Urologic Consultants of Southeastern Pennsylvania is a practice of 15 physicians with extensive experience in treating all urologic problems, including incontinence, sexual disorders, enlarged prostate, urologic cancers and women’s urology. The practice has a diverse patient population of men and women. Physicians in the practice teach at three local universities and all participate in research studies. Our principal investigator has more than 25 years experience. UC has offices throughout the Philadelphia region, but all studies are conducted at our easily accessible Bala Cynwyd location. Our director of clinical research also participates in hands-on care. We pride ourselves on providing high-quality, holistic care in a state-of-the-art practice dedicated to advancing medicine through research.
We offer a state-of-the-art outpatient facility that combines high-tech care with compassion and comfort.
We are centrally located and easily accessible by car and public transportation. Patient transportation can be provided from our other practice locations. There is ample free parking.
We have a direct relationship with Hahnemann Hospital and Albert Einstein Medical Center for studies requiring a hospital setting.
Our facility includes:
- Electronic database of potential subjects
- Six patient rooms
- Consultation rooms
- Large conference room
- Comfortable work areas for monitors
- Temperature-monitored large locked drug closet
- Secure locked record storage room
- Temperature-monitored locked refrigerator and 20 locking freezers
- On-site centrifuge
- Phlebotomy station
- Labs completed and processed on-site
- Access to dry ice
- Infusion room with infusion chairs
- Portable bladder scan
- Urodynuroflow
- GE ultrasound machine new in 2010
- 12-lead EKG
- Dexa and CT on-site
- Gyrus ACMI urodynamic machine
Principal investigator: Laurence H. Belkoff, DO, MSc, FACOS
Dr. Belkoff is chairman of the department of specialty surgeries and the division of urology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is associate urology residency director at PCOM and Hahnemann University Hospital, and is a clinical professor at PCOM and Drexel University at Hahnemann. Leadership positions include president of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. He has also held leadership positions at the former City Avenue and Medical College of Pennsylvania hospitals including president and medical director roles.
Clinical research has been an important component of Dr. Belkoff's practice. He has been the principal investigator of numerous research studies and oversees the clinical research department of Urologic Consultants of Southeastern Pennsylvania. He has co-authored many scientific articles and poster sessions. Dr. Belkoff has a special interest and expertise in radiation therapy for prostate cancer. He is board certified.
Walter L. Gerber, MD, FACS
Dr. Gerber is a distinguished Philadelphia physician with more than 30 years of experience as a board certified urologic surgeon, including 13 years spent in full-time academic teaching and research. His expertise includes urologic cancer in men and women, male health issues and subfertility, and urinary stone disease. He has authored more than 40 articles and book chapters, has been a distinguished lecturer for the American Cancer Society, and is an ad hoc reviewer for leading national journals.
Phillip C. Ginsberg, DO, JD
Dr. Ginsberg is chair of the division of urology at Albert Einstein Medical Center, clinical professor of urology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and urology residency program director at PCOM and Einstein. He has served as president of the medical staff at Einstein and president of the National Osteopathic Urology Discipline. Dr. Ginsberg has authored several book chapters and multiple scientific articles that have been published in peer-reviewed journals. He is a licensed Pennsylvania attorney, practicing part-time in health care law. He is board certified.
Richard Harkaway, MD
Dr. Harkaway is an attending urologist at Albert Einstein Medical Center. Special interests include treating benign and malignant diseases of the prostate, erectile dysfunction, voiding dysfunction and urinary incontinence. He has more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and an additional 60 academic abstracts. He has lectured both nationally and internationally on BPH and is a sought-after speaker and moderator on this topic for high-level meetings in urology. He offers patients a multitude of options for benign prostate disease and prostate cancer. Dr. Harkaway is board certified.
Justin D. Harmon, DO, FACOS
Dr. Harmon specializes in minimally invasive approaches for treating urological cancers. His interests include laparoscopy and robotics to treat prostate, kidney and bladder cancers as well as other urological diseases that require reconstructive techniques. He completed a fellowship in laparoscopic and robotic urology at the renowned L'Institut Mutualiste Montsouris in Paris, France, where the laparoscopic prostatectomy was pioneered under the direction of Professor Guy Vallencien, MD. He has had advanced training in treatment of other urological diseases as well, including stone disease, erectile dysfunction, incontinence and BPH. Dr. Harmon has authored or co-authored more than 50 medical journal articles, abstracts and book chapters. He is board certified and was named a Top Doc by Philadelphia magazine and Castle Connolly.
Jamison S. Jaffe, DO, FACOS
Dr. Jaffe's urologic interests include minimally invasive treatment for prostate, bladder and kidney cancer. He has a special interest in robotic surgery for the most advanced treatment of urologic cancers. He completed a fellowship in minimally invasive urologic surgery at the prestigious L' Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, in Paris, France, where the laparoscopic prostatectomy was pioneered under the direction of Professor Guy Vallencien, MD. He has had advanced training in treatment of other urological diseases as well, including stone disease, erectile dysfunction, incontinence and BPH. Dr. Jaffe is board certified and has been named a Top Doc by Philadelphia magazine and Castle Connolly.
Samuel J. Manfrey, DO, MSc
Dr. Manfrey has been in practice in the Philadelphia area for more than 25 years. He has served as chairman of surgery and urology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine where he actively participates in the urological residency program. He has had advanced training in treatment of stone disease, erectile dysfunction, incontinence and BPH as well as other urological diseases. He is board certified and widely published.
Noah May, DO
Dr. May provides care for all kinds of urologic problems, from simple to the most complex. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from St. Mary's College of Maryland and a master's degree in biotechnology from The Johns Hopkins University. He received his osteopathic medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed an osteopathic rotating internship at Mercy Suburban Hospital and urology residency at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and Albert Einstein Medical Center. He is trained in laparoscopy and robotic surgery.
Michael J. Metro, MD, FACS
Dr. Metro has developed a regional referral center for managing urethral stricture disease, male incontinence, Peyronie's disease and reconstructive urology at Albert Einstein Medical Center. He also has interests in managing female voiding dysfunction, renal, bladder and prostate cancer, and stone disease.
Dr. Metro has authored and co-authored several peer-reviewed journal articles and presented at regional, national and international meetings on topics such as erectile dysfunction, urethral strictures and urologic trauma. He has written multiple book chapters on surgery for renal, ureteral and urethral trauma, urethral stricture disease, reconstruction for major genital skin loss and other topics. Dr. Metro has served as a contributing editor for Urotoday.com, and as a reviewer for the Journal of Trauma. Dr. Metro is board certified and has been named a Top Doc by Philadelphia Magazine and Castle Connolly.
Michelle Persun, MD
Dr. Persun sees men and women for all urological concerns. She has a special interest in women's urology, especially stress incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, urinary tract infections and interstitial cystitis. She emphasizes a comprehensive and supportive approach to treatment. Dr. Persun has lectured and published on a variety of urology topics. Dr. Persun is board certified.
Tia Schellato, DO
Dr. Schellato's urologic interests include comprehensive female health, female urology, sexual health, voiding dysfunction and urodynamics. She treats pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, urinary tract infections, interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, dyspareunia, sexual dysfunction and other urologic problems in men and women. She is trained in laparoscopy and robotic surgery. Dr. Schellato is board certified.
Lawrence Solish, MD
Dr. Solish has served as chief of the department of urology at Temple East since 1975. Past positions include director of the department of urology at Episcopal Hospital, president, vice president and secretary/treasurer of the medical staff and member of the board of directors at Northeastern Hospital, and clinical instructor in urology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He is board certified.
Joel M. Weissman, MD
Dr. Weissman has served northeast Philadelphia's urologic needs for 30 years. He was chairman of the department of urology at Jeanes Hospital for many years, was chief medical officer at Jeanes for five years and is currently the associate chief medical officer. He enjoys working with elderly patients and has a special interest in malignant and benign diseases of the prostate.
Harvey J. Yorker, DO, FACOS
Dr. Yorker was chief of urology and chairman of the urology residency program at Parkview Hospital in Philadelphia. He spent more than 20 years in the Air National Guard and retired as a lieutenant colonel. He received many awards including the meritorious service medal. While in the Air Force, he instructed military physicians around the world in the performance of the "no-scalpel vasectomy" technique. Dr. Yorker is board certified.
Principal Investigator, Dr. Laurence Belkoff has more than 25 year of experience. He is Chairman, Dep't of Specialty Surgeries and Division of Urology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and Past President of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.
Cheryl Zinar, RN, BSN
Director of clinical research
Cheryl has been an integral part of this practice since 2001. Her responsibilities include directing and conducting all managerial and operational aspects of all clinical trials. She also supervises research staff on a daily basis, including managerial support of both direct patient care and assessment of research subjects before, during and after study enrollment. Cheryl supports research compliance, giving regulatory direction to study staff. She communicates research issues up the administrative command, and works towards resolution. She develops and sustains an environment that supports excellence in clinical research practice and research patient care. Cheryl has been actively involved in more than 100 urology clinical trials. Prior to joining Urologic Consultants, she was an intensive care nurse for 12 yrs.
Our experienced team includes five RNs and dedicated electronic data capture staff. Our director is actively involved in patient care, and all clinical professionals are prepared and qualified to work on every study.
Principal investigator Dr. Laurence Belkoff has more than 25 years of experience. He is chairman, department of specialty surgeries and division of urology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and past president of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.
Cheryl Zinar, RN, BSN Director of clinical research, has been an integral part of this practice since 2001. Her responsibilities include directing and conducting all managerial and operational aspects of all clinical trials. She also supervises research staff on a daily basis, including managerial support of both direct patient care and assessment of research subjects before, during and after study enrollment. Cheryl supports research compliance, giving regulatory direction to study staff. She communicates research issues up the administrative command, and works toward resolution. She develops and sustains an environment that supports excellence in clinical research practice and research patient care. Cheryl has been actively involved in more than 100 urology clinical trials. Prior to joining Urologic Consultants, she was an intensive care nurse for 12 years.
Other staff members:
Kathy Markopoulos, RN, BSN, study coordinator- Involved in urology and clinical research since 2006
Genine Jenson, RN, study coordinator- Involved in urology and clinical research since 2008
Karen Hulick, BSN, regulatory- Involved in urology and clinical research since 2005
Nicole Flaherty, RN, study coordinator - Worked in urology since 2009
Stacey Scott, MS, lab tech and data enterer- Involved in urology and clinical research since 2003
