David I-Wang Chu
· Associate Professor, Urology (Pediatric Urology)VerifiedNorthwestern University · Urology
Active 1989–2026
About
David I-Wang Chu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Urology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, specializing in Pediatric Urology. His professional profile is associated with the Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM) - Center for Health Services & Outcomes Research. The profile indicates his involvement in academic and clinical activities within the field of urology, with a focus on pediatric urological conditions. Specific research interests, contributions, or detailed background information are not provided on the page.
Research topics
- Medicine
- Surgery
- Internal medicine
- Pediatrics
- Psychology
- Developmental psychology
- General surgery
- Gerontology
- Intensive care medicine
- Emergency medicine
- Nursing
- Medical physics
- Operations management
Selected publications
Establishing a Clinician-prioritized Pediatric Urology Clinical Research Agenda in the United States
Journal of Pediatric Urology · 2026-05-01
articleOpen accessthrough an iterative, multi-stakeholder process involving affected patients and families as well as interdisciplinary providers and methodological panelists. ConclusionThis clinician-prioritized research agenda reflects the most pressing clinical research gaps in pediatric urology in the United States, identified through broad engagement with pediatric urologists.Future work should ensure alignment of clinician-identified priorities with those of patients and caregivers.The ultimate goal is to direct collaborative, multi-institutional, and multinational efforts that strengthen the evidence base, inform clinical guidelines, and improve patient care in pediatric urology.
The Journal of Urology · 2026-04-27
articleSenior authorIP32-16 ESTABLISHING A CLINICIAN-PRIORITIZED PEDIATRIC UROLOGY CLINICAL RESEARCH AGENDA
The Journal of Urology · 2026-04-27
articleHealth Literacy Trends and Associations with Transition Readiness in Youth with Spinal Dysraphism
SSRN Electronic Journal · 2026-01-01
preprintOpen accessSenior authorThe Journal of Urology · 2026-04-27
articleParental decision-making for infant spinal anesthesia – a qualitative study
BMC Anesthesiology · 2026-03-29
articleOpen accessSpinal anesthesia is a viable alternative to general anesthesia for infant surgical procedures below the umbilicus. However, choosing spinal anesthesia over general anesthesia is a complex medical decision for parents. Little is known about how parents perceive infant spinal anesthesia as an alternative to general anesthesia and how they make this decision for their children. The aim of this research study was to generate a holistic understanding of the parental decision-making process for spinal anesthesia in infants. A qualitative research study was conducted at a single, pediatric tertiary care institution from November 2023 – July 2024. Eligible participants were parents whose infants were scheduled for an outpatient urologic procedure and had been offered a choice between spinal and general anesthesia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents while their child was in the operating room to create a contemporaneous picture of the parental decision-making process without the influence of procedural outcomes. Narrative data was analyzed using a constructivist grounded theory methodology. Health literacy was assessed with the BRIEF screening tool. Twenty interviews were conducted with 32 participants – eight individual parent interviews and 12 parent dyads. Qualitative themes included the importance of: (1) the timeline of information attainment and processing, (2) cooperative decision-making with the subthemes of co-parenting and healthcare provider support, (3) the influence of maternal experiences with neuraxial anesthesia, (4) a desire for an anesthetic perceived to be less invasive, and (5) overall procedural risks with subthemes of neurotoxicity, respiratory complications, and spinal damage. Health literacy showed seven participants were marginal and 23 were adequate. Infant spinal anesthesia decisions are complex medical decisions for parents. Clear education, mental processing time, and guidance from anesthesia providers help parents make informed decisions.
The Journal of Urology · 2026-04-27
articleSenior authorThe Journal of Urology · 2026-04-27
articleThe Journal of Urology · 2026-04-27
articleSenior authorThe Journal of Urology · 2025-02-07 · 1 citations
articleOpen access1st authorCorrespondingPURPOSE: Renal ultrasounds are performed in patients with myelomeningocele to screen for markers of kidney health, including hydronephrosis. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of hydronephrosis to screen for low kidney function defined by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: , calculated using the bedside Schwartz formula. Hydronephrosis was dichotomized into any/none. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of any hydronephrosis using eGFR as the reference standard. RESULTS: In UMPIRE, 221 patients were included with median age 2.4 years (IQR, 1.9-3.8) and 24% having eGFR < 90. Any hydronephrosis vs none conferred a sensitivity/specificity/PPV/NPV of 25%/75%/24%/77%, respectively. In NSBPR, 2269 patients were included with median age 13 years (IQR, 9.6-16.3) and 17% having eGFR < 90. Any hydronephrosis vs none conferred a sensitivity/specificity/PPV/NPV of 24%/87%/26%/85%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: . This low sensitivity suggests that hydronephrosis alone is a poor screening marker of kidney health.
Frequent coauthors
- 77 shared
Elizabeth B. Yerkes
- 57 shared
Diana K. Bowen
Northwestern University
- 46 shared
Ilina Rosoklija
Lurie Children's Hospital
- 42 shared
Earl Y. Cheng
Northwestern University
- 36 shared
Brandon G. Rocque
Children's of Alabama
- 36 shared
Betsy Hopson
University of Alabama at Birmingham
- 36 shared
Emilie K. Johnson
Lurie Children's Hospital
- 36 shared
Jeffrey P. Blount
Children's of Alabama
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