Jerry G. Blaivas

Jerry G. Blaivas, MD, FACS is an American urologist. Blaivas is a clinical professor of urology at Weill Cornell Medical College, adjunct professor at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Attending Surgeon at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital. Blaivas served as a professor of urology and vice chairman of the department of urology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is known for his impacts on urodynamics as a developer of sling surgery for female stress incontinence (without mesh) and developing classification systems for stress incontinence, overactive bladder, female urethral obstruction, urethral stricture detrusor sphincter dyssynergia.
Jerry Blaivas founded peer-reviewed journal, Neurourology and Urodynamics, and served as an editor-in-cheif, He is a leading urologic reconstructive surgeon, having performed more than 2,000 autologous fascial slings for incontinence. Blaivas has authored more than 400 publications. He was listed by Castle Connolly as one of America’s top doctors in American and Top Doctors in New York Metro Area since its inception in 1992. Blaivas was recognized by the Society for Urodynamics and Female Urology (SUFU) as a founding father of female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (FPMRS) and received the Ferdinand. C. Valentine Medal from the New York Academy of Medicine for outstanding contributions to urology 2015). After 3 years of Boston City Hospital general surgery residency, he served in the United States Army as an orthopedic surgeon from 1971 to 1973. After returning, Blaivas completed his urology residency at Tufts New England Medical Center in 1976. in 1979, and started one of the first post-graduate fellowship programs in what is now known as pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. In 1981, Blaivas joined the faculty of ollege of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, where he has held the positions of professor of clinical urology, director of neurourology, fellowship director, and vice chairman of the department of urology.
In 1982, Blaivas founded Neurourology and Urodynamics, a peer review journal that became the official journal for the International Continence Society , The Society for Dynamics of the Upper Urinary Tract, the Society of Urodynamics and Female Urology and Urodynamic Society. Blaivas remained editor-in-chief from 1982 to 2006, and to this day, remains on the editorial board.
In 1992, Blaias left Columbia University and was appointed clinical professor of urology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
In 1998, Blaivas founded the Institute for Bladder and Prostate Research - a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to lower urinary tract and urogyncelogic disorder research.
In 2010, Blaivas was became adjunct professor of urology at SUNY Downstate Medical School, where he mentored medical students and residents in urologic research.
Major Medical Contributions
The Institute for Bladder and Prostate Research
Video Urodynamics
Blaivas was awarded a grant from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to study the national history of voiding disturbances in multiple sclerosis. This research allowed Blaivas to develop one of the world’s first videourodynamic units, introducing a new method of simultaneously recording and displaying radiological images and urodynamic tracings on a single screen to obtain precise timing of events. Prior to this, videourodynamics was performed by recording physiological parameters on a strip chart recorder and X-rays on a fluorescent screen. This setup left it up to the physician to interpret the interrelationship of physiological and anatomical events by visualizing both images simultaneously on their respective video screens and noting the sequence of events.
Classification of Lower Urinary Tract Disorders
Throughout his career, Blaivas has devised classification systems for urinary incontinence, stress incontinence, detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia, overactive bladder, urinary urgency, nocturia, and bladder outlet obstruction in women. Blaivas documented a differential diagnosis of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) that included prostatic obstruction, impaired detrusor contractility (weak bladder) detrusor overactivity (bladder spasms) and sensory urgency (abnormal sensations). Before the publication of his first paper on this issue in 1988, BPH and prostatic obstruction were thought to be synonymous.
Autologous Rectus Fascial Pubovaginal Sling
Blaivas modified the Pubovaginal sling technique by detaching both ends and creating a fascial graft, instead of a flap, that could be tensioned as loosely as necessary. Once the problem of causing obstruction was corrected, Blaivas began to promote the autologous sling as a primary procedure for what is now known as the “index patient” and was instrumental in its acceptance as the gold standard for sphincter incontinence in women.
Urethral Reconstruction in Women
Blaivas has published a largest written series and has performed more than 140 urethral reconstructions in women.
Overactive Bladder
Blaivas introduced the concept that overactive bladder can be diagnosed alone, rather than a symptom of other bladder conditions. The importance of this is to promote investigation into the remediable causes of OAB and to search for effective treatment, rather than the conventional knee jerk prescription of treatments with marginal success rates. He also developed the Urodynamic classification of overactive bladder.
Urology Mobile Application
Blaivas followed his vision of changing the way healthcare is practiced and the way research is conducted. He is a co-founder of Symptelligence(29), a mobile app for patient records, provider data storage and collaborative medicine.
Purohit-Blaivas Staging System of anterior urethral strictures
Prior to the development of the Purohit-Blaivas classification, no common lexicon existed to describe the cystoscopic appearance of urethral strictures. This staging system serves as both an early staging system and a means of communication among urologists.
Awards and Recognitions
*Ferdinand C. Valentine Award, New York Academy of Medicine, 2015
*Victor A. Politano Award, American Urological Association, 2009
*Establishment of the Annual Jerry G. Blaivas Honorary Lectureship, Society of Urodynamics and Female Urology, in 2007
*Best Clinical Study for the Year 2000, Society for Urodynamics and Female Urology, 2000
*Lifetime Achievement Award, Society for Urodynamics and Female Urology, 1999
*Castle Connolly’s Best Doctors in New York, 1992-2014<ref name="castleconnolly.com"/>
*Zimskind/Kendall Award, Urodynamic Society, 1985<ref name="academic.ru"/>
*First Prize for Research, Annual Meeting of the International Continence Society, Leiden, 1982
*Winner, Team Debate, Joint Meeting of the International Continence Society and the Urodynamic Society, Los Angeles, 1980
*Commendations Medal United States Army, 1973
*Sword and Shield Honor Society, Tufts College, 1965

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