Dr. Engel is a Clinical Professor of Urology at George Washington University, the Director of Urologic Robotic Surgery at George Washington University Hospital, and previously served as the Vice Chairman of Urology there between 2008 and 2013. His clinical interests lie largely in the minimally invasive management of urologic cancers (prostate, kidney, bladder, etc.) and enlarged prostate (BPH). Another major focus is complex urologic reconstructive surgery such as seen in the management of urethral strictures, Peyronie’s disease, male urinary incontinence and bladder substitution. His experience with kidney stone management is equally extensive.
Dr. Engel grew up in Wheaton, Maryland, ultimately graduating from Landon School and earning a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Virginia with highest distinction. Dr. Engel’s first research and resultant publications stemmed from time spent at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. Next, he went to medical school at the University of Pennsylvania and was to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society, a distinction earned by being within the top 10% of the class academically. Two years of general surgery and a urology residency were spent at Northwestern University in Chicago, after which he joined Urologic Surgeons of Washington in 1999. Dr. Engel was voted a Washingtonian Top Doctor within two years of entering practice and has been named in each list ever since.
A tendency towards clinical innovation led Dr. Engel to be one of the earliest adopters of laparoscopy in the Washington, D.C. region, leading to his being named Director of Urologic Laparoscopy at George Washington at a time when few were performing these operations within the field. As a leader in laparoscopy, Dr. Engel found himself perfectly suited to be an early adopter of robotic surgery. Dr. Engel founded the robotics program at GW in 2004, and he is now one of the most experienced robotic surgeons in the nation, having individually performed over 2000 robotic surgeries to date. As a regional leader in robotic operations, namely radical prostatectomy, simple prostatectomy, partial nephrectomy, nephrectomy, pyeloplasty, cystectomy and several reconstructive procedures, Dr. Engel now almost exclusively performs urologic oncologic and reconstructive procedures either laparoscopically or robotically. Dr. Engel has a unique vantage point that most urologists do not have – extensive experience in both open and laparoscopic/robotic approaches.
What is somewhat unique to Dr. Engel’s practice is that despite having such a high level of expertise in laparoscopy and robotic surgery, he is also an innovator in minimally invasive techniques for BPH or enlarged prostate, kidney stone management and even general urologic surgical procedures such as no-scalpel vasectomy. His insistence that a patient follow up with him after major oncologic procedures for help with side effects has always set him apart from other high volume surgeons that do not provide such extensive lifelong followup. This has made Dr. Engel an expert therefore not only in performing complex surgeries, but also in the management of their outcomes and side effects.
Dr. Engel has extensive research experience. His bibliography reveals over 35 peer-reviewed publications over a very broad scope, several book chapters, and an equal number of academic presentations. His academic interests are varied within Urology, but are primarily centered on prostate cancer outcomes such as margin positivity, the effects of various penile rehabilitation regimens on return of erectile function after prostatectomy, and the successful application of robotic surgery to high risk prostate cancer. Doctor Engel has pioneered the aggressive use of hand-assisted laparoscopy for complex partial nephrectomies that would otherwise require open surgery, and is also an expert in adrenal surgery. Dr. Engel conducts clinical trials that in the past have examined agents for post-prostatectomy impotence, incontinence, and hormone therapy for prostate cancer and bladder cancer agents.
Dr. Engel resides with his wife and three boys in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He is a proud father, has coached basketball and baseball, and enjoys bicycling, waterskiing, fly fishing and generally spending time with his family.