UCI-CHOC Pediatric Urology Fellowship Program
Message from the Director
The Pediatric Urology Fellowship at University of California, Irvine in partnership with Children’s Hospital of Orange County offers a dynamic and comprehensive two-year training experience designed to prepare fellows for excellence in both clinical practice and academic medicine. The program includes one ACGME-accredited year of intensive clinical training, followed by a fully supported year dedicated to research and scholarly development.
Fellows are immersed in a high-volume, collaborative pediatric urology practice, working alongside an experienced team of five physicians and four nurse practitioners. With approximately 900 clinic visits each month and 1,200 surgical cases annually, fellows gain extensive hands-on experience and play an integral role in patient care and operative management.
Program Overview
Duration:
2 years
Rotations:
Pediatric Urology rotations at CHOC Cases include a minimum of 30 endoscopic procedures, 80 scrotal/inguinal, 50 penile, 25 upper urinary tract, 25 lower urinary tract, 10 major abdominal, and 30 falling under miscellaneous which include 10 urodynamics and 10 minimally invasive surgeries.
A Pediatric Surgery rotation at CHOC which is 1 month in 1st year of fellowship which serves to enhance fellows’ experience and broaden exposure to all pediatric surgical procedures offered in pediatric urology and pediatric surgery.
Prerequisite training:
Applicants should have completed requirements of the American Board of Urology by the time of the desired appointment, and at that time, they must be licensed to practice medicine in the state of California. ATLS certification is also required.
Rady Children’s Health in Orange County
Rady Children’s Health in Orange County (formerly CHOC) is part of a pediatric health care system that includes two hospitals in Orange County, a hospital in San Diego, and a growing network of primary and specialty care centers spanning six counties. Uniting the trusted expertise of CHOC and Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, Rady Children’s Health builds on a combined legacy of more than a century of clinical excellence and is dedicated to advancing children’s health through leading-edge research, innovative treatments and compassionate care.
Rady Children’s Hospital in Orange is an academic, community-based hospital that serves as the main training site for the fellowship. It has 386 beds, a Level I Trauma Center, Level 4 NICU and Level 4 Pediatric Epilepsy Center. Rady Children’s Health delivers care through more than 825,000 healthcare visits annually.
For virtual tours of Rady Children’s Hospital in Orange: choc.org/about/virtual-tour
University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine and the UCI Medical Center (UCIMC)
UCI School of Medicine is ranked among the top 50 medical schools in the nation for research by U.S. News & World Report. UCI School of Medicine has 24 departments, ranging from basic science research to clinical, medical and surgical specialties, and research, clinical, and teaching. UCI School of Medicine is the sponsoring institution and serves as a primary site for basic science and translational bench research opportunities. The UCI Medical Center in Orange serves as the main clinical site for the UC Irvine School of Medicine, integrating teaching, research, and patient care.
UCI Medical Center is a 459-bed acute care hospital providing tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical, behavioral health and rehabilitation services. It is the primary teaching location for the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
Curriculum
UCI Irvine/CHOC Pediatric Urology Fellowship Block Diagram
| Block Year 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 and 2 |
| Rotation Name | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Surgery | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology |
| % Operative | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 08 | 80 | 80 |
| % Non-Operative | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| % Research | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Block Year 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 and 2 |
| Rotation Name | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric Urology |
| % Operative | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| % Non-Operative | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| % Research | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
Year 1 – Clinical Immersion
The first year delivers a high-volume, hands-on clinical experience with 3–4 operative days per week and exposure to nearly 900 cases. Fellows gain broad expertise in robotic, laparoscopic, and complex reconstructive surgery while engaging in multidisciplinary conferences, spina bifida clinic, and video urodynamics. Weekly Grand Rounds and monthly academic sessions with University of California, Irvine enrich the learning environment. Fellows work closely with residents to lead the pediatric urology service, with residents managing primary call.
Year 2 – Research and Leadership
The second year is a fully funded opportunity to pursue impactful clinical or basic science research at Children’s Hospital of Orange County and UCI, supported by a dedicated research infrastructure and active clinical trials program. We have a robust clinical research team at CHOC led by a full-time clinical epidemiologist, Carol Davis-Dao, Ph.D. Fellows may also engage in innovative basic science work in tissue engineering through UCI collaborations. Clinical involvement continues with complex reconstruction and mentorship of junior residents. An optional global health experience with IVUmed offers the chance to provide care abroad and broaden clinical perspective.
How to Apply
The UCI/CHOC Pediatric Urology Fellowship Program is a part of the Society of Pediatric Urology. Our program takes applications via the American Urological Association matching process. If you are interested in applying for our fellowship program, you will need to apply through the AUA website.
To learn more please visit the AUA website here.
Important Dates
The 2027 Pediatric Urology Fellowship Match
| Registration Open | Registration Deadline | Rank List Begins | Rank List Deadline | Match Results Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 13, 2025 | May 6, 2026 | May 8, 2026 | June 8, 2026, 4:30pm ET | June 26, 2026 |
Benefits
PGY-6 salary: $101,151.33 per year including benefits
PGY-7 salary: $104,164.11 per year including benefits
Vacation: 4 weeks per year
Education Stipend: $1,500
Additional Benefits: Hospital-issued laptop, free parking, paid board and In-training exams, designated call rooms, mock orals and more. Flexible benefits program starts on the first day of employment which includes medical, dental, vision and life insurance for you and your dependents.
Contact Us
UCI-CHOC Pediatric Urology Fellowship Program
505 S. Main St
Orange, CA 92868
Cesar Plascencia
Pediatric Urology Fellowship Program Coordinator
(714) 509-3751
Program Leadership
Heidi A. Stephany, MD
Associate Professor of Urology
Fellowship Program Director
[email protected]
Graduates
Fellow Name: Timothy Boswell, MD
Class of 2023
Current Position/Institution:
Pediatric Urologist, Children’s of Alabama
Fellow Name: Kathy Huen, MD, MPH
Class of 2022
Current Position/Institution:
Pediatric Urologist, UCLA Health
Fellow Name: Sarah A. Williamson (Holzman), MD
Class of 2022
Current Position/Institution:
Pediatric Urologist, Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters
Fellow Name: Joshua Chamberlain, MD
Class of 2019
Current Position/Institution:
Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital
Fellow Name: Ahmed Abdelhalim, MD
Class of 2018
Current Position/Institution:
Pediatric Urologist, Rady Children’s Health
Clinical Faculty
Dr. Heidi Stephany
Program Director, Pediatric Urologist
Dr. Antoine “Tony” E. Khoury
Division Chief, Pediatric Urologist
Dr. Elias Wehbi
Pediatric Urologist
Dr. Kai-Wen Chuang
Pediatric Urologist
Dr. Alireza Alam
Pediatric Urologist