investment is necessary, and operational logistics—such as proximity to cyclotrons for timely tracer delivery—are vital for efficiency. The practice size and volume of patient referrals also influence the feasibility.

Dr. Albala addresses practicalities like accreditation, insurance reimbursements, and partnerships. Ultimately, PSMA imaging is feasible and advantageous in private practice, offering patients convenient access to advanced diagnostics while underscoring the importance of careful pre-planning to ensure program success.

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Ablative Local Technologies (HIFU, Cryo, SBRT, Laser, and Other Forms of Energy)

David M. Albala, MD, provides an overview and comparison of current options for focal ablative therapy in prostate cancer treatment. He begins by briefly touching on the benefits of focal therapy as a whole, before exploring the different types of focal therapy.

Dr. Albala categorizes focal therapies into temperature-based therapies and non-temperature-based therapies. He places High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, Laser Ablation, and Cryotherapy in the temperature-based focal therapies. Radiotherapies like seed, HDR, and EBRT join Photodynamic Therapy, Radiofrequency Ablation, Electroporation, and partial prostatectomy in the non-temperature-based category.

Dr. Albala discusses the importance of weighing cancer control with preservation of function and patient QoL when considering focal therapies. He discusses the assessment process and the rate of failure for focal therapies. He underscores the process of patient selection and treatment planning prior to selecting a therapy.

He concludes by reviewing the delivery methods currently available for focal therapy. For each method, he presents the advantages, disadvantages, and ideal patient profile for each treatment.

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2023 Legislative and Regulatory Issues Update

In this panel discussion, David M. Albala, MD, Ronald P. Kaufman Jr., MD, and Mara R. Holton, MD, address the pressing issue of Medicare payment cuts in urology. The speakers emphasize the importance of unified advocacy, both at the legislative level and within the urology community.

The panelists discuss the failed MIPS/MACRA program and the need for site-neutral payment reform, underscoring the urgent need for change. Additionally, they discuss the significance of PBM reform and the role it plays in curbing inflationary drug costs. They conclude the presentation with a call to action for urologists, encouraging them to engage in advocacy efforts, work together as a united front, and demand meaningful payment reform to protect the profession.

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Robotic Prostatectomy: How Far Have We Come All These Years?

In this 11-minute video, David M. Albala, MD, Chief of Urology at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, New York, discusses the increasing use of robotic prostatectomy and its effectiveness today. He compares robotic prostatectomy surgery to open surgery regarding perioperative outcomes, positive surgical margins, oncological outcomes, and functional outcomes.

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