Deborah L. Jacobson

As a pediatric urologists, Dr. Schaeffer specializes in diagnosing, managing, and repairing congenital birth defects and acquired conditions involving the male and female urinary and reproductive systems in children from pregnancy to 18 years. He performs surgery on the adrenal glands, kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, penis, testicles, and the inguinal canal. Specific conditions he manages include swelling of the kidneys (hydronephrosis as a result of “UPJ” or “UVJ” obstruction), kidney stones, involuntary urinary leakage (urinary incontinence), Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), reversed flow of urine from the bladder to the kidney (VesicoUreteral Reflux or VUR), poorly functioning bladders as a result of brain or spinal cord problems (neurogenic bladder), undescended testicles (cryptorchidism), swelling of the inguinal canal and/or scrotum (inguinal hernia and hydrocele), and penile curvature (chordee). Dr. Schaeffer has extensive training from several of the world's foremost experts in complex urinary reconstruction. This experience has led to a strong interest in repairing the most complex genital and urinary birth defects in boys and girls. These conditions include the diagnosis, surgical repair, and long term management of genital ambiguity (Disorders of Sexual Differentiation (DSD), formerly known as intersex conditions), improperly formed urethras (hypospadias and epispadias), and major bladder reconstructions for those born with an open (bladder exstrophy) or poorly functioning (neurogenic) bladders. Dr. Schaeffer believes that the care of one can lead to improved care for other future patients. Accordingly, he asks many patients to become involved with research that seeks to decrease the costs, improve the access, and better the outcomes of all patients.