New chair of the Department of Urology

Dear Colleagues,

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Joseph Liao, MD, as the next chair of the Department of Urology. He will start in this role on Aug. 1, after outgoing Chair Eila Skinner, MD, steps down as chair.

The Stanford School of Medicine’s Kathryn Simmons Stamey Professor and Professor of Urology, Dr. Liao has demonstrated his abilities as a skilled, effective strategist across the myriad leadership roles he’s held since joining Stanford University as faculty 20 years ago. Over the past two years, his oversight as the executive vice chair and interim chair has helped advance the department’s preeminence across research, education and patient care. 

An accomplished physician-scientist, urologic surgeon and educator, Dr. Liao is nationally recognized for his research focused on developing precision diagnostics and therapies for major urological diseases, including bladder cancer, kidney stone disease and urinary tract infections. Earlier this year, Dr. Liao co-led a Stanford team of researchers that developed a novel non-invasive urine test to help clinicians more precisely determine the best treatment for high-risk patients, a promising development for the 60,000 people diagnosed each year with early-stage bladder cancer. Importantly, he is also a dedicated mentor, training and helping develop generations of residents, fellows and early-career faculty.

A Stanford School of Medicine alum, Dr. Liao has served as the Department of Urology’s director of research from 2017-25 and the chief of urology for the VA Palo Alto Health Care System from 2006-21. He also serves as the co-director of the Endourology Fellowship and is a member of the Stanford Cancer Institute, Bio-X, the Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute, and the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging. 

Beyond his contributions at Stanford, Dr. Liao has advanced the field of urology in numerous ways. He is a Diplomate on the American Board of Urology, an elected member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation and an active member of the American Urological Association, the Endourology Society and the Society of Urologic Oncology. He is also a past president of the Engineering and Urology Society.

Dr. Liao will take the helm of a department that under Dr. Skinner has achieved significant growth. Through her leadership, the number of faculty has nearly doubled, the research enterprise has strengthened significantly and clinical and surgical volumes have more than doubled. All of this contributes to a department widely recognized among the nation’s best. 

Both David Entwistle and Paul King strongly support Dr. Liao’s appointment and are eager to see the Department of Urology continue to deliver world-class care, conduct innovative research and produce the next generation of leaders in the field.

I want to thank Dr. Skinner for her tremendous leadership of the department and to her many contributions to Stanford Medicine. I also want to thank the search committee — led by Mary Hawn, MD, and Michael Lim, MD — for their diligent work conducting a thorough national search.

Please join David, Paul and me in congratulating Dr. Liao on his appointment. 

Sincerely,

Lloyd Minor, MD
Dean of the School of Medicine
Vice President for Medical Affairs
Stanford University