Health Services and Outcomes Research

Dr. Halpern  is interested in health services research in the field of Andrology. He studies the interactions between patients and the healthcare system, access to care, and ways to improve the delivery of care through health policy, medical intervention, and surgical innovation. His research is also focused on patient outcomes following medical and surgical treatments for male infertility and sexual dysfunction, as well as the interaction between cancer and these conditions.

In this video, Dr. Halpern discusses his latest research examining the effect of diet on erectile function and testosterone, recent advancements and breakthroughs in surgical treatments and techniques for erectile dysfunction and what he and his team at Northwestern are doing to optimize outcomes for patients with erectile dysfunction. Watch here>>

In this Better Edge podcast, Joshua Halpern MD, MS, assistant professor of Urology at Northwestern Medicine, discusses his recent study examining the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the male genitourinary system, including worsening semen parameters, lower testosterone levels, and an increased risk of erectile dysfunction. He also talks about the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in preventing COVID-19 infection and many of these sequelae. Listen here>>

Select Publications

• Pham MN, Siebert AL, Faw CA, et al. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) Use is Not Associated With Impaired Semen Parameters. Urology. 2022;164:140-144.

• Lai JD, Fantus RJ, Cohen AJ, Wan V, Hudnall MT, Pham M, Brannigan RE, Halpern JA. Unmet financial burden of infertility care and the impact of state insurance mandates in the United States: analysis from a popular crowdfunding platform. Fertil Steril. 2021 Oct; 116(4): 1119-1125.

• Fantus RJ, Chang C, Platz EA, Bennett NE, Helfand BT, Brannigan RE, Halpern JA.  Serum Total Testosterone and Premature Mortality Among Men in the USA. Eur Urol Open Sci. 2021 Jul; 29: 89-92.

• Halpern JA, Fantus RJ, Chang C, Keeter MK, Helfand B, Bennett NE, Brannigan RE. Effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use upon male gonadal function: A national, population-based study. Andrologia. May 2020. 

• Halpern JA, Brannigan RE, Schlegel PN. Fertility-enhancing male reproductive surgery: glimpses into the past and thoughts for the future. Fertility and Sterility. September 2019. 

• Halpern JA, Brannigan RE. Testosterone deficiency. JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association. September 2019. 

Research Description

Emilie K. Johnson, MD, MPH, is a pediatric urologist with an academic focus in health services and outcomes research. Her research interests and long-term goals are focused on improving outcomes for pediatric patients with both acute and chronic urologic conditions. She has a particular interest in projects with opportunities to develop interventions to improve the quality and safety of care and improve outcomes. Currently, Dr. Johnson is involved in research projects related to differences of sex development and access to neonatal circumcision.

Publications

• Corona LE, Hirsch J, Rosoklija I, Yerkes EB, Johnson EK. Attitudes toward fertility-related care and education of adolescents and young adults with differences of sex development: Informing future care models. J Pediatr Urol. 2022 May 21:S1477-5131(22)00207-8. 
• Chan YY, Rosoklija I, Shannon R, Singal A, D'Oro A, Meade P, Gong EM, Lindgren BW, Johnson EK. Urinary Tract Infection After Robot-assisted Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty: Are Urine Cultures and Antibiotics Helpful? Urology. 2021 Feb; 148: 235-242.
• Johnson EK, Jacobson DL, Finlayson C, Yerkes EB, Goetsch AL, Leeth EA, Cheng EY. Proximal Hypospadias-Isolated Genital Condition or Marker of More? Journal of urology. August 2020.
• Sofer L, D'Oro A, Rosoklija I, Leeth EA, Goetsch AL, Moses S, Chen D, Finlayson C, Johnson EK. Impact of Cell-free DNA Screening on Parental Knowledge of Fetal Sex and Disorders of Sex Development. Prenatal diagnosis. July 2020.
• Johnson EK, Maizels M, Meade P, Mitchell MA, Rubio L, Rosoklija I. Development and Outcomes of a Streamlined Outpatient Newborn Circumcision Clinic. Urology Practice. June 2020.

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