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Related Research Units

Urology Research

Research Overview

Julia Beth Finkelstein, MD, MPH, is a pediatric urologist who is formally trained in quality improvement methodology. Her research interests have focused on quality improvement and innovation, including use of telecommunication technology to improve patient care. During fellowship, she implemented a structured postoperative telemedicine program within the Urology Department at Boston Children’s Hospital. This work pre-dated the COVID-19 pandemic and was far-sighted in its relevance.

Dr. Finkelstein now has grant funding to determine the accuracy, efficacy, and equitability of telemedicine for the assessment of pediatric urologic patients. She continues to make strides in investigating and improving the use of telemedicine at the institutional level, regionally, as well as nationally within pediatric urology. To this end, Dr. Finkelstein is the chair of the Societies for Pediatric Urology Telehealth Taskforce. She also serves as the co-lead of the pediatric urology specialty advisory committee for the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) and is a member of the American Urological Association Quality Improvement and Patient Safety committee.

Research Background

Dr. Finkelstein graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cornell University and then received her medical degree from New York University Grossman School of Medicine. She completed a six-year Urology residency at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Finkelstein continued her training with a pediatric urology fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital. She also completed a Fellowship in Patient Safety and Quality through Harvard Medical School and obtained a Master of Public Health degree from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Dr. Finkelstein is leading local quality improvement efforts as the Director of Quality Improvement and Patient Safety for the Department of Urology at Boston Children’s Hospital. In this role, she works tirelessly to establish an ongoing program to improve the quality of care provided to pediatric urology patients, through a combination of clinical innovation and quality improvement. Dr. Finkelstein seeks to drive innovation in healthcare with data-driven improvement projects that aim to provide patients with the best possible care. In addition, she mentors urology fellows, educates urology residents and medical students, and teaches students obtaining a Master of Healthcare Quality and Safety degree at Harvard Medical School.

Education

Undergraduate School

Cornell University
2007 Ithaca NY

Medical School

New York University School of Medicine
2011 New York NY

Internship

Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
2012 New York NY

Residency

Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
2017 New York NY

Graduate School

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
2019 Boston MA

Fellowship

Boston Children's Hospital
2020 Boston MA

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Publications

  1. Factors contributing to telemedicine efficacy in pediatric urology. J Pediatr Urol. 2024 Aug; 20(4):694.e1-694.e7. View Abstract
  2. The impact of procedural activities on musculoskeletal pain experienced by pregnant surgeons. Am J Surg. 2024 01; 227:90-95. View Abstract
  3. Speaking and listening: The importance of stakeholder engagement in quality improvement in pediatric urology. J Pediatr Urol. 2023 12; 19(6):792-799. View Abstract
  4. Environmental Impact of a Pediatric and Young Adult Virtual Medicine Program: A Lesson from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Acad Pediatr. 2024 04; 24(3):408-416. View Abstract
  5. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery for an Uncommon Complex Urological Procedure: The Complete Primary Repair of Bladder Exstrophy. J Urol. 2023 10; 210(4):696-703. View Abstract
  6. Atypical Presentation Delays Treatment of Pediatric Testicular Torsion. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2024 Apr 01; 40(4):255-260. View Abstract
  7. Characterizing digital access in pediatric urology. J Pediatr Urol. 2023 10; 19(5):523.e1-523.e6. View Abstract
  8. Accuracy of telemedicine for diagnosis and pre-operative assessment of pediatric penile conditions. J Pediatr Urol. 2023 10; 19(5):521.e1-521.e7. View Abstract
  9. Press Ganey Ratings in Urology: Who is at Risk of Bias? Urology. 2022 12; 170:240-245. View Abstract
  10. Let's Do the TWIST. J Urol. 2022 07; 208(1):6-7. View Abstract
  11. Pediatric Clinicians' Use of Telemedicine: Qualitative Interview Study. JMIR Hum Factors. 2021 Dec 02; 8(4):e29941. View Abstract
  12. Editorial Comment. J Urol. 2021 08; 206(2):446. View Abstract
  13. Beyond morbidity and mortality: Measuring processes and procedure specifics in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric (NSQIPP). J Pediatr Urol. 2021 06; 17(3):426-429. View Abstract
  14. "Ramping up telemedicine in pediatric urology- Tips for using a new modality". J Pediatr Urol. 2020 06; 16(3):288-289. View Abstract
  15. Anxiety, distress, and pain in pediatric urodynamics. Neurourol Urodyn. 2020 04; 39(4):1178-1184. View Abstract
  16. Accuracy of Ultrasound in Identifying Renal Scarring as Compared to DMSA Scan. Urology. 2020 04; 138:134-137. View Abstract
  17. Telemedicine for Pediatric Urological Postoperative Care is Safe, Convenient and Economical. J Urol. 2020 07; 204(1):144-148. View Abstract
  18. The Use of Telemedicine for the Postoperative Urological Care of Children: Results of a Pilot Program. J Urol. 2019 07; 202(1):159-163. View Abstract
  19. The association between continuous antibiotic prophylaxis and UTI from birth until initial postnatal imaging evaluation among newborns with antenatal hydronephrosis. J Pediatr Urol. 2018 12; 14(6):539.e1-539.e6. View Abstract
  20. Innovation in Robotics and Pediatric Urology: Robotic Ureteroureterostomy for Duplex Systems with Ureteral Ectopia. J Endourol. 2016 10; 30(10):1041-1048. View Abstract
  21. What's in a Number? Examining the Effect of a Dedicated Research Year on H-Index and Fellowship Decision-making. Urology. 2016 Dec; 98:27-31. View Abstract
  22. Is outpatient robotic pyeloplasty feasible? J Robot Surg. 2016 Sep; 10(3):233-7. View Abstract
  23. The Correlation of Media Ranking's "Best" Hospitals and Surgical Outcomes Following Radical Cystectomy for Urothelial Cancer. Urology. 2015 Dec; 86(6):1104-12. View Abstract
  24. Reply: To PMID 26209452. Urology. 2015 Aug; 86(2):223. View Abstract
  25. The Difference a Year Can Make: Academic Productivity of Residents in 5 vs 6-Year Urology Programs. Urology. 2015 Aug; 86(2):220-2. View Abstract
  26. Validation of a frailty index in patients undergoing curative surgery for urologic malignancy and comparison with other risk stratification tools. Urol Oncol. 2015 Oct; 33(10):426.e1-12. View Abstract
  27. Patterns of care for readmission after radical cystectomy in New York State and the effect of care fragmentation. Urol Oncol. 2015 Oct; 33(10):426.e13-9. View Abstract
  28. Is peri-operative urethral catheter drainage enough? The case for stentless pediatric robotic pyeloplasty. J Pediatr Urol. 2015 Aug; 11(4):175.e1-5. View Abstract
  29. Renal functional outcomes after surgery for renal cortical tumors. J Kidney Cancer VHL. 2015; 2(2):45-54. View Abstract
  30. How to decide which infant can have robotic surgery? Just do the math. J Pediatr Urol. 2015 Aug; 11(4):170.e1-4. View Abstract
  31. The natural history of renal functional decline in patients undergoing surveillance in the DISSRM registry. Urol Oncol. 2015 Apr; 33(4):166.e17-20. View Abstract
  32. Management and outcomes for children with pyloric stenosis stratified by hospital type. J Surg Res. 2010 Jan; 158(1):6-9. View Abstract

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Phone: 617-355-7796
Fax: 617-730-0474
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