Thomas F. Kolon, MD

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Thomas F. Kolon, MD, is an attending pediatric urologist and the Chief of the Division of Urology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Areas of Expertise: Andrology, Cloacal variants, Complex Reconstruction, Cryptorchidism (Undescended Testis), Disorders of sex development, Hypospadias, Pediatric urologic oncology, Varicocele, Wilms tumor
Locations: Main Hospital; Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care; Specialty Care, Atlantic County; Specialty Care, Princeton at Plainsboro; Specialty Care & Surgery Center, Voorhees

Patient Ratings: ★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.9 of 5 | 17 Comments

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Background

Thomas Kolon, MD, is Chief of the Division of Urology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a Professor of Urology (Surgery) at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds the Howard M. Snyder III Endowed Chair in Pediatric Urology.

Dr. Kolon's highest priority is to help patients and their families understand a child’s condition and all of their treatment options. He is an expert in the care of children with genital disorders and renal/bladder/prostate cancers. He has published extensively in the area of long-term follow-up of patients with undescended testis and varicocele, with specific emphasis on fertility preservation and rehabilitation. Dr. Kolon is world-renowned in this area, authoring national guidelines regarding these conditions.

Planning Surgery Using 3D Printed Organs

Screenshot of Thomas Kolon, MD

Watch pediatric urologist Thomas Kolon, MD, demonstrate how 3D printed organ models can help surgeons prepare for complex procedures.

Dr. Kolon's expertise in pediatric urologic oncology includes optimizing organ-sparing surgery and preservation of fertility in oncology patients. This research, in collaboration with oncology colleagues at CHOP and Penn, has led to publications in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science and Nature Communications. He also serves as Urology Director of CHOP's Differences of Sex Development Program and works extensively in concert with colleagues in endocrinology, genetics and psychology helping patients with genital atypia so that reconstruction, if needed, will optimize genitourinary function and patient satisfaction.

Dr. Kolon earned his medical degree from Georgetown School of Medicine and completed his urologic training at the University of Connecticut. Following his pediatric urology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital, he served as Director of Pediatric Urology at the Naval Medical Center - San Diego. He joined the urology staff at CHOP in 2001 and has served as Secretary of the Medical Staff, Chair of the Ethics Committee, and a member of the Executive Board of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Practice Association (CHOPPA). Dr. Kolon was the 2020 recipient of the John W. Duckett Jr., Pediatric Urology Research Excellence Award, which honors a “physician-scientist for their outstanding work in pediatric urology” and the keynote speaker for the John Duckett Memorial Lecture at the 2021 AUA meeting.

As the CHOP Pediatric Urology Fellowship Program Director, Dr. Kolon is dedicated to the highest standard of education of our next generation of pediatric urologists. He ensures that physician trainees embrace the philosophy of cura personalis or “care of the whole person” and are committed to making a meaningful difference in each patient’s life. The foundation of expert sub-specialization in CHOP Urology ensures a team approach with constant communication and striving for improvement. The CHOP Fellowship Program contributes to the advancement of pediatric urologic knowledge by discovering and sharing knowledge and fostering personal and professional excellence. It is often said that “the higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation,” and the foundation of knowledge, dedication and teamwork at CHOP Urology runs very deep.