Sean Elliott, MD, MS

Dr. Elliott is a Professor, Vice Chair of Urology and Director of Reconstructive Urology at the University of Minnesota. He directs a fellowship in Genitourinary Trauma and Reconstruction and the Urology Clinic at Gillette Lifetime Specialty Healthcare. He received his M.D. at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and completed a urology residency and fellowship in Genitourinary Trauma and Reconstruction at the University of California-San Francisco. He earned a Master’s of Science in Health Services Research at the University of Minnesota and completed the program in leadership Development for Physicians in Academic Health Centers at Harvard University’s School of Public Health.

Dr. Elliott’s clinical interests include urethral stricture disease, male urinary incontinence, urinary diversion, male genital reconstruction and neurogenic bladder including the long-term bladder management of people with spina bifida or spinal cord injury. He directs a clinical and research fellowship in Genitourinary Trauma and Reconstruction, with the goal of training future leaders in this field.

Dr. Elliott is board certified in urology and a member of the American Urologic Association. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is a member of the Board of Directors and serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons, the leading academic and clinical forum for reconstructive urology. In this role, he directs the day-to-day activities of the society and guides the Society’s long-term vision.

Dr. Elliott is a founding member of the Trauma and Urinary Reconstructive Network of Surgeons (TURNS). University of Minnesota is one of 8 centers that collaborate in the study of patients treated for a variety of conditions in trauma and reconstructive urology. This network is designed to collect centralized data and provide sophisticated analysis of both surgical and patient reported outcomes from urethral stricture surgery, male incontinence and a variety of other conditions. This type of collaborative research effort is essential to moving forward outcome research that is increasingly important in modern medicine.

Dr. Elliott directs a urologic surgery outcomes research group at the University of Minnesota. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Gillette Children’s Foundation and the American Cancer Society. His group seeks to improve the delivery of urologic care, particularly in 4 areas: (1) benign prostatic hyperplasia, (2) urethral stricture disease, (3) neurogenic bladder secondary to spina bifida, cerebral palsy or spinal cord injury, and (4) reducing complications of radiation or surgery for the treatment for prostate and cervical cancer.

• Alpha Omega Alpha (2001)
• Resident Teaching Award (2001)
• Mpls St. Paul Magazine "Top Doctor" (2014-2015)
• 1st Place in Poster Competition, Health Services Research Session (2010)
• "Best Doctor for Women," Minnesota Monthly Magazine (2014)
• Minnesota Monthly "Best Doctor" (2014)

Understanding the severe urinary adverse effects of pelvic radiotherapy

Validating a Claims-Based Method for Assessing Severe Rectal and Urinary Adverse Effects of Radiotherapy

Ongoing

1. Research Scholar Grant, RSG-12-217-01–CPHPS 

American Cancer Society 7/1/12 – 6/30/15 2.4 Calendar Months
$574,000 (with ICR)
Participants (Roles): Elliott SP (PI), Virnig B (Collaborator), Haitao C (Collaborator), Downs L (Consultant), Dusenbery K (Consultant), Konety BR (Consultant), Madoff R (Consultant)

“Understanding the severe urinary adverse effects of pelvic radiotherapy”

This grant uses the SEER-Medicare database to better understand the severe urinary adverse effects of pelvic radiation such as urethral stricture, urinary fistula and hemorrhagic cystitis. We will describe their long-term incidence, compare risk factors and illustrate the burden of treatment for these events.

2. Medical Education and Research Association Grant
Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare 9/1/12 – 8/31/15 0.12 Calendar Months
$34,981 (no ICR)
Participants (Roles): Elliott SP (PI), Katorski J (Co-I), Munger M (Co-I)

“Gentamycin bladder instillation”

This grant funds a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of nightly gentamycin bladder instillation for the prevention of urinary tract infection in adult Myelomeningocele patients with bladder augmentation.

3. Faculty Development and Mentoring Program-A Pilot
Departments of Surgery and Urology
University of Minnesota Medical School 7/1/13-12/31/14 18 Calendar Months
$10,000
Participants (Roles): Elliott SP (Mentor), Church TR, (Mentor) Kelly, R (Mentor)

Completed

1. K12, 5K12-RR023247-03 7/1/08 – 6/30/10 6.0 Calendar Months
NIH $369,000 (no ICR)
Participants (Roles): Luepker, R (PI), Elliott SP (Mentored Clinical Research Trainee), Wilt TJ (Mentor), Virnig BA (Mentor)

“The influence of financial incentives on practice patterns in the management of prostate cancer with androgen suppression therapy”

This is a training grant with the goal of obtaining a Master’s Degree in Health Policy and pursuing research in the influence of financial incentives on treatment trends, specifically hormone suppression therapy and radiotherapy in prostate cancer.

2. NIH Loan Repayment Program 8/7/08 – 8/7/10
NIH
Competitive award re-paying of 50% of medical school loan debt over 2 years
Participants: Elliott SP (Role N/A)

3. 1R21DK081055-01 9/1/09 – 8/31/11 1.2 Calendar Months
NIH/NIDDK $395,775 (with ICR)
Participants (Roles): McBean AM (PI), Elliott SP (Co-Investigator), Wilt TJ (Co-Investigator)

“Measuring the Impact of the Rapid Expansion of MIST Procedures for BPH”

The major goal is to use the Medicare database to examine the financial impact of the rapid expansion of minimally invasive surgical therapy for enlarged prostate. We will examine trends in medication use and complications of the procedures.

4. AUAER/Pfizer Visiting Professorship in Urology 2008 – 2009
AUAER/Pfizer $7,500
Participants (Roles): Elliott SP (PI)

Obtained funding to bring Dr. Mark Litwin as visiting professor for 2 days to the University Of Minnesota Department Of Urology.  

• Virasoro R, DeLong JM, Mann RA, Estrella RE, Pichardo M, Lay RR, Espino G, Roth JD, Elliott SP. A drug-coated balloon treatment for urethral stricture disease: Interim results from the ROBUST I study.Can Urol Assoc J. 2020 Jan 20.
  
• Fuller TW, Ballon-Landa E E, Gallo K, Smith TG 3rd, Ajay D, Westney OL, Elliott SP, Alsikafia NF, Breyer BN, Cohen AJ, Vanni AJ, Broghammer JA, Erickson BA, Myers JB, Voelzke BB, Zhao LC, Buckley JC. Outcomes and Risk Factors of Revision and Replacement Artificial Urinary Sphincter Implantation in Radiated and Non-radiated Patients.J Urol. 2020 Jan 17
• Patel DP, Herrick JS, Stoffel JT, Elliott SP, Lenherr SM, Presson AP, Welk B, Jha A, Myers JB; Neurogenic Bladder Research Group (NBRG.org). Reasons for cessation of clean intermittent catheterization after spinal cord injury: Results from the Neurogenic Bladder Research Group spinal cord injury registry.Neurourol Urodyn. 2020 Jan.
• Pariser JJ, Zhao LC, Elliott SP. Urologic management of the transgender patient.Transl Androl Urol. 2019 Jun
• Elliott CS, Stoffel JT, Myers JB, Lenherr SM, Welk B, Elliott SP, Shem K.Validation of Upper Extremity Motor Function as a Key Predictor of Bladder Management After Spinal Cord Injury.Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2019 Oct 
• Dy GW, Granieri MA, Fu BC, Vanni AJ, Voelzke B, Rourke KF, Elliott SP, Nikolavsky D, Zhao LC. Presenting Complications to a Reconstructive Urologist After Masculinizing Genital Reconstructive Surgery.Urology. 2019 Oct
• Johnsen NV, Moses RA, Elliott SP, Vanni AJ, Baradaran N, Greear G, Smith TG 3rd, Granieri MA, Alsikafi NF, Erickson BA, Myers JB, Breyer BN, Buckley JC, Zhao LC, Voelzke BB; Trauma Urologic Reconstruction Network of Surgeons(TURNS).Multicenter analysis of posterior urethroplasty complexity and outcomes following pelvic fracture urethral injury. World J Urol. 2019 May 29
• Myers JB, Lenherr SM, Stoffel JT, Elliott SP, Presson AP, Zhang C, Rosenbluth J, Jha A, Patel DP, Welk B; Neurogenic Bladder Research Group.Patient Reported Bladder Related Symptoms and Quality of Life after Spinal Cord Injury with Different Bladder Management Strategies.J Urol. 2019 Sep