VCU news

By Shira Pollard
Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU

Children’s Urology of Virginia has joined Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University. The community-based pediatric urology practice includes board certified urologist John Edmondson, M.D., and two certified pediatric nurse practitioners. 

“We are dedicated to growing our network of specialists and expanding clinical and research initiatives to advance children’s health in our region,” said Leslie Wyatt, executive director of CHoR and senior vice president of children’s services for VCU Health System. “We have recruited 85 new pediatric specialists since 2010, and will continue to increase our bench in areas that are critical to children and families in our community.”

Now backed by CHoR’s full service children’s hospital, Edmondson and his team will continue to care for children in the community at their Stony Point Surgery Center location. The team also will continue to partner with community hospital systems to provide coordinated inpatient urology care.

“The well-established community-based practice further enhances our ability to provide comprehensive pediatric urology care to families in the Greater Richmond area,” said C.D. Anthony Herndon, M.D., chief of pediatric urology and co-surgeon-in-chief at CHoR. “We’re bringing the community together to increase collaboration among specialists and increase access to evidence-based treatment options often available first through academic medical centers.”

CHoR’s urology program provides care for children with acute and chronic urological conditions. The team’s approach to care focuses on diagnosis and treatment of congenital genitourinary anomalies, improvement of urologic function and maintenance of a healthy urinary system. The urology team collaborates with other pediatric specialists at CHoR to provide multispecialty care for children with complex urological needs such as spina bifida, disorders of sex development, prenatal urinary tract dilation, and kidney stones. 

“Many children with kidney disorders require the combined expertise of nephrologists and urologists in one setting,” said Timothy Bunchman, M.D., chief of nephrology and rheumatology at CHoR. “We have collaborated with Children’s Urology of Virginia for many years to care for children with kidney and urinary tract disorders. This new venture brings our clinical practices together and facilitates increased access to comprehensive and convenient care.” 

Edmondson, a graduate of the VCU School of Medicine and former surgical resident at VCU Medical Center, is excited to again be a part of VCU. 

“It’s incredible for our disciplines to come together for a one-stop shop,” he said. “Our practice becoming part of CHoR reduces fragmentation of pediatric care in the Richmond community. It’s an exciting time for us as providers, and an exciting time for families.”

In addition to providing clinical care, CHoR is dedicated to research and education. One of the first initiatives of the newly expanded team is a Nov. 5 continuing education conference for community pediatricians and nurses. The team will present sessions on nephrology and urology conditions frequently seen in a pediatric primary care setting and novel treatment techniques used at CHoR.