MAYWOOD, IL – Chris M. Gonzalez, MD, MBA, FACS, has been named the Albert J. Jr. and Claire R. Speh professor and chair of the department of urology of Loyola Medicine and Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
Dr. Gonzalez replaces Robert Flanigan, MD, who is stepping down as chair after leading the department since 1986 and establishing its reputation locally and nationally for excellence in clinical care, research and education.
Since 2015, Dr. Gonzalez had been the Lester Persky professor and chair of the department of urology and director of the Urologic Institute for University Hospitals of Cleveland, a $4 billion, 16-hospital integrated regional healthcare system, which includes an academic medical center affiliated with Case Western Reserve University.
Dr. Gonzalez earned a medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and completed a urologic residency at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. He joined Northwestern's faculty in 2000 and was appointed professor in 2011. He served as chief of urology for VA Lakeside from 2003 to 2006 and earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 2006. He was director of surgery for the Northwestern Medicine surgical services department from 2014 to 2015.
During his more than 20 years at Northwestern, Dr. Gonzalez established strong ties to area urologists, serving as president of the Chicago Urologic Society in 2014. He also has held multiple national leadership positions, including chair of public policy and practice support for the American Urologic Association. He is a member of the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons.
Dr. Gonzalez is associate editor for the genitourinary reconstruction section of Urology and a section editor of Urology Times. He has published more than 160 peer-reviewed manuscripts, review articles, invited editorials and book chapters. His research focus is on patient-reported outcome measures in genitourinary reconstruction; practice patterns in reconstructive urologic surgery; integration of advanced practice providers; and the urology workforce shortage in the United States.
Dr. Gonzalez's clinical specialties include urethral stricture disease, salvage of failed hypospadias surgery, genitourinary fistula disease, erectile dysfunction, penile prosthetic placement, Peyronie’s disease, penile curvature correction and treatment of male urinary incontinence.
Dr. Gonzalez is board certified in urology and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Loyola Medicine is nationally recognized for its expertise in diagnosing and treating a broad range of urologic conditions and providing integrated services for optimal patient care. Loyola’s urology program is ranked 31st in the country in U.S. News and World Report’s 2018-19 Best Hospitals rankings.