Among the top centers in the nation for primary and reoperative surgery
The Division of Pediatric Urology at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center is among the top centers in the nation for primary and reoperative surgery of bladder exstrophy, one of the most severe congenital birth defects. We provide comprehensive and compassionate care to diagnose and treat all childhood urological problems in patients around the world.
John’s Hopkins News
A Lifetime of Care for Patients Born with Bladder Exstrophy
Johns Hopkins has been a national leader in bladder exstrophy care since 1975, when Robert Jeffs, who pioneered a staged approach to correcting exstrophy birth defects, joined the Children’s Center faculty as director of pediatric urology.
Today, Heather DiCarlo follows in the august footsteps of Jeffs and John Gearhart, director of pediatric urology from 1991 to 2025. DiCarlo, who joined the pediatric urology faculty in 2014 following a pediatric urology fellowship at the James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, is now director of pediatric urology research and interim division director of pediatric urology.
A Remarkable Milestone
It was Valentine’s Day last year when David and Molly Mills learned, with great delight, that she was pregnant.
“It was the best Valentine’s gift,” says Molly, who met David at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where she was a pediatric dietitian and he is a pediatric hospitalist and director of the pediatrics residency program. “We both love children and we really wanted to start a family.”
Conquering Cloacal Exstrophy
On May 5, 2010 — their five-year-wedding anniversary — Meagan Cline, a nurse, and Brandon Cline, a science teacher, went for a routine prenatal ultrasound. The Mississippi couple, who’d been struggling with infertility, was expecting a child and eager to find out if they were having a boy or a girl. Instead of the baby’s gender, the ultrasound brought a far less welcome revelation: the baby had cloacal exstrophy (CE), a rare birth defect.
John’s Hopkins on the A-BE-C Blog
2025 Courage to Shine Award: George Hunt III
George Hunt III received the 2025 Courage to Shine award at the International Exstrophy Conference in Boston, MA.
Building Community: Empowering Families Around the World
We are committed to creating a self-sustaining bladder exstrophy community in Sub-Saharan Africa. On our upcoming Family Education Day, over 50 families from Uganda, South Sudan, and Burundi will come together with our Global Care team for a day focused on education, empowerment, and connection.
Rachel Althizer Receives the 2024 Courage to Shine Award
Rachel Althizer, 32, received the 2024 Courage to Shine award at the International Conference in Milwaukee, WI.
Back to Uganda
The A-Be-C Uganda initiative continues to grow with each passing year. This October, A-BE-C was represented by a dedicated team of surgeons, nurses, a social worker, and patient advocates.
Dr. William Reiner Receives 2023 Humanitarian Award
A-BE-C recently presented its Richard W. Grady Humanitarian Award to Dr. William Reiner, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Urology. Dr Reiner, a world-renowned Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, spent his career focused on the psychological aspects of bladder exstrophy.
Worth the Wait
After two years of delays due to Covid, and then another delay due to an Ebola outbreak in Uganda, the US team was finally able to hold our second workshop at Uro Care in Kampala. Our committed team treated, connected with and supported 23 families from all over Uganda.
A One-of-a-kind, Worldwide Collaboration
A-BE-C is so proud to be a part of the annual Bladder Exstrophy workshop which celebrated its 15th year in January!!! After two days of extensive discussion and five days of complex surgeries, I can’t thank Civil Hospital enough for their ongoing commitment to our beautiful children and families living with bladder exstrophy.
Resilience: Overcoming Obstacles to Impact Lives Around the Globe
Anna Artigas, daughter of Executive Director Pamela Artigas, is traveling with A-BE-C for the 2023 International Exstrophy Workshop in Uganda as part of a service project to provide support to teens with exstrophy.
An Exstrophy Journey to India
Rachel Althizer is traveling with A-BE-C for the 2023 International Exstrophy Workshop in Ahmedabad, India, as a social worker to assist children and families with exstrophy as they prepare for surgery.
Dr. John Gearhart Receives 2022 Humanitarian Award
A-BE-C recently presented its Richard W. Grady Humanitarian Award to John P. Gearhart, M.D., Johns Hopkins Professor of Pediatrics and Urology. The distinguished award was presented during the 2022 International Exstrophy Conference in Baltimore, MD.
Adult & Pediatric Urology is the largest urology clinic in Greater Minnesota serving patients from our Clinic in Sartell as well as 16 outreach locations. However, more important than our size, is the personalized, up-to-date and comprehensive urology care we offer. Adult & Pediatric Urology is comprised of a group of highly-trained medical professionals and support personnel whose clinical experience qualifies them for the specialized practice of urology. All of our physicians are Board Certified and some have completed additional fellowship training in sub-specialty areas. Our physicians have trained and practiced at the finest medical facilities in the country, including the University of MN, the Mayo Clinic and Harvard/Massachusetts General. We strive to extend the utmost respect and understanding to our patients while treating your medical conditions with the latest diagnostic and therapeutic technology available.