Mathew Sorensen, MD, MS, FACS, Author at Grand Rounds in Urology

Mathew Sorensen, MD, MS, FACS

University of Washington School of Medicine

Seattle, Washington

Mathew Sorensen, MD, MS, FACS is an associate professor of urology at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle. He is also the director of the Puget Sound VA’s Comprehensive Metabolic Stone Clinic and served as the urology residency program director from 2014 to 2023. Dr. Sorensen earned his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He completed his residency in urology and an internship in general surgery at UW, and he completed a fellowship in laparoscopy and endourology at the University of California, San Francisco.

Dr. Sorensen is a surgeon, educator, and researcher with a specialty interest in advanced laparoscopic surgery, endourology, and the medical and surgical management of kidney stones. His translational research efforts are focused on improving the detection, sizing, repositioning, and breaking of kidney stones with ultrasound through a strong collaborative effort with the UW Applied Physics Laboratory and the Center for Industrial and Medical Ultrasound.

Talks by Mathew Sorensen, MD, MS, FACS

Impact of Resident Unionization

Posted by Mathew Sorensen, MD, MS, FACS | Nov 2024

Mathew Sorensen, MD, MS, FACS, explores the increasing trend of resident unionization in the United States, providing a comprehensive analysis of its growth, drivers, and impact on graduate medical education.

In this 23-minute presentation, Sorensen explains that unionization has become a prominent issue, with approximately 20% of US medical residents now part of unions. The drivers for unionization extend beyond salary, encompassing benefits such as fertility services, paid parental leave, wellness funds, and campus housing. He cites examples like UCLA, where non-salary demands formed a significant part of the unionization efforts. Established organizations like the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) are pivotal in guiding programs through this process, leveraging their extensive experience.

Sorensen shares personal experience at the University of Washington. He acknowledges animosity can arise during contract years, with threats of strikes and coordinated actions among residents creating tension. He concludes that while unionization has led to notable improvements in resident compensation and benefits, it also introduces complexities in program management and expansion, necessitating careful navigation of collective bargaining dynamics.

Innovative Office-based Kidney Stone Treatment

Posted by Mathew Sorensen, MD, MS, FACS | Nov 2024

Mathew Sorensen, MD, MS, FACS, Associate Professor of Urology at the University of Washington in Seattle, examines advances in non-invasive treatments for kidney stones, highlighting two key technologies poised to shift clinical practice. In this 21-minute presentation, he discusses ultrasonic propulsion and then transitions to a second innovation, burst wave lithotripsy. Clinical studies on these technologies indicate a shift toward managing smaller stones and residual fragments more proactively, potentially avoiding more invasive interventions.

The Value of Making Your Patient Stone Free

Posted by Mathew Sorensen, MD, MS, FACS | Oct 2024

Mathew Sorensen, MD, MS, FACS, examines the management of asymptomatic small kidney stones, particularly when discovered incidentally during imaging or when patients undergo surgery for a primary stone. There is a noted clinical debate on whether these additional, often small, stones warrant treatment.

In this 14-minute talk, Dr. Sorensen highlights that residual fragments frequently persist after lithotripsy, posing potential risks, including emergency visits or further surgeries. A multicenter randomized clinical trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, sought to clarify this issue. The results show a significantly lower relapse rate (16%) in the treatment group compared to the control group (63%)suggesting a substantial benefit in reducing future stone-related events. The study underscores the evolving approach in urology towards more proactive treatment of small stones, facilitated by less invasive technologies.