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About / Overview
Israel Franco, MD, is a pediatric urologist with over 30 years of experience in the field and has been listed repeatedly among Castle Connolly’s top doctors. Dr. Franco received his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and is fellowship-trained at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. He has been an early innovator in Robotic and laparoscopic surgery. He has developed and pioneered surgical techniques for undescended testis, hypospadias, prune belly syndrome, and renal and reconstructive surgery in pediatric urology. His work in neurological aspects of urinary incontinence for children with and without injuries to the nervous system has changed how these problems are managed today.
Dr. Franco has several patents in the field of urologic and continence devices as well as innovations in software utilized to evaluate patients' urination patterns. He has developed a bedwetting alarm which is powered by artificial intelligence that wakes patients up prior to having an accident, and is working on similar technology to help patients with other wetting problems to be continent. He has also published over 90 articles in peer-reviewed journals, has written guidelines that set the standards for the management of patients with spina bifida, bedwetting, urinary incontinence, and children with special needs, and has contributed 19 chapters for textbooks.
Dr. Franco regularly engages in research studies using new medicines and devices that can help his patients and will look to continue to perform cutting-edge research here at Children's Hospital at Erlanger. He was critical in getting Botox approved to treat neurogenic bladder in children as well as two other drugs for overactive bladder in children. These changes have reduced the need for major reconstructive bladder surgery in children with spina bifida.
Always an early innovator and on the cutting edge of technology, Dr. Franco brings a proven track record of successful innovative therapies to children with all forms of bladder problems as well as innovative surgical skills for all pediatric urologic problems. In his previous academic roles, he has served as professor of urology at New York Medical College and prior to that, Yale School of Medicine.
Education / Credentials
- Fellowship - Pediatric Urology Lurie Children's Hospital (formally Children's Memorial Hospital) - Chicago, IL
- Residency - Urology New York Medical College - Valhalla, NY
- St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center - New York, NY
- MD Albert Einstein College of Medicine - Bronx, NY
Clinical Interests
- Pediatric urology, neuro-urology, urinary incontinence and dysfunctional voiding, urodynamics, uroflowmetry and machine learning
Locations
979 E. 3rd Street, Suite C-925, Chattanooga, TN 37403
