History
The Department of Urology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine has a long history education and research—follow the timeline below to see some of the key events that have made us the department we are today.
1859–1900: Founding and Early Foundations
1859
Nathan Smith Davis and colleagues establish Northwestern Medical School following a split from Rush Medical College, introducing innovative educational reforms including standardized admissions, sequential curricula, and bedside clinical teaching.
1896
Christian Fenger becomes the chair of surgery. He originates a pyeloplasty and collaborates in intestinal substitution for the ureter with Weller Van Hook.
1899
Weller Van Hook is named the third chair of surgery.
Late 19th Century:
Edmund Andrews became the founding Chair of Surgery at the medical school, integrates urologic procedures into the surgical curriculum, notably advancing early cystoscopy and endoscopic techniques.
1900:
Louis E. Schimdt, MD, after postgraduate training in Berlin, returns to Chicago and lays the groundwork for academic urology at Northwestern. He promotes endoscopy and becomes a national advocate for standardized treatment of sexually transmitted infections.
1900–1948: Institutionalization and Early Leadership
Early 20th Century: Dr. Schmidt co-founds the Chicago Urological Society and helps launch the American Urological Association (AUA). He mentors a generation of surgeons and publishes foundational work on prostate and bladder pathology.Victor Lespinasse, MD, a prominent faculty member for over 45 years, contributes key advances in ureteral surgery and organ transplantation techniques.
1945
Vincent J. O'Conor, Sr., MD, establishes the residency program in urology.
1948
Vincent J. O'Conor, Sr., MD, is appointed Chair of Urology. He expands faculty and educational programs and emphasizes complex reconstructive surgery.
1948–1974: Academic Growth and the Foundation of Residency Training
1950s–1960s:
Under Dr. O’Connor’s leadership, Northwestern launches one of the region’s earliest formal urology residency programs. His tenure includes substantial contributions to the treatment of prostate diseases and urodynamics.
1956
Northwestern recruits John T. Grayhack, MD, to his native Illinois after two years in the Air Force. A bequest by a Northwestern alumnus and prominent Chicago urologist Herman Kretschmer offers an opportunity to establish a laboratory. Dr. Grayhack directs the new urologic research facility.
1961
Dr. Grayhack is promoted to associate professor and named chair of the Department of Urology. With this position, the Northwestern urology residency program is extended to include a year of research fellowship in his laboratory.
1963
Dr. Grayhack is named the Herman Kretschmer Professor, a post that he held for 28 years.
1966
Dr. O’Connor passes away unexpectedly, having laid the foundation for a strong academic department.
1970
The residency program is strengthened by an affiliation with Children's Memorial and Evanston Hospitals.
1974
The Grayhack lab is enhanced by the recruitment of Chung Lee, Ph.D., Dr. Lee brought his expertise in endocrinology and tumor biology. He establishes a high-impact research program in prostate cancer, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration.
1976–1990: Research Expansion and Leadership Transitions
1976
Anthony J. Schaeffer, MD, joins the department as an assistant professor and AUA Scholar. He establishes a research laboratory focused on urinary tract infection and receives NIH funding by 1980.
1982
Anthony J. Schaeffer, MD, is promoted to associate professor.
1986
He is appointed full professor in recognition of his research productivity and clinical leadership.
1990–2014: Modernization and Academic Recognition
1990
Anthony J. Schaeffer, MD, is named Chair of the Department of Urology. Under his leadership, the department strengthens its research infrastructure, expands clinical programs, and earns national recognition.
1992
Anthony J. Schaeffer, MD, is named the Herman L. Kretschmer Professor of Urology.
1992
Chung Lee, PhD, becomes the inaugural John T. Grayhack Professor in Urological Research, a role that cements the department’s commitment to basic science in urology.
- Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the department experiences significant growth in both its research portfolio and clinical subspecialization, maintaining its reputation as a leader in academic urology.
2015–Present: Multidisciplinary Innovation and Translational Focus
2015
Edward (Ted) M. Schaeffer, MD, PhD, is appointed Chair of the Department of Urology. Formerly of Johns Hopkins, Dr. Schaeffer is internationally recognized for his work in the molecular biology of aggressive prostate cancers and disparities in prostate cancer outcomes.
2019
Northwestern Medicine receives a $10 million philanthropic gift to establish The Polsky Urologic Cancer Institute of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The Polsky Institute fosters a multidisciplinary approach to urologic cancer care, research, and innovation.