About Dr. David Josephson
Dr. David Josephson, a pioneer and expert in robotic surgery, is unique in that he is one of the few urologic surgeons in the country with extensive fellowship training in both open and minimally invasive techniques for managing complex urologic disorders. He completed a urologic oncology and reconstructive urology fellowship at the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he also served as a Clinical Instructor of Urology.

Subsequently, he received fellowship training in advanced laparoscopy and robotic surgery at the City of Hope. He was recruited to stay at the City of Hope and became the Program Director of the Urologic Oncology and Robotic Surgery Fellowship.
Before being recruited to the Tower Urology Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery, he served as the Surgical Director of the Kidney Cancer Program at City of Hope, where he helped establish innovative techniques for performing nephron-sparing surgery with minimal or no ischemia.
Clinically, he has performed and published several series that are among the world’s firsts in robotic-assisted surgery, including robotic-assisted inguinal lymph node dissection, robotic-assisted cystoprostatectomy with urinary diversion, and robotic radical pelvic lymph node dissection (RPLND).
Having done thousands of robotic procedures, he is a recognized leader in nerve-sparing and endopelvic fascia sparing techniques to improve potency and continence outcomes after robotic prostatectomy. His collaborative research with Intuitive Surgery has also focused on using intraoperative fluorescence markers to reduce positive surgical margins.
Academically, his studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Urology, Journal of Endourology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy. Clinically, he has been recognized on lists as one of Los Angeles’s Best Doctors and Cambridge’s Who’s Who, and has been doubly awarded by the Consumers Research Council as one of America’s Top Urologists since 2007 and as America’s Top Surgeons for Robotic Surgery for many years.
Dr. Josephson is a member of the Society of Urologic Oncology, American Urological Association, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and American College of Surgeons. He also holds advisory positions for ASCO/Cancer.net and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Kidney and Testis Cancer Guideline Committees. For more information, please refer to the details below.
University
- University of California at Los Angeles
- Bachelor of Science in Anthropology
- Departmental Honors & summa cum laude
Medical School
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York
- Doctor of Medicine degree
Internship
- University of Southern California
- Keck School of Medicine
- Department of General Surgery
Residency
University of Southern California
- Keck School of Medicine
- Department of Urology
- Resident Physician
- Chief Resident Physician
Fellowship
City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Department of Urology/Urologic Oncology
- Fellow in Advanced Laparoscopic and Robotic Urologic Oncology
University of Southern California
- Keck School of Medicine
- Department of Urology/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Fellow in Genitourinary Oncology and Reconstructive Urology
Honors/Awards
- Phi Beta Kappa, 1994
- UCLA Alumni Association Distinguished Scholar Award, 1995
- Departmental Scholar in Anthropology, UCLA, 1995
- Golden Key National Honors Society, 1991- 1995
- Student Teaching Award, Department of Urology, 2002
- House Staff Teaching Award, USC Keck School of Medicine, 2002
- Cleveland Clinic National Urology Resident Preceptorship in Laparoscopic Surgery, 2004
- Pfizer Scholar in Urology Award, 2004
- David A. Cofrin Fellowship, Urologic Oncology, Department of Urology, University of Southern California, 2005-2006
- “Guide to America’s Top Surgeons” – Consumers’ Research Council of America, 2007-2010
- Cambridge Who’s Who – Healthcare edition, 2008
- Best Doctors – Pasadena Magazine, 2008-2010
- Los Angeles Magazine/Southern California Super Docs – 2010
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) – Kidney Cancer Panel
- NCCN – Testicular Cancer Panel
- Society of Urologic Oncology
- American Urological Association
- American Society of Clinical Oncology (89519)
- Western Section, American Urological Association (ACTIVE)
- American College of Surgeons (Fellow-03101678)
- American Association of Clinical Urologists
- Los Angeles Urologic Society
- Endourological Society
- Los Angeles County Medical Association
- Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
- Journal of Robotic Surgery – Reviewer
Academic Appointment
City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Department of Surgery/Division of Urology
- Assistant Professor
Fellowship Director, Robotic and Urologic Oncology
- University of Southern California
- Keck School of Medicine
- Department of Urology/Urologic Oncology
- Clinical Instructor
Links
- Super Doctors: Southern California’s Top Doctors – David Josephson, MD
- Surgery Theater – David Josephson, MD Interview
- Vitals – Patient Ratings and Reviews
- Health Grades: Patient Satisfaction and Reviews
- SuperDoctors: Awards by SuperDoctors
