HealthAdmin11/26/2025
Los Angeles, Nov 26: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has appointed Joan Ko, MD, as Associate Chief of Urology and Director of the Complex Pediatric Reconstructive Urology Program one of the nation’s leading programs for children with rare and complex urologic conditions. She also serves as Co-Director of CHLA’s comprehensive pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Anomalies Center.
Originally from Los Angeles, Dr. Ko trained at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and joined CHLA in 2019. We spoke with her about her path to medicine, the complexities of reconstructive urologic surgery, and the innovations shaping pediatric urology.
What inspired you to pursue medicine and specifically pediatric urology?
A passion for medicine runs deep in my family. My grandfather was a refugee during the Korean War and learned medicine by helping U.S. Army medics. He later became the informal town doctor in his village. My father also dreamed of becoming a physician, but he had to leave school to support the family after his father passed away.
That background, combined with my own love of science, shaped me. The intricacies of the human body fascinated me, and surgery, in particular, appealed to me from early on. Pediatric urology was the perfect combination of complex surgical care and the ability to form long-term relationships with families. You’re not only operating; you’re walking alongside patients and families for years, which makes this work deeply meaningful.
Why is specialized care so critical for children who need complex urologic reconstruction?
At CHLA, we care for the rarest and most challenging conditions in pediatric urology bladder exstrophy, cloacal malformations, posterior urethral valves, prune belly syndrome, spina bifida with neurogenic bladder. The surgeries are extremely intricate, and the stakes are high.
For example, the first surgery in bladder exstrophy is critical it sets the stage for that child’s treatment course and quality of life for years to come. Many of these children require multiple surgeries and lifelong follow-up.
But extensive surgical expertise is only one piece of it. What makes CHLA stand out is the depth of our multidisciplinary team. We bring together esteemed experts in urology, colorectal surgery, gastroenterology, nephrology, nursing, and even a full-time dedicated psychologist all in one coordinated program that supports families every step of the way.
What new advances are you most excited about?
I’m really interested in how we can use artificial intelligence to improve care. For example, our team is studying how to use AI to more precisely measure hydronephrosis abnormal accumulation of urine in the kidney.
Traditionally, grading hydronephrosis has been somewhat subjective, and two radiologists might describe the same ultrasound in different ways. AI gives us the ability to automatically quantify the percentage of the kidney that is composed of this accumulated urine rather than solid kidney tissue, providing a way to more precisely follow hydronephrosis over time. The goal is to use this information to better predict which children will need surgery and which can be safely observed.
At the European Society for Paediatric Urology meeting in September, our team presented results showing the feasibility of integrating this AI approach, and we are now working on expanding this model. Ultimately, it’s about making care more accurate, consistent, and personalized.
What keeps you inspired in this work?
I’m constantly inspired by my colleagues. CHLA has one of the most collaborative and experienced pediatric urology groups in the country; everyone is at the top of their game. Working with such a talented team and with referring physicians and researchers nationwide allows us to deliver the highest level of care today while advancing the field for tomorrow.
But the families are my biggest inspiration. Complex reconstruction is not a one-time operation; it’s a journey. Walking with families from prenatal counseling through childhood milestones and adolescence and seeing those children thrive is why I love what I do.