Our Leadership

Co-Founder
Dr. Kirsch earned his medical degree from SUNY Health Science Center in New York, where he received two NIH Research Fellowship Awards and was inducted into Sigma Xi Research Society. In 2006, he was honored by his medical school as the Master Teacher in Urology. He completed both a residency in general surgery and urology at the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York. He then completed his fellowship in pediatric urology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where he was an American Foundation for Urological Diseases Scholar. Dr. Kirsch is a past secretary and president of the Society for Fetal Urology and is a member of the American Urological Association (AUA), American Association of Pediatric Urologists (AAPU), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and Society of Pediatric Urology (SPU). He is Chairman of the AAP, Section of Urology. He has written extensively in the field of pediatric urology, with emphasis on vesicoureteral reflux, cryptorchidism, and magnetic resonance urography, publishing nearly 300 journal articles and book chapters. Dr. Kirsch has invented several devices and developed an endoscopic technique to correct urinary reflux in children that has become the standard of care for children worldwide. He has personally trained over 1000 physicians on the procedure, and has lectured throughout North America, South America, Asia, and Europe.
Dr. Kirsch is active in robotic reconstructive surgery and serves as a national proctor for Intuitive Surgical. He has served on the advisory committee to the ABU and was sub-specialty editor of the Journal of Urology. He is on the AAP Pediatric Medical Device Advisory Committee. Currently, Dr. Kirsch is professor and chief of pediatric urology at Emory University School of Medicine and a partner at Georgia Urology, where he serves as the medical director. He is on staff at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta where he serves Chief of Urology at Scottish Rite and Medical Director of Pediatric Robotic Surgery, Medical Director of Urology, Clinical Operations Committee, Clinical Research Oversight Committee, and System Peer Review Subcommittee.

Co-Founder
Dr. Barroso graduated from Bahian School of Medicine in Salvador, Brazil (1992). He completed his residency program in general surgery (in Salvador) and in Urology (in Sao Paulo) at the Uronephrology Institute of São José do Rio Preto. He completed a research fellowship in pediatric urology at Children’s Hospital of Michigan at Wayne State University (1996). Dr. Barroso earned his PhD in urology at the Federal University of Sao Paulo in 2000. He returned to Salvador where he was Associate Professor of Urology at the Bahian School of Medicine (2005). He rose to Professor of Urology at the Federal University of Bahia (FUB, 2010), where he is Chairman of Urology at FUB and Head of the Nephrourology at University Hospital.
Dr. Barroso is the current President of the Brazilian Society of Urology (BSU, Bahian section), member of the board, and corresponding member of the Society of Pediatric Urology, an international member of the American Urological Association, member of the Ibero-American Society of Urology, the International Children’s Continence Society, and the International Neurourology Society. He is a member of the Bahian Academy of Medicine and the Bahian Academy of Science. He has served as Chief of Pediatric Urology of the BSU (2006, 2014). Dr. Barroso is Head of one of three fellowship programs of the BSU, where many fellows have gone on to serve as pediatric urologists all over Brazil. Dr. Barroso is Professor in the PhD program at the Bahian School of Medicine, supervising urologists and physiotherapists. He coordinates a multidisciplinary center for the treatment of neurogenic and non-neurogenic voiding dysfunction and is the head of reconstructive surgery for children and adults at the Federal University of Bahia Hospital.
Dr. Barroso published more than 150 manuscripts and books chapters, including innovative surgical techniques and new treatments for diurnal and nocturnal urinary incontinence in children. He holds a grant from the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development and several patents for urological inventions in Brazil, USA and Europe. Dr. Barroso has lectured extensively in Brazil and around the world, receiving research awards in Japan, USA, Italy and Brazil.

Leverages UPS operations experience to optimize efficiency at Global Continence. Oversees supply chain, organizational planning, and process scalability, ensuring seamless coordination across teams and partners. His hands-on leadership drives execution and keeps the company on track for key milestones.

Dr. Emily Blum is the Medical Director of the Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI), an affiliate of Georgia Institution of Technology. GCMI serves to accelerate the development, testing, training and commercialization of innovative medical products. In her role she serves to bring in new programs and innovative ideas from local physician entrepreneurs while serving as an internal knowledge resource for program development teams guiding the clinical needs discussion around product innovation. She has lectured across the country on fostering an innovative mindset in medicine and has served on the advisory board of the Medtech Women@SEMDA/Southeast life Sciences. In her role to champion commercialization of medical devices she has served as a reviewer/judge for numerous medical innovations pitch rounds. Additionally, Dr. Blum is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Emory University School of Medicine in the Department of Urology and practices with pediatric urology Georgia Urology, PA. She is board-certified in adult and pediatric urology.
Dr. Blum graduated cum laude from Bowdoin College with special honors in Biology and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She received her medical doctorate from Boston University where she graduated cum laude and was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha. She completed her general surgery internship and urologic residency at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak Michigan. Dr. Blum continued her training as the A. Barry Belman Pediatric Urology Fellow at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. During the research year of the 2-year fellowship program, she was also awarded the Joseph E Robert (JER), Jr. Fellowship for Pediatric Surgical Innovations. Dr. Blum’s research projects focused on utilizing artificial intelligence to assist in analyzing radiographic studies. She won top honors at the JER Academic Symposium both years.

Our Advisors

Jason Van Batavia, MD

Scientific Advisor
Dr. Van Batavia is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Urology (Department of Surgery) at the University of Pennsylvania and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He is currently using state-of-the-art neuroscience techniques to decipher the brain-bladder neural pathways involved in volitional voiding and his work is supported by an NIH/NIDDK K08 grant.
Cristian Sager, MD

Scientific Advisor
Dr. Cristian Sager graduated from the Faculty of Medical Sciences, National University of Rosario, Argentina in 1998. From 1992 to 1999 he served as Assistant to the Chair of Histology and Embryology. He completed his residency and Head of Residency in Urology at Hospital Universitario Centenario de Rosario, Argentina in 2003.
Paul F. Austin, MD

Scientific Advisor
Dr. Cristian Sager graduated from the Faculty of Medical Sciences, National University of Rosario, Argentina in 1998. From 1992 to 1999 he served as Assistant to the Chair of Histology and Embryology. He completed his residency and Head of Residency in Urology at Hospital Universitario Centenario de Rosario, Argentina in 2003.
Christopher S. Cooper, MD

Scientific Advisor
Dr. Cooper is Professor and Vice Chairman of Urology at the University of Iowa, Iowa City. He also serves as Director of the Pediatric Urology Division at the Children’s Hospital. In addition, he serves as Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. In 2017 he was awarded the endowed Tyrone D. Artz Chair in Urology.
Piet Hoebeke, MD

Scientific Advisor
Dr. Piet Hoebeke is urologist in the Department of Urology at the University Hospital, Gent, Belgium, and is Senior Full Professor of Pediatric Urology. Since January 2016 he has been the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Ghent University.
John C. Pope, MD

Scientific Advisor
Dr. Pope is Professor of Urology and Pediatrics and Chief of Pediatric Urology at the Monroe Carell, Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, in Nashville, TN. He also serves as the program’s fellowship director, overseeing the education of future leaders in the field. He has been on the faculty at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for over 20 years.
Susan S. Kirsch, MD

Scientific Advisor
Dr. Susan Kirsch granulated from Union College and completed medical school at Downstate Medical College in Brooklyn, New York. She completed an internship in Medicine at Cornell’s New York Hospital in New York City and completed her residency in Psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. She then completed a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Emory. Dr. Kirsch is a Board-Certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist.
José Murillo B. Netto, MD

Scientific Advisor
Dr. José Murillo B. Netto did his initial medical training at the Faculdade de Medicina de Barbacena (FAME-FUJOB), in Barbacena, Minas Gerais, Brazil, where he graduated in December 1992. . In 2001, Dr. Netto earned his PhD in Surgery/Urology at the Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP). During the years of 2018-2019, Dr. Netto work as a Visiting Professor at the Department of Urology of School of Medicine of Yale University.
Renea Sturm, MD

Scientific Advisor
Dr. Renea Sturm is an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Urology at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She is a physician-scientist leading bench to bedside research in surgical innovation, including multi-disciplinary collaborative work that applies novel biomaterials to tissue engineering and reconstructive surgery. The primary aim of her research is to apply basic science and technological advancements to improve equity, quality, and consistency in urologic surgery.
Göran Läckgren, MD, PhD

Scientific Advisor
Dr. Göran Läckgren is a Professor of Pediatric Urology at the University Children´s Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. He graduated from the University of Uppsala where he had his training as a pediatric surgeon and urologist. He became the head of the section of Pediatric Urology in 1986. He was one of the founders of the Swedish Enuresis Academy (SEA) and was the President from 1993 until 2008 and is still an active member of the Board.
Alexandra Barajas, MD, MS

Clinical Research Advisor
Dr. Barajas is a healthcare professional with over 15 years of experience in Clinical Research in Latin-American, Europe, and US. Since June 2021 she was appointed as Regional Operations Head for LATAM in Merck & Co., ensuring the oversight of the clinical trials along the region as well as being the POC for to the rest of the functional areas both Globally and within LATAM.
Anna Bujons, MD, PhD

Scientific Advisor
Dr. Bujons is a Pediatric Urologic Surgeon specializing in the treatment of bladder exstrophy, spina bifida, sexual development anomalies (DSD) and pediatric lithiasis through minimally invasive surgery techniques such as laparoscopy, robotics and endourology with flexible instruments and lasers.
David Katz, MBA, CFA

Financial Advisor
Mr. Katz is the President and Chief Investment Officer of Matrix Asset Advisor, a New Yok Based Investment Management firm that he founded in 1986. He has overall responsibility for the firm’s investment efforts and serves on the Boards of two publicly traded mutual funds (Matrix Advisors Value Fund and the Matrix Advisors Dividend Fund)
Tryggve Nevéus

Scientific Advisor
Tryggve Nevéus is a senior consultant in Pediatric Nephrology at Uppsala University Children’s Hospital as well as a Professor of Pediatrics and Excellent Teacher at Uppsala University, Sweden.
Tiago Rosito, MD, PhD

Scientific Advisor
Dr. Tiago Rosito is Professor and Chairman of Urology at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, the largest academic unit in south Brazil and one of the largest in South America. He earned his medical degree from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Medical School in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Marie-Klaire Farrugia, MD

Scientific Advisor
Marie-Klaire Farrugia is a Consultant Pediatric Urologist, and Clinical Lead for Pediatric Surgery, in Chelsea & Westminster and Imperial College Hospitals, London, UK. She completed her pediatric surgery training in leading hospitals including Great Ormond Street Hospital, Kings College Hospital, St George’s Hospital and the Oxford Radcliffe, obtaining the fellowship in Paediatric Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2008.
Dr. Serdar Tekgül

Scientific Advisor
Dr. Serdar Tekgül is Professor of Urology at Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey, where he leads the Section of Pediatric Urology—one of Europe's accredited training centers. After completing his pediatric urology fellowship at the University of Washington, he dedicated his career entirely to pediatric urology. His clinical and academic focus includes obstructive uropathy, reflux, voiding dysfunction, urolithiasis, bladder reconstruction, and especially the management of nocturnal enuresis.
Yoshiyuki Ohtomo, MD, PhD

Scientific Advisor
Dr. Yoshiyuki Ohtomo, a prominent figure in the fields of Pediatric Nephrology and Continence, has dedicated his life to advancing pediatric medicine. Born in Japan, he began his medical journey at Juntendo University School of Medicine in Tokyo, where his passion for medicine took root. Dr. Ohtomo's academic pursuits led him to attain a PhD in Pediatric Nephrology at Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine. He further honed his expertise during his doctoral research at Sweden's Karolinska Institute, specializing in Developmental Renal Physiology under the mentorship of Prof. Anita Aperia.
Jonathan C. Routh, MD

Scientific Advisor
Dr. Jonathan C. Routh is a pediatric urologist and health services researcher at Duke University School of Medicine, where he serves as the Chief of Children’s Surgery and the Paul H. Sherman Distinguished Associate Professor (with Tenure) of Urology, Pediatrics, and Population Health Sciences. He attended the University of North Carolina School of Medicine then completed his urologic residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and dual fellowships in Pediatric Urology and Pediatric Health Services Research at Boston Children’s Hospital.
CK Yeung, MD

Scientific Advisor
Professor CK Yeung is a renowned leader in pediatric urology and surgery, holding the position of Presidential Chair Professor and Chair Chief of Pediatric Surgery & Pediatric Urology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen). His groundbreaking work in minimally invasive surgery and robotics has transformed pediatric surgical care, and his development of novel techniques like pneumovesicoscopic bladder reconstruction has paved the way for cutting-edge treatments.
Per Langoe

Financial Advisor
Per Langoe is a highly regarded financial advisor at Global Continence Inc., known for his extensive international experience and deep commercial expertise. His career in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries is highlighted by significant roles at Pharmacia Corporation, Q-Med, Galderma, and Nestlé Skin Health. During his time at Palette Life Sciences, which he helped establish, Per was dedicated to developing products aimed at enhancing the quality of life on a global scale.
Hillary L. Copp, MD, MS

Scientific Advisor
Dr. Copp is Professor and Chief of Pediatric Urology at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) and has been on faculty at UCSF since 2009. Dr. Copp earned her medical degree at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. She completed a urology residency at the University of Virginia and a pediatric urology fellowship at Stanford University, where she also earned a masters degree in epidemiology.
Ananda Nacif B. Nunes,

Scientific Advisor
Ananda Nacif B. Nunes is a Brazilian Physiotherapist and Urotherapist. She leads the urotherapy clinic and clinical urology tests at the Pediatric Urology Department at Sidra Medicine (Doha, Qatar), assisting patients and families in the treatment and management of bladder and bowel dysfunctions. She is a member of the multidisciplinary team for spina bifida. Academically involved as a non-physician faculty member in the Pediatric Urology Fellowship Program at Sidra Medicine (ACGME-I).