Faculty

Dr. Laura Bukavina, MD MPH MSc, is a urologic oncologist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and an Assistant Professor of Urology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Specializing in bladder, kidney, penile, and prostate cancer. Her commitment to cancer research has garnered multiple prestigious awards and grants, including those from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, the American Urologic Association, and the Society of Women in Urology. Dr. Bukavina’s research, focusing on the interplay between genetics, the microbiome, and the tumor microenvironment, has earned her recognition as one of the Top Women in Cancer Research by the American Association of Cancer Research.

Born in Ukraine and raised in Cleveland, Dr. Bukavina pursued her medical degree at Northeast Ohio Medical University, complemented by a Master of Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins and a Master of Immunology from Drexel University. Her extensive training includes a urologic residency at Case Western Reserve University and UH, and a SUO fellowship in urologic oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center.

Dr. Bukavina’s research ambitiously explores the microbiome’s potential in transforming bladder cancer treatment and has earned her acclaim in complex kidney cancer care. She serves as an expert panelist on the Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer’s Guideline Committee for renal cell carcinoma.

In the surgical arena, Dr. Bukavina excels in both open and minimally invasive procedures, focusing on nerve and organ preservation in bladder cancer. Her expertise in minimally invasive techniques, particularly in male and female cystectomies, has greatly enhanced the surgical capacity at University Hospitals.

Beyond her surgical and research roles, Dr. Bukavina actively contributes to the urologic community as an associate editor for European Urology, a board member of the Society of Urologic Oncology, and a member of the Urology Times editorial board. Her work is pivotal in advancing the frontiers of urologic oncology and clinical trial development.