Dr. Evalynn Vasquez is a pediatric urologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she serves as Director of Global Urology, Associate Program Director, and Wellness Officer, and is a member of the faculty at Harvard Medical School. Her clinical expertise includes bladder and cloacal exstrophy, complex congenital urologic conditions, neurogenic bladder, cloacal malformations, and spina bifida. She has extensive experience in complex reconstructive surgery and in caring for children whose conditions require highly specialized, multidisciplinary care.

Dr. Vasquez brings a strong commitment to global health, education, collaboration, and equitable access to specialized pediatric urologic care. Her international work has included supporting exstrophy care in Tanzania, partnering with surgical teams in Pakistan, and donating her time and expertise to support exstrophy care and surgical education in India. Through these experiences, she has developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by children and families who must travel long distances or navigate limited access to specialized care.

Her research focuses on bladder exstrophy, complex reconstructive surgery, surgical readiness, long-term outcomes, and international education. She is committed to advancing care that considers not only surgical outcomes, but the long-term needs of children and families living with complex congenital conditions.

As Advisory Board Chair, Dr. Vasquez works closely with A-BE-C President and Executive Director Pamela Artigas, providing substantial clinical and strategic leadership, mentorship, and guidance as A-BE-C continues to expand its programs and global partnerships. She brings her clinical expertise, academic perspective, and deep commitment to the exstrophy community to help shape the organization’s priorities and strengthen collaboration among patients, families, clinicians, and researchers. Her leadership reflects A-BE-C’s commitment to connecting expert medical care with the lived experience of the families and individuals it serves.

Dr. Joseph G. Borer is Chair of Reconstructive Urologic Surgery and an Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. He is a leader in complex genitourinary reconstruction, with particular expertise in bladder exstrophy, epispadias, cloacal exstrophy, and other complex congenital urologic conditions. He is also a longtime leader of the Bladder Exstrophy Program at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Borer’s clinical and research work has focused extensively on surgical reconstruction and long-term outcomes for children with bladder exstrophy, epispadias, and cloacal exstrophy. He is currently one of the investigators leading Boston Children’s Bladder Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex research program, which is studying the genetic basis of these conditions and working toward more personalized care.

Dr. Borer has also played an important role in advancing collaboration among leading bladder exstrophy surgeons. He was a co-founder of the Multi-Institutional Bladder Exstrophy Consortium, helping bring together experts from major pediatric centers to study outcomes and improve surgical care.

Beyond his surgical and research leadership, Dr. Borer has long recognized the importance of supporting families throughout the exstrophy journey. Boston Children’s Bladder Exstrophy Program includes an established support group that provides families with education, connection, and emotional support.

Dr. Borer has been a longtime supporter of A-BE-C and received the 2025 Richard W. Grady Humanitarian Awardin recognition of his contributions to the bladder exstrophy community.

Dr. Heather DiCarlo is Director of Pediatric Urology and Director of Pediatric Urology Research at the Brady Urological Institute and an Associate Professor of Clinical Urology at Johns Hopkins. She specializes in complex reconstruction of the genitourinary tract, including the exstrophy-epispadias complex, cloacal exstrophy, disorders of sexual development, and other congenital urologic conditions.

Dr. DiCarlo has a particular clinical and research focus on bladder exstrophy, complex reconstruction, and long-term outcomes. Her research includes continence following complete primary repair of exstrophy, long-term management of the exstrophy-epispadias complex, and transitional care into adulthood. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in pediatric urology and continues to contribute to research advancing care for patients with complex congenital urologic conditions.

At Johns Hopkins, Dr. DiCarlo is part of a multidisciplinary team caring for one of the largest populations of patients with bladder exstrophy in the world. The program follows patients longitudinally from childhood into adulthood, with a focus on improving surgical outcomes, continence, and lifelong quality of care.

As a member of the A-BE-C Medical Advisory Board, Dr. DiCarlo brings specialized expertise in bladder exstrophy, complex reconstruction, research, and the long-term care of individuals born with congenital urologic conditions.

Dr. Marlo Eldridge is a pediatric urology nurse practitioner at Johns Hopkins Hospital with more than 25 years of experience caring for children with bladder exstrophy. She developed a specialized pre-surgical preparation program for children with bladder exstrophy and has extensive expertise in preparing patients and families for complex reconstructive and continence procedures.

Dr. Eldridge has devoted her career to combining clinical care, education, and family-centered support. She has taught medical students, nurses, residents, and pediatric urology fellows in exstrophy care, behavioral management, biofeedback, and preparation for major reconstructive procedures. Her work has also contributed to research and education focused on continence and long-term outcomes for individuals born with bladder exstrophy.

Dr. Eldridge has been an integral member of A-BE-C’s international clinical work, particularly in Uganda. She has participated in A-BE-C’s surgical and educational initiatives, helping strengthen exstrophy-specific nursing care, postoperative education, and preparation for children and families undergoing complex surgery. She has worked alongside A-BE-C’s multidisciplinary Uganda team to develop sustainable approaches to postoperative and lifelong care, including nursing protocols and resources designed for the realities of care in Uganda.

Her clinical expertise, more than two decades of experience with exstrophy, and commitment to educating healthcare professionals and families make Dr. Eldridge an important member of A-BE-C’s global team.

Dr. John P. Gearhart is Professor Emeritus of Pediatric Urology at Johns Hopkins University and one of the world’s leading authorities on bladder exstrophy and the exstrophy-epispadias complex. He served as Director of Pediatric Urology at Johns Hopkins from 1991 to 2025, continuing the distinguished legacy of Dr. Robert D. Jeffs, who pioneered the staged approach to bladder exstrophy at Johns Hopkins.

Dr. Gearhart has relocated to Augusta, where he mentors younger surgeons at Georgia Children’s Hospital and has been appointed Professor of Pediatric Urology.

Dr. Gearhart became one of the principal figures in advancing and refining the Modern Staged Repair of Exstrophy (MSRE). His decades of clinical experience, research, and teaching helped establish the staged approach as a cornerstone of modern bladder exstrophy reconstruction. His work with Dr. Jeffs included studying bladder capacity, continence, reconstruction, and long-term outcomes, helping shape the approach used by generations of exstrophy surgeons.

He is also helping to establish a large Southern consortium focused on the treatment of bladder exstrophy.

Throughout his career, Dr. Gearhart has contributed extensively to the understanding and treatment of bladder exstrophy, including research on the bladder muscle, nerve supply, collagen, failed closures, continence, and long-term outcomes. He has authored more than 265 scientific papers and has authored or edited multiple books.

Dr. Gearhart continues to contribute to the field through research, teaching, and scholarship. He is a contributor to the new Bladder Exstrophy and Epispadias: A Compendium, co-authoring “The Modern Staged Repair of Classic Bladder Exstrophy” with Chad B. Crigger. The chapter reviews the evolution, surgical technique, and future directions of the staged approach.

A recipient of the Richard W. Grady Humanitarian Award, Dr. Gearhart was also recently awarded the St Paul’s Medal by the British Association of Urological Surgeons in London, a rare distinction for a pediatric urologist. He has also dedicated significant time to international education and care. As a member of the A-BE-C Medical Advisory Board, he brings an extraordinary legacy of surgical innovation, mentorship, research, humanitarian service, and commitment to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by bladder exstrophy.

Emily Haddad, LCSW, MBE, is a licensed clinical social worker and bioethicist who specializes in behavioral health support and wellness for children and families with urogenital conditions, including bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex (BEEC), cloacal anomalies, anorectal malformations, intersex conditions/differences of sex development (DSD), and gender-variant youth. Her work focuses on helping children and families understand and navigate complex, lifelong medical conditions while addressing the psychosocial challenges that extend beyond surgery. She provides individual, family, and group support and works across specialties to help patients and families build the knowledge and skills they need to participate fully in their care. She has contributed to the development of multidisciplinary programs within the pediatric setting for these conditions and now provides clinical services through private practice following 15 years of hospital-based clinical practice.

Emily has devoted extensive professional expertise and volunteer service to the exstrophy community and to A-BE-C. For many years, she has worked directly with individuals and families affected by bladder exstrophy, both in clinical settings and through A-BE-C’s international programs. She has traveled with A-BE-C teams to India and Uganda, working alongside patients, families, surgeons, nurses, and local healthcare professionals. She has served as the lead social worker for the Uganda initiative, helping integrate psychosocial support into medical care and professional training.

Emily’s contributions also extend to research, education, and scholarship. She has co-authored peer-reviewed research examining the psychosocial needs of individuals and families affected by exstrophy, including research on helping patients and families thrive. She co-authored the chapter “Advocacy for the Exstrophy Community: Empowering and Encouraging the Patient and Family” in Bladder Exstrophy and Epispadias: A Compendium with Pamela Artigas. She has also presented on psychosocial support at A-BE-C’s International Exstrophy Conferences and has contributed to research and education surrounding the long-term needs of the exstrophy community.

Emily brings to A-BE-C a rare combination of clinical social work expertise, bioethics training, extensive volunteer service, international experience, scholarship, family education, and a deep understanding of the lifelong psychosocial needs of individuals and families affected by exstrophy.

Dr. Rakesh Joshi is Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, and Professor and Head of Pediatric Surgery at B.J. Medical College in Gujarat, India. A pediatric surgeon with expertise in complex pediatric urology, he has played a central role in establishing Civil Hospital as an international center of excellence for bladder exstrophy care, education, and surgical collaboration. As the largest hospital in Southeast Asia, Civil Hospital has become a major center for complex pediatric care and international surgical collaboration under his leadership.

Dr. Joshi is a founding leader of the International Bladder Exstrophy Consortium (IBEC) and, together with Dr. Aseem Shukla, helped establish the U.S.-India Bladder Exstrophy Collaborative at Civil Hospital. For nearly two decades, this partnership has brought leading pediatric urologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and other specialists together to provide complex surgical care and long-term follow-up while advancing education and building local expertise. Through this sustained collaboration, more than 300 bladder exstrophy-related surgeries have now been performed at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, reflecting the lasting impact of an international partnership dedicated to expanding access to specialized care and strengthening local capacity.

His leadership has helped make Civil Hospital a major international destination for children with bladder exstrophy and other complex urologic conditions. He has welcomed multidisciplinary teams from around the world and helped create opportunities for surgeons and healthcare professionals to learn through hands-on collaboration and shared clinical experience.

Dr. Joshi is also co-editor-in-chief, with Dr. Shukla, of Bladder Exstrophy and Epispadias: A Compendium, a comprehensive new reference drawn from nearly two decades of collaborative work in Ahmedabad.

He is one of the first recipients of A-BE-C’s Richard W. Grady Humanitarian Award, a recipient of the MAGPAI TIE from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and the 2025 Clinical Leadership Award from the Indian Association of Paediatric Surgeons.

Dr. Antoine Khoury is Chief of Pediatric Urology at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and UC Irvine Medical Center and  Professor of Urology at the University of California, Irvine. With more than 30 years of experience, he is internationally recognized for his expertise in complex pediatric urology and reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Khoury specializes in the medical and surgical management of complex pediatric urologic conditions, including bladder and cloacal exstrophy, reconstructive surgery, genital anomalies, neurogenic bladder, renal transplantation, and pediatric urologic oncology. He has developed multidisciplinary approaches to caring for children with complex congenital urologic conditions.

A respected researcher and educator, Dr. Khoury has authored more than 250 publications and more than 60 book chapters and has delivered more than 160 lectures nationally and internationally as an invited professor. He is the editor of the standard textbook of Pediatric Urology (Clinical Pediatric Urology). He is also actively involved in international education and surgical training, mentoring pediatric urologists and surgeons around the world to advance care for children with complex urologic conditions. He has won several teaching awards for his efforts and has been elected to the prestigious AAGUS and the SPUS societies.

Dr. Khoury completed his medical degree at Ain Shams University in Cairo, followed by urology residency training at the University of Toronto and pediatric urology fellowship training at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

As a member of the A-BE-C Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Khoury brings extensive clinical experience and expertise in complex pediatric urology and bladder exstrophy to the organization.

Dr. Bradley P. Kropp is a nationally recognized pediatric urologist whose career has focused on complex reconstructive urology, with a particular and longstanding commitment to bladder exstrophy and achieving continence. After more than two decades in academic medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, where he served as Chief of Pediatric Urology and Professor of Urology, he now practices at OKC Kids Urology, his private pediatric urology practice in Oklahoma City.

Dr. Kropp’s work in bladder exstrophy has focused not only on reconstruction, but on the long-term functional outcomes that matter most to patients and families. His research has addressed continence after exstrophy repair, including procedures for patients with previous unsuccessful repairs, catheterizable channels, and reconstructive approaches designed to improve urinary function.

He has also contributed extensively to the surgical literature on exstrophy reconstruction, including work on complete primary repair and female genital reconstruction. He has published more than 120 peer-reviewed articles and numerous book chapters.

Dr. Kropp played an important role in the development of A-BE-C’s Centers of Excellence program, helping establish a model of specialized, coordinated care for individuals with bladder exstrophy. A past president of the Society of Fetal Urology and the American Association of Pediatric Urology and a recipient of the Golden Cystoscope Award, he brings decades of surgical expertise, research, mentorship, and commitment to improving continence and quality of life for people born with bladder exstrophy.

Dr. John V. Kryger is a Professor of Urology and the former Chief of the Division of Pediatric Urology at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. He is a nationally and internationally recognized pediatric urologist whose clinical expertise includes bladder exstrophy, disorders of sexual development, complex hypospadias, fetal urology, and neurologic bladder and bowel conditions. He previously served as Director of Pediatric Urology at the University of Wisconsin and is a past president of the Society for Fetal Urology.

Dr. Kryger has made significant contributions to the advancement of bladder exstrophy care through both clinical practice and collaborative research. He was one of the surgeons who helped establish the Multi-Institutional Bladder Exstrophy Consortium (MIBEC), bringing together leading exstrophy surgeons from major pediatric centers to share surgical experience, study outcomes, and improve care for children born with this rare condition.

Dr. Kryger has also been a longtime contributor to A-BE-C’s educational mission. He has hosted A-BE-C’s International Exstrophy Conference at Children’s Wisconsin in Milwaukee.  He has presented on the MIBEC approach to bladder exstrophy care and collaborative surgical management. His involvement reflects his commitment to sharing expertise and advancing the collective understanding of complex exstrophy care.

As a member of the A-BE-C Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Kryger brings extensive experience in pediatric urology, bladder exstrophy reconstruction, multidisciplinary collaboration, surgical education, and the development of better long-term care for individuals born with exstrophy.

Dr. Anjana Kundu is an anesthesiologist at OFFOR Health with extensive expertise in pediatric anesthesiology, pediatric pain medicine, and perioperative care. She has a longstanding commitment to children and families affected by bladder exstrophy, helping ensure that children undergoing complex reconstruction receive thoughtful, comprehensive anesthesia and pain management. Her approach emphasizes not only safe surgical care, but also the comfort, well-being, and quality of life of children and their families.

Dr. Kundu has been the anesthesiologist for the International Bladder Exstrophy Collaborative (IBEC) since its second year, traveling to India to provide anesthesia and perioperative care for children undergoing complex bladder exstrophy reconstruction while teaching and supporting local healthcare professionals. Her commitment to bladder exstrophy extends beyond the operating room through her involvement in international education and collaboration.

Dr. Kundu has also contributed to research and education in bladder exstrophy and perioperative care. She has co-authored research examining the experiences and needs of families affected by bladder exstrophy and is a contributor to the new book, Bladder Exstrophy and Epispadias: A Compendium. Her work reflects her commitment to advancing knowledge and improving care for children with exstrophy.

As a member of the A-BE-C Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Kundu brings a unique combination of pediatric anesthesia and pain expertise, international surgical experience, education, research, and a deep commitment to children and families affected by bladder exstrophy.

Dr. Ranjiv Mathews is a Professor of Clinical Surgery in Urology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, where he serves as Director of Pediatric Urology and Program Director for the Urology Residency. He is an internationally recognized pediatric urologist and an expert in the management of bladder exstrophy and the exstrophy-epispadias complex. He has authored more than 75 peer-reviewed publications and has presented extensively at national and international meetings.

Dr. Mathews is the senior surgical leader of A-BE-C’s Uganda initiative, working to bring state-of-the-art bladder exstrophy surgery and lifelong care to children who have historically lacked access to specialized treatment. He leads the surgical team in Uganda and works closely with local physicians and healthcare professionals to provide complex surgery, ongoing patient care, and hands-on training that builds sustainable expertise within Uganda. A-BE-C is now expanding this effort to other regions of Africa under Dr. Mathews’ surgical leadership.

Dr. Mathews is also a prominent international educator and advocate for bladder exstrophy care. He speaks internationally about the challenges of treating exstrophy and the importance of developing sustainable, multidisciplinary care in regions where specialized expertise is limited. His commitment to advancing the field is reflected in his research and publications, including his co-authorship of the African Urology special edition on the Uganda bladder exstrophy workshop and his work on surgical management of classic bladder exstrophy.

As a member of the A-BE-C Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Mathews brings exceptional surgical expertise, international leadership, teaching, research, and a deep commitment to expanding access to high-quality bladder exstrophy care. His leadership in Uganda has helped A-BE-C move beyond individual surgical missions toward a sustainable model of local training, collaboration, and lifelong care.

Dr. Paul A. Merguerian is Division Chief of Urology at Seattle Children’s and Professor of Urology at the University of Washington. He is an internationally recognized pediatric urologist, surgeon, educator, and mentor whose clinical and academic work focuses on complex reconstruction, particularly bladder exstrophy, as well as quality improvement, patient safety, and outcomes in pediatric urology.

Dr. Merguerian is a longstanding leader in the international bladder exstrophy community and a member of the leadership of the International Bladder Exstrophy Collaborative (IBEC). He previously served as Chair of the A-BE-C Medical Advisory Board and has played an important role in advancing international collaboration and expanding access to specialized exstrophy care.

His humanitarian work includes longstanding international efforts in Armenia, where he has worked with physicians at Arabkir Medical Center in Yerevan to provide complex pediatric urologic surgery while training local physicians to perform these procedures themselves. His approach emphasizes building sustainable local expertise so that children can continue to receive specialized care long after an international surgical team has returned home.

Dr. Merguerian is also an editor of the new Bladder Exstrophy and Epispadias: A Compendium and contributed the chapter “Male Epispadias.” In 2026, he received the Richard W. Grady Humanitarian Award from A-BE-C in recognition of his longstanding commitment to children with bladder exstrophy and his humanitarian work advancing specialized care internationally.

As a member of the A-BE-C Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Merguerian brings exceptional surgical expertise, international leadership, teaching, research, and a deep commitment to building sustainable systems of care for children and families affected by bladder exstrophy.

Dr. Michael E. Mitchell is a renowned pediatric urologist and one of the most influential surgeons in the modern treatment of bladder exstrophy. Throughout his career, he has focused on complex pediatric urologic reconstruction, with particular expertise in bladder exstrophy, urethral valves, bladder dysfunction, and congenital urologic malformations.

Dr. Mitchell is best known for pioneering Complete Primary Repair of Exstrophy (CPRE), a surgical approach that combines reconstruction of the bladder and urethra in a single operation. He developed the technique with Richard W. Grady, and their work helped establish CPRE as an important approach to the surgical management of bladder exstrophy.

Dr. Mitchell’s influence extends beyond his own surgical practice. In 2012, he and Dr. Douglas Canning established the Multi-Institutional Bladder Exstrophy Consortium (MIBEC), bringing together leading exstrophy surgeons to refine CPRE, share surgical expertise, study outcomes, and train the next generation of surgeons. Dr. Mitchell continues to serve as an expert mentor and coach to surgeons participating in the collaboration.

Dr. Mitchell has contributed extensively to the medical literature on bladder exstrophy and reconstructive pediatric urology. He is also a contributor to the new Bladder Exstrophy and Epispadias: A Compendium, co-authoring the chapter “Complete Primary Repair of Bladder Exstrophy and Epispadias.”

As a member of the A-BE-C Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Mitchell brings an extraordinary legacy of surgical innovation, mentorship, research, and commitment to improving outcomes for children born with bladder exstrophy.

Professor Imran Mushtaq is an internationally recognized pediatric urologist and reconstructive surgeon who has devoted much of his career to the care of children with complex congenital urologic conditions, with particular expertise in bladder exstrophy and epispadias. He has served as a Consultant Paediatric Urologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London since 2003, one of the world’s leading centers for the treatment of bladder exstrophy.

Dr. Mushtaq is particularly recognized for his expertise in the Kelly procedure, a complex soft-tissue reconstruction for bladder exstrophy and epispadias. He has worked extensively in Pakistan, Southeast Asia, and many European countries and has traveled internationally to teach the Kelly procedure, sharing his surgical expertise with physicians and surgical teams around the world. In 2018, Great Ormond Street Hospital hosted an international masterclass led by Dr. Mushtaq, with surgeons from 14 countries attending to learn the technique through lectures, operative demonstrations, and live surgery.

His academic contributions include research on neonatal bladder exstrophy closure, reconstructive surgery, continence, and the long-term management of children with complex congenital urologic conditions. He is also a co-author of the 2022 Journal of Pediatric Surgery paper examining the history and evolution of the Kelly procedure.

Professor Mushtaq is a contributor to the new Bladder Exstrophy and Epispadias: A Compendium, co-authoring the chapter “The Kelly Procedure.” His international teaching, surgical expertise, and scholarship have helped expand knowledge of this specialized approach among pediatric urologists worldwide.

As a member of the A-BE-C Medical Advisory Board, Professor Mushtaq brings extensive surgical experience, international teaching, and a deep commitment to advancing the care of children born with bladder exstrophy and epispadias.

Dr. Boateng Nimako is a pediatric surgeon and pediatric urologist at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana, where he serves as Director of Surgery, Deputy Director of Quality Assurance, and Assistant Senior Lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He became a pediatric urologist after recognizing the critical need for specialized urologic care for children in Ghana and has developed particular expertise in the care of children with bladder exstrophy and other complex congenital urologic conditions.

Dr. Nimako has pursued extensive training in pediatric urology and bladder exstrophy in Africa and internationally, including at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the United States, Kampala, Uganda, and through two intensive training experiences in India with internationally recognized bladder exstrophy surgeons. He has brought complex Ghanaian patients with him for training, allowing him to learn advanced techniques while ensuring that the children he cares for receive the specialized treatment they need.

As an A-BE-C Medical Advisory Board member, Dr. Nimako has become a fierce advocate for children with bladder exstrophy in Ghana. He works closely with international colleagues while providing ongoing care to children and families at home, helping bridge the gap between specialized international surgery and sustainable local care. His commitment is rooted in improving not only surgical outcomes, but also the quality of life and social integration of children with bladder exstrophy.

Dr. Nimako is also an Editorial Section Editor for Paediatric Urology for African Urology and has contributed to pediatric surgical research and education in Ghana.

Dr. Joao Luiz Pippi Salle is a world-renowned pediatric urologist, reconstructive surgeon, teacher, and one of the true legends of pediatric urology. He is Professor of Urology at SickKids Hospital in Toronto and Co-Director of the Center for Pelvic Reconstruction. Over a career devoted to complex pediatric reconstruction, he has developed innovative approaches to bladder exstrophy and epispadias, refractory urinary incontinence, hypospadias, disorders of sex development, and other challenging conditions. He has trained generations of pediatric urologists and is known internationally not only for his surgical expertise, but for his extraordinary generosity as a teacher and mentor.

Dr. Salle has spent decades sharing his expertise around the world. He has traveled to more than 40 countries, treating children with complex urologic conditions and teaching pediatric surgeons and urologists. His international work has included the U.S.-India Bladder Exstrophy Collaborative at Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, where he has worked alongside Indian and international colleagues to provide complex care, share surgical knowledge, and train the next generation of surgeons. In India, where he is affectionately known as “Dada,” his warmth, humor, and willingness to teach have made him a beloved member of the exstrophy community.

A prolific scholar, Dr. Salle has published 205 peer-reviewed papers and 55 book chapters and has served as an editor and associate editor of major pediatric urology texts. He is an editor of the new Bladder Exstrophy and Epispadias: A Compendium and author of two chapters addressing reconstructive approaches to exstrophy and epispadias.

His contributions to pediatric urology have been recognized with numerous teaching and professional honors, including the 2019 WOFAPS Lifetime Achievement Award and A-BE-C’s 2024 Richard W. Grady Humanitarian Award. Through his surgical innovation, scholarship, teaching, humanitarian service, and remarkable commitment to children and families, Dr. Salle has left an extraordinary mark on the field of bladder exstrophy and pediatric urology worldwide.

Diane Price is a predominately retired clinical social worker whose career has been focused on supporting children and families facing complex medical and psychosocial conditions, including a particular commitment to those living with bladder exstrophy. She spent many years working with patients and families at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) and became an active member of the interdisciplinary bladder exstrophy community. Prior to her work at BCH, Diane worked at Tufts Medical Center in social work leadership positions in child psychiatry and pediatrics. She received her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Through A-BE-C, Diane has supported patients and families by helping the organization develop online resources for families living with bladder exstrophy and collaborating on the development of A-BE-C’s Centers of Excellence (COE) application and review process. 

Diane has also contributed to the medical literature on the lifelong needs of individuals with bladder exstrophy and their families, including co-authoring “Ensuring our Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex Patients and Families Thrive” and publications related to the impact of CIC on family relationships and school. She is currently working part-time as an independent consultant at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Pramod P. Reddy is the Curtis Sheldon and Jeffrey Wacksman Chair of Pediatric Urology, Janszen Endowed Scholar in Urology, and Director of the Division of Pediatric Urology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where he is also Professor of Urology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He is an internationally recognized pediatric urologist whose clinical and academic work includes complex pediatric urologic reconstruction and bladder exstrophy.

Dr. Reddy has been deeply involved in the international bladder exstrophy community and was part of the team that helped establish the International Bladder Exstrophy Consortium (IBEC), a sustained collaboration bringing together surgeons and specialists from the United States, India, and other countries to expand access to specialized exstrophy care, surgical education, and long-term follow-up. He has contributed to research examining surgical outcomes, renal function, and the long-term consequences of exstrophy repair.

His commitment to global pediatric urology extends beyond individual surgical missions. He has written about developing sustainable global partnerships that combine surgical care with local training, coaching, and capacity building. His work reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that children with complex urologic conditions can receive high-quality care in their home countries.

Dr. Reddy is also an editor of the new Bladder Exstrophy and Epispadias: A Compendium and authored the chapter “Surgical Considerations: Indications and Timing for Surgery (Defining Outcomes and Expectations of Exstrophy Repair).” His contributions to the field combine surgical expertise, research, education, and a longstanding commitment to improving care for children with bladder exstrophy.

Dr. William G. Reiner is a nationally recognized urologist and child and adolescent psychiatrist whose career has been devoted to understanding the developmental, psychological, and psychosocial needs of children and adolescents with bladder exstrophy and other complex genital birth conditions. He trained in adult and pediatric urology as well as psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he began caring for patients with bladder exstrophy in 1976. He later served on the faculties of Johns Hopkins and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 2016.

Over nearly five decades, Dr. Reiner has worked with more than 600 people with bladder exstrophy in clinical care and research. His scholarship has explored anxiety, sexual development, gender identity, relationships, privacy, and the challenges of growing up with exstrophy. He has also led numerous panels and discussions with teens and young adults, addressing the real-life issues they face as they move through adolescence and adulthood.

Dr. Reiner has been a longtime volunteer with A-BE-C, participating in its annual meetings for more than 25 years and serving as a trusted resource for patients, parents, and physicians. His warmth, humor, and ability to speak openly about difficult subjects have made him a beloved member of the exstrophy community.

In 2023, A-BE-C honored Dr. Reiner with the Richard W. Grady Humanitarian Award for his extraordinary contributions to the care and understanding of people born with bladder exstrophy. His work has helped ensure that care extends beyond surgery to encompass the emotional, developmental, social, and personal dimensions of living with exstrophy.

Dr. Anthony J. Schaeffer is a pediatric urologist whose clinical and academic work focuses on complex pediatric urologic reconstruction, including bladder exstrophy and epispadias. He brings extensive experience in pediatric urology, research, surgical education, and the care of children with complex congenital urologic conditions.

As a member of the A-BE-C Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Schaeffer has been a key surgical leader in A-BE-C’s Uganda initiative, helping advance the program from providing specialized surgery to building sustainable local capacity. Through his work in Uganda, he has provided complex bladder exstrophy surgery while teaching and mentoring Ugandan surgeons and urologists in reconstructive techniques and postoperative care. His commitment extends beyond individual missions, with an emphasis on developing local expertise and strengthening long-term care for children with bladder exstrophy.

Dr. Schaeffer has also played a leading role in documenting and sharing the outcomes of A-BE-C’s work in Uganda, helping bring the program’s experience and results to the international medical community. He has been instrumental in advancing publication of the team’s work in the African Journal of Urology and speaks internationally about the outcomes, lessons, and impact of the Uganda initiative. His work has helped demonstrate what is possible when specialized surgical care is paired with local training, collaboration, and long-term follow-up.

Dr. Schaeffer contributes to the broader international bladder exstrophy community through research, teaching, and collaboration with leading exstrophy specialists. His combination of surgical expertise, academic work, international training, and commitment to expanding sustainable care makes him an important part of A-BE-C’s mission.

Dr. Aseem R. Shukla is Chief of Pediatric Urology at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, System Vice President of the Pediatric Urology Service Line, and Director of Pediatric Global Services for Northwell Health. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in bladder exstrophy and complex pediatric urologic reconstruction and has participated in more than 200 bladder exstrophy closures as part of multidisciplinary surgical teams spanning two continents.

Dr. Shukla is one of the most influential physician leaders in A-BE-C’s international work. He is a past Chair of the A-BE-C Medical Advisory Board and, during his tenure as Board Chair, led in the development of A-BE-C’s Centers of Excellence program and Global Care initiatives.

His international bladder exstrophy work has been particularly influential in India, where he and Dr. Rakesh S. Joshi established the International Bladder Exstrophy Collaborative at Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad in 2009. Dr. Shukla has led the collaboration from its beginning. Now in its 19th year, the annual collaboration brings together leading exstrophy surgeons, multidisciplinary specialists, and surgeons from around the world who come to observe, learn, and gain an immersive experience in bladder exstrophy surgery. The program provides complex surgery, trains local physicians, and emphasizes long-term follow-up and sustainable care.

The India collaboration has become an internationally recognized model of sustained global surgical partnership. Its work has included the development of an international Center of Excellence in Ahmedabad, ongoing training of local and visiting physicians, and rigorous study of surgical outcomes. Dr. Shukla was the corresponding author of the landmark publication describing the International Bladder Exstrophy Consortium as a model for addressing the global burden of bladder exstrophy and epispadias.

Dr. Shukla is also Editor-in-Chief of the new Bladder Exstrophy and Epispadias: A Compendium, published by Springer in 2026, alongside Dr. Rakesh S. Joshi. The comprehensive volume brings together leading international experts and reflects decades of collaborative work in the field.

Dr. Shukla brings exceptional surgical expertise, international leadership, teaching, research, and a deep personal commitment to children and families affected by bladder exstrophy.

Dr. Dana A. Weiss is an internationally recognized pediatric urologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where she holds the Howard M. Snyder III, MD Endowed Chair in Pediatric Urology and serves as Associate Professor of Urology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Her clinical and academic work focuses on complex pediatric urologic reconstruction and the long-term care of children born with complex urologic conditions, with particular expertise in bladder exstrophy and spina bifida.

Dr. Weiss was trained and mentored by the late Douglas A. Canning, MD, one of the great figures in modern bladder exstrophy surgery. Working alongside Dr. Canning at CHOP, she became deeply involved in exstrophy reconstruction and research, carrying forward his commitment to advancing the field through surgical innovation and collaboration.

Dr. Weiss is the Director of the Bladder Exstrophy Program at CHOP, and the CHOP site director of the Multi-Institutional Bladder Exstrophy Consortium (MIBEC) and has led studies examining continence and surgical outcomes following exstrophy repair. Her research includes developing more meaningful ways to understand continence from the perspective of patients and families, as well as using imaging and 3-D modeling to better understand pelvic anatomy and improve surgical reconstruction.

She is also an editor and author of the new Bladder Exstrophy and Epispadias: A Compendium, writing the chapter “Incontinence in Exstrophy-Epispadias: Should We Change Our Thinking?” Her work reflects the legacy of Dr. Canning while continuing to advance the field through research, surgical innovation, international collaboration, and a deep commitment to children and families living with bladder exstrophy

Dr. Hadley M. Wood is Professor of Urology at Lerner College of Medicine and Vice Chair of Research for the Integrated Surgical Institute of the Cleveland Clinic. She is an internationally recognized reconstructive urologist whose practice focuses on adolescents and adults with congenital genitourinary conditions, including bladder exstrophy, epispadias, spina bifida, hypospadias, and other complex urologic conditions.

Dr. Wood has been a leading voice in lifelong and transitional care for people born with congenital urologic conditions. Her work recognizes that the needs of patients with bladder exstrophy do not end when pediatric care ends, and she has helped advance understanding of the medical, sexual, reproductive, and psychosocial issues that can emerge during adolescence and adulthood. She co-edited Transition and Lifelong Care in Congenital Urology and has contributed extensively to research and education in this field.

Her academic work includes research on bladder exstrophy and fertility, adult congenital urology, sexuality and reproductive health, and the challenges patients face when transitioning from pediatric to adult care. With other experts, patients and the A-BE-C team, she developed A-BE-C’s L.I.F.E. Survey, an important initiative designed to better understand the lifelong experiences, outcomes, and needs of people born with bladder exstrophy. She has published more than 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts and has been invited as a distinguished visiting professor at more than 25 institutions nationally and internationally.

Dr. Wood has played an important role in developing A-BE-C’s Adult Provider Directory, helping connect adults with congenital urologic conditions to physicians experienced in their lifelong care. Her work reflects a deep commitment to ensuring that people born with bladder exstrophy receive knowledgeable, compassionate care throughout every stage of life.