Ashutosh Tewari
Encyclopedia
Ashutosh K. Tewari is a board certified
American
urologist, oncologist, and clinical researcher at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University
in New York City
where he directs the Institute of Prostate Cancer and Robotic Surgery. Tewari holds the Ronald P. Lynch endowed Chair of Urologic Oncology and is the hospital's Director of Robotic Prostatectomy, treating patients with prostate
, urinary bladder
and other urological cancers. He is one of world's leading urological surgeons, and has been involved with over 3500 robotically assisted procedures using the da Vinci Surgical System
. Since joining Weill Cornell Medical College he has performed over 2500 robotic procedures. Academically, he is recognized as a world renowned expert on urologic oncology with over 250 peer reviewed published papers to his credit; he is on such lists as America's Top Doctors, New York Magazine's Best Doctors, and Who's Who in the World.
, the advent of robotic surgery
using a laparoscopic approach has significantly changed the way prostate cancer
surgery
and prostatectomy
procedures in general are performed as compared to the traditional 'open' methodology. Much of Tewari's research projects serve to promote robotic surgery as opposed to open procedures. For example, Tewari has shown that the operating field has become more visible to the surgeon, unobscured by the copious amounts of blood encountered in traditional surgery and is thus able to view the urological structures under three-dimensional
, enlarged magnification. Patients reap even greater benefits. Due to the minimally invasive nature of the procedure, they experience minimized pain, minimized blood loss, less scarring and fewer complications. Post-surgery recovery is accelerated and patients experience quicker return to urinary continence and sexual function
. Some of Tewari's current research is focused on comparing the benefits of robot-assisted surgery with traditional open prostatic surgery.
program in Robotic Prostatectomy and Prostate Cancer Outcomes that has conducted research comparing robotic surgery outcomes versus those of laparoscopic and open surgeries. Tewari is an Attending physician
at the New York Presbyterian Hospital.
(GSVM) in Uttar Pradesh
, India, Tewari graduated with honors in 1984 with 17 gold academic medals to credit. He received his training in urology
from Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences
(SGPGIMS) in India under the mentorship of Professor Mahendra Bhandari
and completed the McH
and DNB
program in 1991.
and continues to collaborate with him in refining treatment outcomes. Tewari completed his urology residency at the Vattikuti Urology Institute
(VUI) of the Henry Ford Hospital
in Detroit, Michigan
in 2004. He received his urologic oncology research training at the University of California, San Francisco
in 1994, the University of Florida
in 1998, and VUI in 2004.
and treatment of patients with urological cancers, with a focus on prostate cancer
. His research ranges from the study of patient outcomes, robotic techniques, molecular markers for cancer aggressiveness, racial disparity in cancer biology, quality of life studies, strategies to improve nerve sparing and sexual function recovery, and anatomic studies to facilitate continence preservation to the development of next generation robotic techniques. He has received several federal and non-federal research funding
grants for his research on prostate cancer, totaling several million dollars in grant capital. He is one of the only urologists in the world to receive an NIH R01 Grant. Additionally, he is among the first surgeons to use real time tissue imaging during surgery to minimize nerve damage in the patient and was the first surgeon in the world to use the catheter-less Prostate Surgery. The catheter-less surgery minimizes postoperative pain after prostatectomy
, Contemporary Urology, Medscape
, Post Graduate Medicine, and Oncology Operational. He is the associate editor for BJU International. Tewari has served as a visiting professor and lecturer at dozens of venues both in the United States and abroad. Recently, Tewari spoke at the Annual International Prostate & Robotics Symposium in the United Arab Emirates
and the Ohio State World Symposium of Robotic Surgery. He is also previously been on faculty of the International Robotic Urology Symposium
.
Board certified
Board certification may refer to:* Board certification, for physicians in an area of medical specialization.* Nursing board certification, for nurses who obtain additional specialty training....
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
urologist, oncologist, and clinical researcher at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he directs the Institute of Prostate Cancer and Robotic Surgery. Tewari holds the Ronald P. Lynch endowed Chair of Urologic Oncology and is the hospital's Director of Robotic Prostatectomy, treating patients with prostate
Prostate
The prostate is a compound tubuloalveolar exocrine gland of the male reproductive system in most mammals....
, urinary bladder
Urinary bladder
The urinary bladder is the organ that collects urine excreted by the kidneys before disposal by urination. A hollow muscular, and distensible organ, the bladder sits on the pelvic floor...
and other urological cancers. He is one of world's leading urological surgeons, and has been involved with over 3500 robotically assisted procedures using the da Vinci Surgical System
Da Vinci Surgical System
The Da Vinci Surgical System is a robotic surgical system made by Intuitive Surgical and designed to facilitate complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach...
. Since joining Weill Cornell Medical College he has performed over 2500 robotic procedures. Academically, he is recognized as a world renowned expert on urologic oncology with over 250 peer reviewed published papers to his credit; he is on such lists as America's Top Doctors, New York Magazine's Best Doctors, and Who's Who in the World.
Robotic prostatectomy
With the introduction of the da Vinci Surgical SystemDa Vinci Surgical System
The Da Vinci Surgical System is a robotic surgical system made by Intuitive Surgical and designed to facilitate complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach...
, the advent of robotic surgery
Robotic surgery
Robotic surgery, computer-assisted surgery, and robotically-assisted surgery are terms for technological developments that use robotic systems to aid in surgical procedures....
using a laparoscopic approach has significantly changed the way prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
and prostatectomy
Prostatectomy
A prostatectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the prostate gland. Abnormalities of the prostate, such as a tumour, or if the gland itself becomes enlarged for any reason, can restrict the normal flow of urine along the urethra....
procedures in general are performed as compared to the traditional 'open' methodology. Much of Tewari's research projects serve to promote robotic surgery as opposed to open procedures. For example, Tewari has shown that the operating field has become more visible to the surgeon, unobscured by the copious amounts of blood encountered in traditional surgery and is thus able to view the urological structures under three-dimensional
Three-dimensional space
Three-dimensional space is a geometric 3-parameters model of the physical universe in which we live. These three dimensions are commonly called length, width, and depth , although any three directions can be chosen, provided that they do not lie in the same plane.In physics and mathematics, a...
, enlarged magnification. Patients reap even greater benefits. Due to the minimally invasive nature of the procedure, they experience minimized pain, minimized blood loss, less scarring and fewer complications. Post-surgery recovery is accelerated and patients experience quicker return to urinary continence and sexual function
Sexual function
Sexual function is a model developed at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, defining different aspects of the assessment of sexual dysfunction comprises the following components....
. Some of Tewari's current research is focused on comparing the benefits of robot-assisted surgery with traditional open prostatic surgery.
Career
Tewari is the Director of the Lefrak Institute of Robotic Surgery, Director of Prostate cancer, as well as the Director of Robotic Prostatectomy and Prostate Cancer-Urologic Oncology Outcomes at the Brady Urology Foundation of Weill Medical College. He is a tenured Professor of Urology at Weill and, additionally, a Professor at the Department of Public Health and Outcomes. In addition, Tewari directs a fellowshipFellowship (medicine)
A fellowship is the period of medical training in the United States and Canada that a physician may undertake after completing a specialty training program . During this time , the physician is known as a fellow...
program in Robotic Prostatectomy and Prostate Cancer Outcomes that has conducted research comparing robotic surgery outcomes versus those of laparoscopic and open surgeries. Tewari is an Attending physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
at the New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Education
Receiving his medical education from Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical CollegeGanesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College
Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College is a medical college in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh....
(GSVM) in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, India, Tewari graduated with honors in 1984 with 17 gold academic medals to credit. He received his training in urology
Urology
Urology is the medical and surgical specialty that focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males. Medical professionals specializing in the field of urology are called urologists and are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with urological...
from Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences
Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences
Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences is a premier medical institute of India located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It was established in 1983 and is named after Sanjay Gandhi....
(SGPGIMS) in India under the mentorship of Professor Mahendra Bhandari
Mahendra Bhandari
Mahendra Bhandari is a noted Indian surgeon who has made substantial contributions to the specialty of urology, medical training, hospital administration, and medical ethics. For his efforts, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the government of India in 2000...
and completed the McH
MCH
MCH can refer to:* Machala, Ecuador * March, in National Rail abbreviations.* March railway station, England; National Rail station code MCH.* Mean corpuscular hemoglobin or Mean cell hemoglobin* Maternal and child health...
and DNB
DNB
DNB is short for:* De Nederlandsche Bank, the Dutch central bank* Den norske Bank, a Norwegian bank * Departure from nucleate boiling in boiling heat transfer* Deutsche Nationalbibliothek, the German national library...
program in 1991.
Training
Tewari has trained in the U.S. under Dr. Mani Menon, a pioneer of robotic prostatectomyProstatectomy
A prostatectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the prostate gland. Abnormalities of the prostate, such as a tumour, or if the gland itself becomes enlarged for any reason, can restrict the normal flow of urine along the urethra....
and continues to collaborate with him in refining treatment outcomes. Tewari completed his urology residency at the Vattikuti Urology Institute
Vattikuti Urology Institute
The Vattikuti Urology Institute at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan is a clinical and research center for urological care. The VUI is notable for being the first institute to establish robotic surgery as a treatment for patients with prostate cancer. To date, the VUI has performed more...
(VUI) of the Henry Ford Hospital
Henry Ford Hospital
Henry Ford Hospital, the flagship facility for , is an 805-bed tertiary care hospital, education and research complex located in Detroit ....
in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
in 2004. He received his urologic oncology research training at the University of California, San Francisco
University of California, San Francisco
The University of California, San Francisco is one of the world's leading centers of health sciences research, patient care, and education. UCSF's medical, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and graduate schools are among the top health science professional schools in the world...
in 1994, the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in 1998, and VUI in 2004.
Research
Tewari's research interests revolve around the diagnosisDiagnosis
Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of anything. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines with variations in the use of logics, analytics, and experience to determine the cause and effect relationships...
and treatment of patients with urological cancers, with a focus on prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
. His research ranges from the study of patient outcomes, robotic techniques, molecular markers for cancer aggressiveness, racial disparity in cancer biology, quality of life studies, strategies to improve nerve sparing and sexual function recovery, and anatomic studies to facilitate continence preservation to the development of next generation robotic techniques. He has received several federal and non-federal research funding
Research funding
Research funding is a term generally covering any funding for scientific research, in the areas of both "hard" science and technology and social science. The term often connotes funding obtained through a competitive process, in which potential research projects are evaluated and only the most...
grants for his research on prostate cancer, totaling several million dollars in grant capital. He is one of the only urologists in the world to receive an NIH R01 Grant. Additionally, he is among the first surgeons to use real time tissue imaging during surgery to minimize nerve damage in the patient and was the first surgeon in the world to use the catheter-less Prostate Surgery. The catheter-less surgery minimizes postoperative pain after prostatectomy
Honors, awards, and prizes
A few of the medical conference and achievement awards earned by Tewari and his research team are:- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of GlasgowRoyal College of Physicians and Surgeons of GlasgowThe Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, is an institute of physicians and surgeons in Glasgow, Scotland.Founded by Peter Lowe after receiving a royal charter by James VI in 1599, as the Glasgow Faculty, this institution originally existed as a regulatory authority to ensure that...
honorary FRCS in 2010 - The Clarke Medal for Surgical Innovation awarded by the Royal College of Surgeons of EnglandRoyal College of Surgeons of EnglandThe Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
- Prostate Cancer FoundationProstate Cancer FoundationThe Prostate Cancer Foundation , formerly known as CaP CURE, is the world’s largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research. PCF was founded in 1993 in order to discover better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer...
Award- 2007
- American Urological AssociationAmerican Urological AssociationThe American Urological Association is a professional association in the United States for urology professionals.-Awards:*Hugh Hampton Young Award. Presented annually to an individual for outstanding contributions to the study of genitourinary tract disease. This award is sponsored by Karl Storz...
Best Video Award for 2010, 2008 and 2006 - First Place Video Award for Retro-Apical Technique of Robotic Prostate Cancer Surgery, Annual American
- Urological Association (AUA) Meeting, San Francisco, California 2010
- Syme Medal, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, 2009
- Cutlers’ Surgical Prize, Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2009
- BJU International Visiting Professor Award, University of Mainz, Germany, 2009
- American Urological Association/Gyrus Prize Essay Contest (Clinical Research), Time tissue recognition of periprostatic tissue architecture and its relevance to nerve sparing radical prostatectomy: a pilot study using multiphoton microscopy and second harmonic generation, 2009
- Best Scientific Paper (Urology) Award, Society of Laporoendoscopic Surgeons, Orlando, Florida, 2008
- Grand Prize, International College of Surgeons Research Essay Award, 2008
- Best Basic Science Research Abstract Award, Sexual Medicine Society of North America Annual Meeting, 2008
- Best Research Abstract, American Urological Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida, 2008
- First Prize Winner, Anatomic foundations for nerve sparing robotic prostatectomy: Correlations between anatomic, surgical and “real time tissue recognition” with multiphoton microscopy, American Urological Society-AUA-ACMI Clinical Research, Orlando, Florida, 2008
- Clinical Research- Second Place Award, Surgical technique overcoming anatomic shortcoming: Balancing post prostatectomy continence outcomes of sphincteric urethral lengths on preoperative MRI, American Urological Society-AUA-ACMI Clinical Research, Orlando, Florida, 2008
- First Prize - Best Video Presentation, Grades of nerve sparing, AUA, Orlando, Florida, 2008
- Best Video and Best Poster Award, First and Second Prizes ACMI Gyrus Research Essay Awards, AUA Annual Meeting, 2008
- Best Video (Urology) Award, Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Annual Meeting, 2008
- Second Prize, Endourology Society Essay Award, 2008
- Astellas/AUA Best Poster Award for Impotence Research, AUA, 2008
- America’s Best Doctors and New York’s Best Doctors, 2007 and 2008
- Prostate Cancer Foundation Award, Real time tissue recognition to identify nerves and prostate cancer cells- Utility as an intraoperative tool during robotic prostatectomy, Lake Tahoe, 2007
- G. M. Phadke Memorial Oration, Current state of prostate cancer treatment, Urology Society of India, 2007
- World Congress of Endourology Essay Second Prize Pelvic neuroanatomy- foundations for nerve sparing prostatectomy, Cancun, 2007
- First Place in Surgical Video, Athermal technique of nerve sparing prostatectomy, AUA, 2005
- First Prize Winner-AUA-ACMI-Ambrose Reeds Prize, Cost Effective Essay Contest, Racial disparities in prostate cancer outcomes- Impact of socioeconomic factors, 2005
- First Prize Winner- AUA-ACMI Prize, Survival modeling tables in the management of prostate cancer: A propensity risk method, AUA, Chicago, Illinois, 2003
- First Prize AUA-ACMI-Ambrose Reeds Cost Effective Essay Contest, Factor affecting differences in survival in African American and Caucasian races, AUA, Chicago, Illinois, 2003
- Second Prize Best Surgical Video, Technique of nerve sparing robotic prostatectomy, AUA, 2003
- First Place Joseph F. McCarthy/ACMI Physician Essay Contest, Predicting the outcome of prostate biopsy in a racially diverse population, 78th Western Section AUA, Kauai, Hawaii, 2002
- First Prize-Traveling Fellowship NCS-AUA: Impact of robotics on surgical Skill. North Central Section American Urological Association, Chicago, 2002
- First Prize Clinical Paper, Role of surgery in high-grade cancer prostate, Michigan Urological Society, 2002
- Recognition in Laparoscopic Surgery Resident Achievement Award, Society of Laparoscopic Urology. New Orleans, Louisiana, 2002
- Gerald Murphy Scholar in Prostate Cancer, AUA, Orlando, Florida, 2002
- Third Prize, Utility of predictive modeling tables in patients following radical prostatectomy, Michigan Research Forum, 2002
- Golden Glove Membership, L’ Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, University Pierre & Marie Curie, France, 2002
- Who’s Who in World, Millennium Edition, 2000
- Pfizer Scholar Award, 1999
- Second Prize Montague Boyd Essay Contest, Cost effective staging algorithm for prostate cancer: a novel approach using genetic adaptive neural networks, South Eastern Section AUA, 1997
- First Prize John Harrington Tanous Award for Distinguished Research in Cancer, Post radical prostatectomy sling procedure: clinical-anatomical study, 1997
- Best Scientific Presentation, University of Florida Research Day, 1996
- Distinction in Physiology, Pathology and Social & Preventive Medicine Award, 1984
- Five Gold Medal Awards for securing highest marks in Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Ophthalmology, and Surgery, 1983
- Physiology Society Gold Medal and Pathology Society Silver Medal, 1983
- Dr. B.N. Gold Medal and a Gold Medal for securing highest marks in M.D. and all examinations, 1983
- Best Overall Graduate of the Year, 1982
- Chancellor’s Gold Medal for securing first position in final professional M.D. examination, 1982
- Five Gold Medals for highest marks in Physiology, Forensic Medicine, Pathology, Social/Preventive Medicine, 1981
- S.P.M. Society Silver Medal for securing distinction in Social and Preventive Medicine, 1981
- Three Gold Medals for highest marks in first professional M.D. exam, Physiology, and in E.N.T., 1980
- Physiology Society Silver Medal, distinction in Physiology, 1980
- AUA Best Clinical Essay award for 2008
- World Congress of Endourology Prize Essay- 2007
- Gerald Murphy Scholar in Prostate Cancer. AUA, Orlando, FL 2002
- Golden Glove Membership for being proctor in laparoscopic prostatectomy at L' Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, University Pierre & Marie Curie, Paris, France 2002
- Pfizer Scholar Award, 1999
Professional activities
Tewari serves as a reviewer for a number of prestigious professional journals including the Journal of Urology, British Journal of UrologyBritish Journal of Urology
BJUI was established in 1929. The editor in chief is John M. Fitzpatrick and the journal is published by Wiley-Blackwell...
, Contemporary Urology, Medscape
Medscape
Medscape is a web resource for physicians and other health professionals. It features peer-reviewed original medical journal articles, CME , a customized version of the National Library of Medicine's MEDLINE database, daily medical news, major conference coverage, and drug information—including a...
, Post Graduate Medicine, and Oncology Operational. He is the associate editor for BJU International. Tewari has served as a visiting professor and lecturer at dozens of venues both in the United States and abroad. Recently, Tewari spoke at the Annual International Prostate & Robotics Symposium in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
and the Ohio State World Symposium of Robotic Surgery. He is also previously been on faculty of the International Robotic Urology Symposium
International Robotic Urology Symposium
Hosted by the Detroit-based Vattikuti Urology Institute, the International Robotic Urology Symposium is a semi-annual conference featuring the latest in robotic urological surgery presented through intensive courses and leading robotic surgeons. The symposium attracts surgeons, nurses, operating...
.
Society memberships
In addition to directing his robotic prostatectomy program at Weill Cornell, Tewari is a member of several professional societies including: American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, American Urological Association, NYS Medical Advisory Board, International Society of Quality of Life Research, Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, Society of Minimally Invasive Therapy, Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO), Indian Association of Urological Surgeons and Michigan Prostate Cancer Consortium.Books
In collaboration with Vanderbilt University School of Medicine urologist, Joseph A. Smith, Jr., Tewari co-authored Robotics in Urologic Surgery. Smith, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Urology at Vanderbilt, worked with Tewari to publish a textbook that explains the foundation of robotic surgery and its role in urological operations.Research papers
Tewari has published articles, book chapters and invited articles on various aspects of urologic cancer, urology and robotics. He has authored and co-authored over 250 published manuscripts, research abstracts, and book chapters. A selection of Tewari's publications includes:External links
- Dr. Ash Tewari's Official Website
- Newsweek's Feature on Ashutosh Tewari
- Fox Business Network Feature on Tewari and Advent of Robotic Surgery
- Introduction to Weill Cornell Robotic Prostatectomy
- Tewari's Physician Biography
- da Vinci Surgical Systems
- America’s Top Doctors
- Robotics in Urologic Surgery
- American Urological Association
- International Society of Quality of Life Research
- Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
- Society of Minimally Invasive Therapy
- Michigan Prostate Cancer Consortium