Steven B. Brandes MD

Steven B. Brandes, M.D. is the Given Foundation Professor of Urology and the Chief of Reconstructive Urologic Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center.  Dr. Brandes, an international expert  in urologic reconstructive surgery and trauma, leads the Center for Reconstructive Surgery.  He directs a comprehensive and collaborative program along with Gynecology Oncology, Colorectal Surgery and Plastic Surgery to care for patients who require lower urinary tract and genital reconstruction.   Additionally, Dr. Brandes, in collaboration with pediatric urologists, conducts an adult transition urology program, for the care of those born with congenital urologic abnormalities.

Dr. Brandes is a Chicago native, who graduated from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, and completed his General Surgery and Urology Residency training at Temple University in Philadelphia.  He subsequently completed a fellowship in Reconstructive Urology and Trauma at University of California San Francisco.  Prior to his move to Columbia University in New York in 2016, Dr. Brandes, spent 17 years at Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, where he  served as Chief of the Section of Reconstructive Urology, Urology Residency Program Director, Chief of Urology at the St. Louis VA medical Center, and Director of the Reconstructive Urology Fellowship.

Dr. Brandes is an active member of many national and international surgical societies. He is immediate past - President of the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons. He is an  author of two major textbooks in urologic reconstructive surgery and has authored more than 100 peer reviewed publications and book chapters.  Dr. Brandes is also an Associate Editor to the peer reviewed publications of Advances in Urology, The World Journal of Urology and BMC Urology.  He was recently the Vice Chair of the Urotrauma Legislative Task Force and the Co- Chair of the AUA Urologic Trauma Guidelines Committee.   Dr. Brandes’ research interests are in urethral stricture surgery, urinary fistula repairs, radiation fistulas, and traumatic urologic injuries. His wet lab research interests are in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine of the urethra, bladder and ureter.