Raj Satkunasivam

Raj Satkunasivam, MD, MS, FRCSC is a urologic oncologist and surgeon-investigator with extensive expertise in robotic and open surgical management of genitourinary cancers. He is a high-volume robotic surgeon who has performed over 1,500 robotic procedures, focusing on robotic surgery for bladder (robotic radical cystectomy with intracorporeal urinary diversion including neobladder), kidney (robotic partial and radical nephrectomy), prostate (robotic radical prostatectomy), and adrenal cancers. Additionally, he has substantial experience in open surgery for locally advanced kidney cancers and retroperitoneal tumors with vascular involvement (IVC thrombus).

In his previous tenure, Dr. Satkunasivam held multiple senior leadership roles at Houston Methodist Hospital, including Director of Advanced Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery and Chair of the Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee, where he oversaw cancer clinical trial activation and quality across a seven-hospital system. As a dedicated educator, he has played a central role in fellowship and residency training in robotic urologic oncology and has trained numerous clinical and research fellows who have gone on to academic positions. He currently directs a Urologic Oncology and Health Services Research Fellowship.

Recognized as a clinician-trialist and health outcomes researcher, Dr. Satkunasivam has led or contributed to more than 25 interventional clinical trials, with a particular focus on bladder cancer, incorporating novel immunotherapy, radiation, and surgical strategies. His past training includes medical school and urology residency at the University of Toronto and a Urologic Oncology and Advanced Robotic Surgery Fellowship at the University of Southern California.