Ryan P. Terlecki, MD, FACS

Ryan P. Terlecki, MD, FACS

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Ryan P. Terlecki, MD, FACS, is a reconstructive urologist for Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, an academic Level 1 trauma center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Dr. Terlecki holds the rank of Professor and the title of Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Urology. In addition, Dr. Terlecki is Director of the Men’s Health Clinic, Director of Medical Student Education, and Fellowship Director for Reconstructive Urology. He holds a joint appointment in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Terlecki earned his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine and completed residency in general surgery and urology at Detroit Medical Center. Following his residency, Dr. Terlecki completed two separate fellowships in reconstructive surgery. He completed a fellowship at the University of Colorado’s Denver School of Medicine and at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

Dr. Terlecki’s publications cover multiple areas of trauma and reconstruction and his research is focused primarily on models of wound healing and regeneration in the lower genitourinary system. Dr. Terlecki’s areas of expertise include urethral stricture disease, male sexual dysfunction, male incontinence, Peyronie’s disease, chronic testicular pain, hypogonadism, and infertility. He is a member of the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons (GURS), a member of the American Urological Association (AUA), and past president of the North Carolina Urological Association (NCUA).

Talks by Ryan P. Terlecki, MD, FACS

Anterior Urethroplasty – Bulbar (A Primer For Part-Time Plumbers)

Anterior Urethroplasty – Bulbar (A Primer For Part-Time Plumbers)

Posted by | Apr 2024

Ryan P. Terlecki, MD, FACS, emphasizes key elements for success in urethral surgery, focusing on preoperative planning, technical precision, and effective patient management.

A central message in this 11-minute presentation is to set realistic patient expectations while acknowledging that success is never guaranteed even with advanced surgical techniques. Terlecki compares conservative endoscopic management with surgical options, emphasizing that surgical planning requires careful consideration of anatomy, patient history, and the specifics of the stricture.

Dr. Terlecki stresses meticulous preparation, including the importance of standard protocols. Preoperative collaboration with anesthesia and other specialties is encouraged, along with video primers to prepare team members. Intraoperative decisions, such as when to transition from endoscopic to open surgery, are highlighted as critical moments requiring flexibility. He stresses that surgeons should stay calm under pressure and stick to their plan, even when faced with unexpected challenges.

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The Path to Progress: Value in Continual Professional Development

The Path to Progress: Value in Continual Professional Development

Posted by | Apr 2024

Ryan P. Terlecki, MD, FACS, emphasizes the importance of continuous professional development (CPD) for medical professionals, particularly urologists. In this 13-minute presentation, he encourages self-investment in meaningful ways that may often be neglected, such as seeking external feedback and mentorship.

The concept of post-game analysis, using video playback to evaluate surgical techniques and outcomes, is introduced as a valuable tool for surgeons to improve. Terlecki underscores the value of peer feedback, noting studies showing significant outcome differences between surgeons with varying skill levels. He encourages others to embrace coachability and continuous self-improvement, aiming to refine their skills while navigating the challenges of the modern medical landscape.

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Conquering the Curve in Peyronie’s Disease

Conquering the Curve in Peyronie’s Disease

Posted by | Mar 2024

Ryan P. Terlecki, MD, FACS, discusses risks and benefits of Peyronie’s disease treatments, advocating for surgery as a definitive treatment. Dr. Terlecki asserts the condition is poorly understood with a “lot of garbage” in print and online. (e.g., advice not to operate early on, assumptions the injury is from tunical damage, and problematic data on intralesional injections).

From a treatment standpoint, Dr. Terlecki addresses treatment dogma he sees as problematic. He debunks claims for various treatments, like vitamin E, colchicine, Xiaflex, and pentoxifylline, and makes a case against extracorporeal shock wave therapy.

Dr. Terlecki addresses surgery and explains that, for patients with adequate rigidity, plication or grafting is effective. However, patients with inadequate function require inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) and curvature correction. He cautions against degloving, tunical excision, and plicating for implant cases.

Dr. Terlecki concludes that Peyronie’s patients are often distressed and need clear communication and a realistic understanding of treatment risks and benefits. He calls surgery the gold standard, and says plication should be considered first for potent patients without complex defects.

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Physician Coaching and Embracing QI

Physician Coaching and Embracing QI

Posted by | Mar 2024

Ryan P. Terlecki, MD, FACS, presents a model for quality improvement for healthcare providers, drawing from professional sports coaching. He begins by articulating the professional parallels between physicians and quarterbacks, noting that the best performers in each field have strong professional support networks and constant performance evaluation.

Dr. Terlecki then discusses how quality improvement measures used in professional sports apply to medical practice. He supports his points by presenting data from studies where “playbacks” of urologic surgeries were used to effectively improve surgeon performance.

Dr. Terlecki concludes by emphasizing the benefits of being open to feedback and making efforts to improve for both healthcare professionals and patients. He encourages healthcare professionals to be open to both giving and receiving coaching in their practices, and provides actionable advice for implementing these quality improvement measures.

Dr. Terlecki provides guidance on tailoring patient intake questionnaires to keep the focus on the patient’s issue and possible approaches. He gives examples of open and closed questions for male genital pain.

Dr. Terlecki then discusses the importance of setting patient expectations regarding diagnoses and what they should expect from the provider, particularly when the provider does not specialize in pain management. He then discusses common, uncommon, and overlooked causes of male genital pain.

Dr. Terlecki concludes by walking through this algorithm from intake to assessment to diagnosis and treatment. He emphasizes the importance of not dismissing patient input on treatment, but still strictly adhere to evidence-based treatment over unproven or alternative treatments.

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An Algorithm to Pacify the Male Patient with Chronic Genital Pain

An Algorithm to Pacify the Male Patient with Chronic Genital Pain

Posted by | Feb 2024

Ryan P. Terlecki, MD, FACS, presents a systematic approach to patients presenting with chronic genital pain, with the goal of identifying the underlying cause while avoiding common pitfalls with this type of patient. Dr. Terlecki begins by cautioning against assumptions about the patient, as they can cause anxieties in the provider which impact the quality of patient care.

Dr. Terlecki provides guidance on tailoring patient intake questionnaires to keep the focus on the patient’s issue and possible approaches. He gives examples of open and closed questions for male genital pain.

Dr. Terlecki then discusses the importance of setting patient expectations regarding diagnoses and what they should expect from the provider, particularly when the provider does not specialize in pain management. He then discusses common, uncommon, and overlooked causes of male genital pain.

Dr. Terlecki concludes by walking through this algorithm from intake to assessment to diagnosis and treatment. He emphasizes the importance of not dismissing patient input on treatment, but still strictly adhere to evidence-based treatment over unproven or alternative treatments.

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