Location

Rochester, Minnesota

Contact

koo.kevin@mayo.edu Clinical Profile

SUMMARY

Mayo Clinic researcher Kevin Koo, M.D., M.P.H., is an endourologist and kidney stone specialist. His research focuses on the pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of urinary stone disease, with an emphasis on surgical innovation, digital technology integration and patient-centered outcomes. Dr. Koo investigates cellular mechanisms of stone formation, intraoperative endoscopic measurement tools and strategies to optimize patient safety during and after endourological procedures. Through clinical trials, translational studies and health services research, his interdisciplinary approach leverages patient-centered design strategies to advance urological science and care delivery.

Dr. Koo collaborates with investigators in multiple fields to seek answers to fundamental challenges in kidney stone science, including experts in:

  • Biomedical engineering.
  • Data science.
  • Nephrology.
  • Pathology.

Focus areas

  • Urinary stone disease pathophysiology and prevention. Dr. Koo studies cellular and inflammatory mechanisms underlying urinary stone disease, with the goal of identifying modifiable risk factors, advancing novel therapeutic targets and informing preventive strategies.
  • Digital innovation in endourology. Dr. Koo develops and evaluates real-time intraoperative tools for surgical decision-making, such as digital stone measurement systems. This work aims to enhance the surgical precision, safety and efficiency of kidney stone surgery.
  • Opioid stewardship and postoperative recovery. Dr. Koo leads clinical trials to optimize opioid prescribing after minimally invasive urological surgery. His research focuses on reducing unnecessary opioid exposure and exploring patient-reported outcomes after surgery.
  • Health services and surgical workforce research. Dr. Koo analyzes national trends in urological workforce dynamics, training pipelines and practice patterns. His work harnesses large datasets to examine geographic access to urological care and inform public policy interventions.

Significance to patient care

Dr. Koo works with experts from different fields to understand what causes kidney stones and how to prevent them. He also studies new tools and technology to make kidney stone surgery safer and more effective. His work helps healthcare teams provide more personalized, efficient and patient-centered urological care. Dr. Koo combines scientific discovery, advanced technology and new surgical methods to improve patient outcomes and safety.

Professional highlights

  • Associate member, Academy of Master Surgeon Educators, American College of Surgeons, 2024-present.
  • American Urological Association:
    • Member, board of directors, North Central Section, 2023-present.
    • Online content assistant editor, The Journal of Urology, 2023-present.
    • Leadership Program, 2025-2026.
    • Scholar, Data Research Program, 2024.
  • Mayo Clinic:
    • Co-director, Multidisciplinary Stone Clinic, 2023-present.
    • Outstanding Emerging Educator Award, 2024.
  • Co-principal investigator, Mayo Clinic FORWARD Urology Center, Collaborating for the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology (CAIRIBU) Research Network, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2022-present.
  • Member, board of directors, Endourological Society, 2022-present.

PROFESSIONAL DETAILS

Primary Appointment

  1. Consultant, Department of Urology

Academic Rank

  1. Associate Professor of Urology

EDUCATION

  1. Fellowship - Endourology and Minimally Invasive Urological Surgery The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
  2. Residency - Urology Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
  3. Internship - General Surgery Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
  4. MPH Harvard School of Public Health
  5. MD Yale School of Medicine
  6. M. Phil - Sociology University of Cambridge
  7. BA - Biochemical Sciences; Psychology Harvard College

Clinical Studies

Learn about clinical trials that address specific scientific questions about human health and disease.

See my studies.

Explore all research studies at Mayo Clinic.

Publications

See the peer-reviewed findings I have published as a result of my research.

Review publications.
.
BIO-20587357

Mayo Clinic Footer