Pediatric Urological Surgeon Joins UK's Team

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 12, 2010)− Dr. Ali Ziada is not one to shy away from challenges. As of July 2010, Ziada joins UK HealthCare as an assistant professor to build a pediatric urology service that has been missing for several years.

“The addition of Dr. Ziada to the department of Surgery and the Kentucky Children’s Hospital will give us the ability to provide complete pediatric services and allows us to perform pediatric kidney transplants, a much needed service at UK HealthCare, said Dr. Jay Zwischenberger, UK HealthCare chair of the department of surgery. "Dr. Ziada is an excellent clinician and his skills, and encouraging, positive attitude make him an ideal physician to lead the Pediatric Urology Clinic.”

Ziada began his career in his home country of Egypt. He studied medicine to follow in the footsteps of his late father, a surgeon trained in the United Kingdom and working for most of his career in Egypt.

"Choosing a career in medicine was an easy and logical decision for me to make," said Ziada. "As I continue in this profession, my fascination with medicine has never abated."

As Ziada approached graduation from medical school, positioned in the top five percent of his class, he developed a special interest in the field of Urology. 

"Working in this field has several important and varying aspects of patient care," he said. "Patients often need both medical management and surgical intervention, with techniques varying from endourology and laparoscopy to open surgery. My background probably played a part in my interest in urology as well, considering the endemic stone disease and higher prevalence of urologic malignancies in Egypt."

Seeking to broaden his horizons and experiences, Ziada embarked on the international segment of his professional career after his initial training in the field of urology. He moved to Denver, Colo. where he began subspecialty training in urologic oncology. During this time he met with one of his now-mentors Dr. Martin Koyle, the chief of pediatric urology at Denver Children’s Hospital. Gaining not only clinical experience, but also research experience, Ziada wrote several book chapters while at the University of Colorado and was a part of several publications and research projects, including a collaboration with the German Christian Albrechts University in Kiel where he was awarded a scholarship by the German Academic Exchange Office to pursue research interests.

Upon his return to Egypt and appointment at Cairo University, he contributed in major reconstructive cases and discovered a passion for pediatric urology. Following that passion, he began clinical training as a fellow in pediatric urology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center to learn from leaders in that field at the Dallas Children’s Hospital.

Returning to Egypt after his fellowship to join the faculty of Cairo University Children’s Hospital, the largest children's hospital in the country with 700 pediatric beds, Ziada helped promote and enhance the division of pediatric urology at his institution and helped establish a pediatric transplant program - the first of its kind at a children's hospital in Egypt. In addition, he became deputy director of the Children’s Hospital in 2008 until his recent departure.

“The surgeons who care for children at Kentucky Children’s Hospitals are a treasure of the Commonwealth, said J. Timothy Bricker, M.D., Physician-in-Chief, Kentucky Children's Hospital.  "In addition to his technical excellence and wealth of experience, Dr. Ziada brings the compassion and sensitivity that is so important to the parents of a sick child.  Our opportunity to provide the very best of care for Kentucky’s children is greatly enhanced with his addition to our faculty.”   

As of July 2010, Ziada joins UK HealthCare as an assistant professor of Pediatric Urology, and on Aug. 31 Ziada, along with other members of a surgical team, assisted in the revitalization of UK HealthCare’s pediatric kidney transplant program with the successful transplant surgery of 16-year-old Courtney Stroud, of Carlisle, Ky. Courtney's transplant was performed at Kentucky Children's Hospital.

"I am excited to join a team like UK HealthCare," Ziada said. "We share a desire to provide the highest level of care to the patients of Kentucky and beyond. The physicians here have a passion for patient care, research and education, and strive for excellence always. I couldn't be more proud to be a part of this team."

For more information about his clinics, both located at the Kentucky Clinic, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays or to make an appointment, call (859) 257-1000 or 1(800) 333-8874. Read here for more information about UK HealthCare’s recent pediatric kidney transplant surgery: http://uknow.uky.edu/content/uk-healthcare-celebrates-pediatric-kidney-transplant.