The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will host Girlology® and Guyology® on April 26 to help girls and boys face puberty with greater confidence.

Guyology® will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the 12th floor auditorium of the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute. The event is for boys ages 9-13, accompanied by a parent or other caregiver.

Girlology® will be held from 2-4:30 p.m. at the same location. It is for girls ages 8-14, also accompanied by a parent or other caregiver.

“Many parents find it difficult to talk about puberty with their children. These programs are designed to make it easier to start these important conversations,” said Nirvana Manning, M.D., professor and chair of the UAMS Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “With both of these programs, our goal is to create a safe space for families where physicians provide medically accurate information, create a shared experience, and keep the lines of communication open in the future.”

At Guyology®, attendees will learn about growth and development; hygiene and hair; health and nutrition; moods and emotions; internet safety and curiosity; and even girls’ puberty.

Offered for the first time in Arkansas, Guyology® will be taught by Timothy Langford, M.D., professor and chair of the UAMS Department of Urology; and Ashay Patel, D.O., an associate professor of urology in the UAMS Department of Pediatrics who sees patients at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

“Since we started offering Girlology®, parents have been asking us if we could do a similar session for boys,” said Manning. “We’re so grateful to our colleagues in the departments of Urology and Pediatrics for their work in bringing Guyology® to Arkansas.”

Girlology® attendees will learn about growth and development; bras and bra shopping; hygiene and hair management; nutrition and growth; menstruation and menstrual hygiene; respect for self and others; moods and emotions; and internet safety and curiosity.

In addition to Manning, Girlology® is taught by UAMS physicians from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology — Laura Hollenbach, M.D., associate professor; and Kathryn Stambough, M.D., an assistant professor in the department’s Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology who sees patients at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

The cost for each program is $30, although scholarships are available for those who cannot afford that amount.

For more information or to register for the event, visit uamshealth.com/uams-puberty-education/.

UAMS held its first Girlology® session in August 2022. Approximately 220 girls and their accompanying adults attended the inaugural event. Since then, several more sessions have been held, and more than 1,800 families have attended.

Girlology® and Guyology® are physician-led digital health apps that support youths and their caregivers through on-demand video, resources and live events.

During the inaugural Guyology® session at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Tim Langford, M.D., chair of the Department of Urology, stood on stage at the Fred Smith Auditorium and lifted a sports cup high in the air.

While holding the item, he looked out into a crowd comprised mostly of preteen males and asked if anyone could identify the object.

An attendee enthusiastically raised his hand. Langford acknowledged the young man, who immediately yelled, “A cup!”

Langford responded, “Yes. That is correct.”

He then explained why the object is important and the proper way to wear it.

Langford’s use of sports, and a tangible item to help prove a point embodied the overall tenor of the April 26 session. Throughout Guyology®, each presenter provided info in a way that was relatable, frank, and age appropriate. Among the topics covered were growth and development, hygiene, outside body parts, inside body parts, health and nutrition, emotions, cautious internet use, and girls’ puberty.

Each youth received a Guyology® workbook comprised of data and simple assignments intended to explain what happens during puberty. Organizers primarily adhered to a national Guyology® curriculum designed to connect with the youth.

“Medical professionals have found that it’s a format that works,” Langford said. “We individualized it to a small degree. But we wanted to use something that’s proven to work.”

In addition to Langford, the panel was made up of Ashay Patel, D.O., an associate professor of urology, section chief of Pediatric Urology who sees patients at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and Brian Rayburn, PA, a physician assistant at UAMS Health Urology Clinic.

Guyology® is an offshoot of Girlology®, which has existed for several years. UAMS presented its first Girlology® session in August 2022. Since then, several more sessions have been held, including one a couple of hours after Guyology®, and more than 1,800 families have attended.

Youths and their parents wait for the start of the first University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Guyology session.

“Guyology® was a great opportunity to explain important developmental milestones to kids in a way they can understand,” said Patel. “They now know what’s going to happen to their body over the next five to six years. Guyology® also allowed them to ask questions alongside their parents. With the parents being there, they too could receive the same information we taught the kids.”

“We wanted to make everything relatable to the youth,” Patel said. “Having the visual slides helped us explain the information, and it gave the young men a point of reference. That also helps generate additional conversations at home between the kid and their parent.”

Later in the day, UAMS hosted Girlology® with Nirvana Manning, M.D., professor and chair of the UAMS Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Laura Hollenbach, M.D., associate professor in the department; and Kathryn Stambough, M.D., an assistant professor in the department’s Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology who sees patients at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Girlology® attendees learned about growth and development; bras and bra shopping; hygiene and hair management; nutrition and growth; menstruation and menstrual hygiene; respect for self and others; moods and emotions; and internet safety and curiosity.

“Many parents find it difficult to talk about puberty with their children. These programs are designed to make it easier to start these important conversations,” said Manning. “With both of these programs, our goal is to create a safe space for families where physicians provide medically accurate information, create a shared experience, and keep the lines of communication open in the future.”

Manning said UAMS is able to put on these events thanks to medical students who assist.

The students who helped with Guyology® are Brian Rayburn, Matt Mangan, Ian Hollis, Hallie Samuel, Kolby Payne, Tripti Shukla, Barry Klug, Emily Ledding, and Parker Stobaugh.

Meanwhile, Girlology® received student assistance from Sophie Tyrer, Macy Owens, Abigail Doran, Grace Tidwell, Sam Kagy, Terry Uhm, Emily Bivens, Riley Swafford, Megan Pelley, and Naya Taylor.

David Heister, Jay Hudkins and Mark Stevens each accompanied a youth to Guyology®. They were all thoroughly impressed, especially with it being the first time UAMS hosted the conference.

“It’s important that my son knows what he’s getting into the next couple of years,” Heister said. “They did a great job presenting the info in a clear manner. They made a big effort to present the information in a way that’s palatable to the kids. It also seemed like the kids were having a good time.”

Stevens referenced that prior to Guyology®, he and his son had conversations about puberty and how life would change. The event served as an ideal complement to what he’s teaching his son.

“This conference showed him that there are kids similar to him who are going through this process as well,” Stevens said. “I like how it was a kid-friendly presentation with cartoons, simple pictures, things that make them more comfortable engaging in these talks in a community setting. It helps make things a lot less awkward and shows that it’s a natural part of life.”

Hudkins said Guyology® had a sense of candor that’s exactly what the kids need. He acknowledged that, despite being an adult, he too had fun at the conference.

Ashay Patel, D.O., a University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) associate professor of urology, speaks during the inaugural Guyology conference.

“It’s important that my son understands what happens during puberty, by learning from physicians, instead of his friends and being told something that’s incorrect,” Hudkins said. “I enjoyed how the presenters were real, they were honest, they talked at a level that the children could understand rather than talking over their heads.

“This is a must attend kind of event for parents who want to talk to their child about puberty but may not know how. They can get professional advice and use it at home.”

For Langford, Guyology® provides an essential service.

“This event is a UAMS way to serve the community by providing medical facts,” Langford said. “We want our adolescents to be confident and well-informed as they go through puberty.”

Manning is proud of how Girology® and Guyology® will help the general public understand that health professionals are willing to provide the youth with guidance relating to sensitive subjects.

“By creating these shared experiences with a trusted caregiver, we want to open the door for future conversations when things get harder or more complicated,” she said. “We want these kids to know there is someone that will always have their back and give good information.”

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will host Girlology^® and Guyology^® on Aug. 23 to help girls and boys face puberty with greater confidence.

Girlology^® will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the 12^th floor auditorium of the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute. The event is for girls ages 8-14, accompanied by a parent or other caregiver.

Guyology^® will be held from 2:30-4 p.m. at the same location. It is for boys ages 9-13, also accompanied by a parent or other caregiver.

“Many parents find it difficult to talk about puberty with their children. These programs are designed to make it easier to start these important conversations,” said Nirvana Manning, M.D., professor and chair of the UAMS Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “With both of these programs, our goal is to create a safe space for families where physicians provide medically accurate information, create a shared experience, and keep the lines of communication open in the future.”

Girlology^® attendees will learn about growth and development; bras and bra shopping; hygiene and hair management; nutrition and growth; menstruation and menstrual hygiene; respect for self and others; moods and emotions; and internet safety and curiosity.

In addition to Manning, Girlology^® is taught by UAMS physicians from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology — Laura Hollenbach, M.D., associate professor; and Kathryn Stambough, M.D., an assistant professor in the department’s Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology who sees patients at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

At Guyology^®, attendees will learn about growth and development; hygiene and hair; health and nutrition; moods and emotions; internet safety and curiosity; and even girls’ puberty.

Guyology^® will be taught by Timothy Langford, M.D., professor and chair of the UAMS Department of Urology; Ashay Patel, D.O., an associate professor of urology and section chief of Pediatric Urology who sees patients at Arkansas Children’s Hospital; and Brian Rayburn, PA, a physician assistant at UAMS Health Urology Clinic.

The cost for each program is $30, although scholarships are available for those who cannot afford that amount.

For more information or to register for either session, visit uamshealth.com/uams-puberty-education/.

UAMS held its first Girlology^® session in August 2022. Approximately 220 girls and their accompanying adults attended the inaugural event. Since then, several more sessions have been held, and nearly 2,000 families have attended. UAMS held its first Guyology^® session in April, which was attended by 183 boys and their accompanying adults.

Girlology^® and Guyology^® are physician-led digital health apps that support youths and their caregivers through on-demand video, resources and live events.

Fellowship-trained urogynecologist Sallie Oliphant, M.D., MSc., has joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) as a professor in the Department of Urology, where she specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of female pelvic floor disorders.

Oliphant brings more than a decade of experience caring for women with urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, overactive bladder, fecal incontinence, complications related to vaginal mesh, and other complex pelvic floor conditions.

She most recently co-owned and operated Arkansas Urogynecology and Women’s Health in Little Rock. Previously, she worked as a urogynecologist with CHI St. Vincent in Little Rock and at UAMS in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, where she continues to conduct research in the UAMS Superconducting Quantum Interference Device Array for Reproductive Assessment (SARA) lab on birth injuries as they relate to pelvic floor disorders.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Oliphant back to UAMS,” said Timothy Langford, M.D., chair of the UAMS Department of Urology. “She is an outstanding clinician, educator, and investigator whose expertise in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery will significantly strengthen our ability to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for women across Arkansas.”

Oliphant will see patients at the UAMS Health Urology Clinic, conveniently located at 10915 N. Rodney Parham Road, Suite F, in Little Rock’s Premier Medical Plaza.

“Pelvic floor disorders can have a profound impact on a woman’s quality of life, yet many women delay seeking treatment because they believe their symptoms are simply a normal part of aging or childbirth,” Oliphant said. “My goal is to provide compassionate, individualized care while helping patients understand that effective treatment options are available. I’m excited to return to UAMS, where clinical care, education, and research come together to improve the lives of women throughout Arkansas.”

In addition to her clinical practice, Oliphant is a renowned researcher whose work focuses on improving the understanding and treatment of pelvic floor disorders. She has served as principal investigator and co-principal investigator on multiple federally funded studies, including National Institutes of Health-supported research investigating innovative, noninvasive magnetomyography techniques to evaluate pelvic floor muscle function. She has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and has presented her research nationally and internationally.

Oliphant has also held numerous leadership positions within the American Urogynecologic Society, including serving as chair of the organization’s Self-Assessment Fellows Exam (SAFE) Development Team. She was a founding member of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons’ Collaborative Research in Pelvic Surgery Consortium (CoRPS). She has contributed extensively to physician education by mentoring residents and medical students, developing educational curricula, and serving as a peer reviewer for leading urogynecology journals.

Oliphant completed a fellowship in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery at Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where she also completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology. She earned her medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and a Master of Science in Clinical Research from the University of Pittsburgh. She received her bachelor’s degree in English, magna cum laude, from the University of Mississippi.

Board certified in both Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oliphant is accepting new patients.

To schedule an appointment, please call 501-686-6324.

By Andrew Vogler 

Nov. 7, 2025 | LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine invested Tim Langford, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Urology in the College of Medicine, in the Steven K. Wilson Endowed Chair in Prosthetic Urology during an Oct. 28 ceremony.

“This is a tremendous honor for me, and I want to thank the many people who have supported me through my journey, especially my family,” said Lanford. “The opportunity to return to UAMS is an exciting endeavor — the work that is being done and will be done in the Department of Urology will empower UAMS and greatly serve the people of Arkansas.”

Langford practices general urology with an emphasis on prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, male voiding dysfunction and robotic surgery.

“I want to congratulate Dr. Langford on this tremendous honor for which he is certainly deserving,” said C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., UAMS interim chancellor and professor and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. “Further, he has been a force in advancing cutting-edge urological practices for the benefit of Arkansas and beyond. Tim, you should be very proud of what you have accomplished, and I’m happy to celebrate with you today.”

Endowed chairs are the highest honors of academic excellence that a university can bestow upon its faculty. A professorship is established with gifts of at least $500,000, which are invested and the interest proceeds used to support the educational, research and clinical activities of the chair holder. Those named to a chair or professorship are among the most highly regarded scientists, physicians and professors in their fields.

The chair was established in 2005 with a lead gift from Steven K. Wilson, M.D., FACS, and his wife Barbara Wilson. Additional philanthropic funds were donated by numerous individuals, corporations and foundations to advance the work of the chair. Wilson is a former UAMS professor of urology who devoted his professional career and clinical research to the medical and surgical treatment of erectile dysfunction and male incontinence. Wilson completed his undergraduate work with honors at Yale University and received his medical degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He served his urology residency at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Wilson currently serves as a urologist at the Institute for Urologic Excellence in La Quinta, California.

“Endowed chairs help us recruit and retain world-class educators, scientists and clinicians, and they support the vital work and vision of the faculty who hold them,” said Steven Webber, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine and UAMS executive vice chancellor. “We are delighted to celebrate the philanthropic spirit that made this chair possible, and we are pleased to honor Dr. Langford for his outstanding service and leadership.”

Langford received his Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and graduated from medical school at UAMS in 1988. Langford completed his urology residency at UAMS in 1993 and then joined Arkansas Urology, where he practiced for 28 years prior to returning to UAMS. While at Arkansas Urology, he served as president and medical director.

Since 2004, he has performed more than 2,500 robotic surgeries for prostate disease, kidney cancer and urinary reconstruction. Additionally, he has participated in clinical trials focusing on prostate cancer biomarkers and novel agents for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

In addition to his clinical and administrative roles, Langford has served in multiple leadership capacities. He has been deeply involved with the Arkansas Urological Society, serving as secretary, treasurer and president. He served as chief of staff of Baptist Health-Little Rock from 2014 to 2015. Langford has also been very engaged in the South Central Section of the American Urologic Association, serving as treasurer, program chairman and president. Langford has also been very involved in civic affairs. He has served on the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Pulaski Academy Board of Trustees, the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation Advisory Board and the Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees.

UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,485 students, 915 medical residents and fellows, and seven dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.

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By Linda Satter 

Oct. 22, 2025 | LITTLE ROCK — Bradley Houston, M.D., a board-certified urologist, has joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Department of Urology as an assistant professor.

Houston comes to UAMS from Arkansas Urology in Conway.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Brad Houston join UAMS Urology,” said Tim Langford, M.D., director of the department. “Dr. Houston is a graduate of UAMS and brings a wide range of skills and knowledge to our department. His versatility will be valuable for our patients as he has expertise in kidney stone surgery, enlarged prostate (BPH), prostate cancer and robotic surgery.”

After earning his medical degree at UAMS in 2017, Houston completed a general surgery internship, followed by a urology residency, at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis.

Before medical school, Houston earned a Master of Public Health degree, also at UAMS, preceded by a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Houston is accepting new patients at the UAMS Urology Clinic in the Premier Medical Plaza building at 10915 Rodney Parham Road. Call 501-686-6324 to make an appointment.UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,485 students, 915 medical residents and fellows, and seven dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.

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By Ben Boulden 

Oct. 3, 2025 | A clinical team including a urologist, physician assistant (PA) and medical student worked together to perform the first surgical procedure Sept. 25 at the UAMS 12^thStreet Health & Wellness Center.

Although the patient, Juan Campos, had some anxiety prior to the vasectomy, he expressed relief and satisfaction with the outcome.

Speaking through a Spanish-to-English translator — UAMS urologist Bruno Machado, M.D., who also led the care team — Campos said he felt no pain during the vasectomy and would recommend the procedure to any man who wants to have one. Machado also is an associate professor in the UAMS Department of Urology.

Ramsey Ghaleb, a fourth-year College of Medicine student, has served as men’s health director for the student board of the 12^th Street clinic for the last three years accompanied by Brian Rayburn, PA-C, who is part of the UAMS Department of Urology and serves as a preceptor at the clinic.

“Brian and I had been doing the free men’s health clinic nights for a couple of years and brainstorming ways to increase awareness when he approached me about offering vasectomies here,” Ghaleb said. “I was all for it and immediately started working on the logistics of the first surgical procedure to be done at 12^th Street.”

Because it was the first surgical procedure to be performed at the center, Ghaleb said it took about nine months to set up and receive approval to do it. The two met with Machado, who told them what supplies they would need, and Ghaleb in turn consulted with the student board, the center’s leadership and established the protocol. Rayburn earned the consent of the first patient to participate.

Located in Little Rock’s 12^th Street corridor just south of UAMS’ main campus, the 12^th Street Health & Wellness Center is a community-based, student-led, interprofessional clinic that provides free health screenings and health management services for people in the community. Physician- and faculty-supervised students from UAMS’ five colleges and graduate school staff the clinic.

Vasectomies are often performed as outpatient procedures in a clinical bed. Once Campos was in one of the private patient treatment rooms and a local anesthesia was administered, the vasectomy took about 30 minutes to perform.

Campos’ wife, who is diabetic and who with her husband has four children, was present during the operation. With Machado translating, Campos explained before the procedure that they do not want to have more children, and he wants to prevent his wife from getting sick from another pregnancy.

He also said he is concerned that a future baby could be diabetic as well. Before he left, the care team gave him a take-home semen analysis kit to confirm the vasectomy was completely successful.

The center provided the vasectomy for free, and Machado, Rayburn and Ghaleb would like to do more of the procedures in the future.

“I think we need to spread the word, so people know that UAMS is offering this service. It’s not only for Spanish-speaking people; anyone can come here and request a vasectomy,” Machado said. “There are some rules they have to follow, but that’s it. We are planning to perform one or two vasectomies per month to start, but we hope that can grow to one per week. The program’s success will depend on how the word gets out.”

Rayburn noted that the Department of Urology also aspires to create a vasectomy training program, where student providers can learn to perform the procedure so that after graduation they can offer it in rural areas where urological services are typically unavailable.

Dr. Brian Langford appeared on KATV to discuss men’s health, specifically prostate health. Watch the video:

Little Rock Doctor talks about National Men's Health Month

Prostate cancer risk varies depending on factors that may be in your control, but also factors that aren’t.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Services Urologist Dr. Marcelo Bigarella stopped by Little Rock Arc to provide general steps for individuals to take in decreasing prostate cancer risk.

Watch the story on the KATV website.

By Marty Trieschmann 

Fellowship-trained urologic oncologist Marcelo Bigarella, M.D., has joined the Division of Urology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, where he specializes in the diagnosis and management of urologic cancers, such as prostate, kidney, testicular, bladder, penile and adrenal cancer.

Bigarella joined UAMS after completing a fellowship in urologic oncology at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, one of only 40 fellowship programs in the U.S. accredited by the Society of Urologic Oncology. He has advanced expertise in open, laparoscopic and robotic surgery and is certified in DaVinci Intuitive Robotic Surgery.

“Dr. Bigarella’s passion for patient care along with his expertise in cutting-edge treatments for urological cancer will greatly benefit our patients at UAMS,” said Tim Langford, M.D., chief of the Department of Urology in the UAMS College of Medicine. “I am delighted to welcome Dr. Bigarella to our team, as he will be a tremendous asset in elevating all aspects of our mission.”

Bigarella also serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Urology in the UAMS College of Medicine. He is accepting new patients; please call 501- 296-1200 for an appointment.

Bigarella earned his medical degree from the University of Sao Paulo Medical School in Sao Paulo, Brazil, during which he completed a one-year research exchange at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. He completed a general surgery residency, followed by urology and kidney transplant residencies at the University of Sao Paulo, where he had international rotations at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York and the University of Vienna in Austria. He completed an additional one-year fellowship in robotic urologic surgery at the Albert Einstein Jewish Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Bigarella’s research in next-generation imaging for prostate cancer won him a Best Poster Award at the 2024 American Urological Association Meeting. In 2023, he was invited to attend the Prostate Cancer Foundation meeting at the University of California in Los Angeles as a thought leader of the future. He has presented his research and given lectures in the most important urological meetings.