Dr. Aliabadi Reflects on Urology Department's 90th Anniversary

Hossein Aliabadi, MD, a University of Minnesota Medical School ‘87 graduate, remembers when he was first introduced to the field of urology.

“During my training in the 1980s, pediatric urology was in its infancy. At that time, I was fortunate to have Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez as a teacher,” he said. “Dr. Gonzalez was a pediatric urologist at the U of M Medical School and he took special interest in my training and encouraged me to pursue a career in pediatric urology.”

After his training, Dr. Aliabadi was fortunate to come back and join the Medical School faculty alongside his mentor, Dr. Gonzalez, where he helped further establish pediatric urology.

This fall, the Department of Urology will celebrate its 90th anniversary of the founding of their department in 1932.  

“I am extremely proud to have been trained at the U of M Medical School. The Department of Urology not only facilitated my training, but also instilled a work ethic that served me well throughout the years,” Dr. Aliabadi said. “Over the past 90 years, despite many obstacles and challenges, the department has really thrived and flourished as a premiere training center.”

To show his appreciation, Dr. Aliabadi established a fund to support residents named The Drs. Hossein Aliabadi and Ricardo Gonzalez Urology Resident Fund. It is awarded to residents with interest and accomplishments in pediatric urology as well as reconstructive urology.

“This is a resident fund, in recognition of Dr. Gonzalez and what he brought to this department,” he said. “It should serve as a reminder for years to come of his contributions and the influence he had on the health of children in his community.” 

Dr. Aliabadi is also the founder of the  Aliabadi-Kazim Scholars Program, which provides opportunity for underrepresented medical students and helps to familiarize them with the residency program in urology at the U of M Medical School. 

It is important to Dr. Aliabadi to give back to the department that he says gave so much to him. 

“What defines us is our history,” he adds. “If you have been privileged enough to acquire the means to be comfortable in your career, in my judgment, it beholds you to remember that and support the next generation of students and residents that come.”

The Department of Urology is celebrating 90 years of educating residents and fellows. If you would like to support the next 90 years of urology trainees, you can visit their crowdfunding campaign or to learn more, contact Shawn Keenan, director of development, Cancer at skeenan@umn.edu.