Mark Sawyer, MD

Associate Professor, Surgery-Urology


FacultyPhoto
Medical School
  • MD, University of Virginia School of Medicine (2004)
Undergraduate School
  • AB, Duke University (NC) (1997)
Internship
  • University Hospitals Case Medical Center Program (2005)
Residency
  • University Hospitals Case Medical Center Program, Chief Resident, Urology (2010)
Fellowships
  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center Program, Endourology, Minimally Invasive Surgery (2012)
Languages
English
Department
Surgery-Urology

Professional Titles

  • Chief of Urology, VA ECHCS
  • VISN 19 Surgical Workgroup Urology Council Lead

Recognitions

  • Health Care Leadership Development Program, Veterans Health Administration (2017)
    Selected for and completed a leadership program within the VA (the highest level leadership program within the system).
  • Spark-Seed-Spread Program, VHA Innovation Network (2022)
    Selected as “Spark” program participant (senior investigator) in national competition after nomination by VA facility senior leadership to support 3D printing of a kidney model for resident training, patient counseling and advanced fluoroscopy assessment

Publications

  • “Is Your Career Hurting You? The Ergonomic Consequences of Surgery in 701 Urologists Worldwide.” Lloyd GL, et al.  J Endourol. 2019 Dec.
  • Editorial to “Longitudinal Assessment of Post-Ureteroscopic Laser Lithotripsy Pain and Opioid Consumption using Text Messaging: Tailoring Pain Management to the Patient”, Urology Practice (2019 6(6), p. 37). 
  • Sawyer MD, Hannemann A, Herrell SD, Beck D, Eun J, Ballon-Landa EC. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Pyelography: A Convenient and Safe Alternative to Both Room Air and Iodinated Contrast Pyelography for Endourologic Procedures. J Endourol. 2022 Dec 31. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 36585860
  • Glover X, Ballon-Landa EC, Sawyer MD. Ultra-low Dose Intraoperative CT During Endoscopic Stone Surgery: A Quality Improvement Project. J Endourol. 2022 Dec 2. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 36458465
  • Okland T, Karimkhani C, Pederson H, Boyers LN, Sawyer MD, Rove KO, Kenny MC, Steinberg S, Naghavi M, Dellavalle RP. Research prioritization of men's health and urologic diseases. Int Braz J Urol. 2017 Mar-Apr;43(2):289-303. PubMed PMID: 28128909
  • Sawyer MD, Anderson CB, Viprakasit DP, Dietrich MS, Herrell SD, Miller NL. An individualized weight-based goal urine volume model significantly improves expected calcium concentrations relative to a 2-L goal urine volume. Urolithiasis. 2013 Oct;41(5):403-9. PubMed PMID: 23857331
  • Sawyer MD, Dietrich MS, Pickens RB, Herrell SD, Miller NL. Adequate or not? A comparison of 24-hour urine studies for renal stone prevention by creatinine to weight ratio. J Endourol. 2013 Mar;27(3):366-9. PubMed PMID: 22967263
  • Gettman MT, White WM, Aron M, Autorino R, Averch T, Box G, Cadeddu JA, Canes D, Cherullo E, Desai MM, Frank I, Gill IS, Gupta M, Haber GP, Humphreys MR, Irwin BH, Kaouk JH, Kavoussi LR, Landman J, Liatsikos EN, Lima E, Ponsky LE, Rane A, Ribal M, Rabenhalt R, Rao P, Richstone L, Sawyer MD, Sotelo R, Stolzenburg JU, Tracy CR, Stein RJ. Where do we really stand with LESS and NOTES?. Eur Urol. 2011 Feb;59(2):231-4. PubMed PMID: 21122977
  • Viprakasit DP, Sawyer MD, Herrell SD, Miller NL. Changing composition of staghorn calculi. J Urol. 2011 Dec;186(6):2285-90. PubMed PMID: 22014820
  • Sawyer MD, Ponsky LE. Technical and equipment challenges for laparoendoscopic single-site surgery and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. BJU Int. 2010 Sep;106(6 Pt B):892-6. PubMed PMID: 20883240
  • Sawyer MD, Cherullo EE, Elmunzer BJ, Schomisch S, Ponsky LE. Pure natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery partial cystectomy: intravesical transurethral and extravesical transgastric techniques in a porcine model. Urology. 2009 Nov;74(5):1049-53. PubMed PMID: 19758685
  • Sawyer MD, Proano JM, Spirnak JP. Removal of retained Foley catheter in bladder with novel use of ureteral catheter: lasso technique. Urology. 2008 May;71(5):962-3. PubMed PMID: 18336881
  • Garwood RA, Sawyer MD, Ledesma EJ, Foley E, Claridge JA. A case and review of bowel perforation secondary to metastatic lung cancer. Am Surg. 2005 Feb;71(2):110-6. PubMed PMID: 16022008
  • Hussain SP, Raja K, Amstad PA, Sawyer M, Trudel LJ, Wogan GN, Hofseth LJ, Shields PG, Billiar TR, Trautwein C, Hohler T, Galle PR, Phillips DH, Markin R, Marrogi AJ, Harris CC. Increased p53 mutation load in nontumorous human liver of wilson disease and hemochromatosis: oxyradical overload diseases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 Nov 7;97(23):12770-5. PubMed PMID: 11050162
  • Hussain SP, Amstad P, Raja K, Sawyer M, Hofseth L, Shields PG, Hewer A, Phillips DH, Ryberg D, Haugen A, Harris CC. Mutability of p53 hotspot codons to benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE) and the frequency of p53 mutations in nontumorous human lung. Cancer Res. 2001 Sep 1;61(17):6350-5. PubMed PMID: 11522624
  • Ponsky LE, Cherullo EE, Sawyer M, Hartke D. Single access site laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: initial clinical experience. J Endourol. 2008 Apr;22(4):663-6. PubMed PMID: 18324901
  • Viprakasit DP, Sawyer MD, Herrell SD, Miller NL. Limitations of ultrasonography in the evaluation of urolithiasis: a correlation with computed tomography. J Endourol. 2012 Mar;26(3):209-13. PubMed PMID: 22010975
  • Sawyer, MD. Editorial Comment to "Longitudinal Assessment of Post-Ureteroscopic Laser Lithotripsy Pain and Opioid Consumption using Text Messaging: Tailoring Pain Management to the Patient" Urology Practice (https://doi.org/10.1097/01.UPJ.0000582644.30745.b6)
  • Sawyer, MD Editorial Comment to "Specialist Care, Metabolic Testing, and Testing Completeness Among U.S. Veterans With Urinary Stone Disease" (Urology Practice, Jan 2023), https://doi.org/10.1097/UPJ.0000000000000356.01

Practice Locations

Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Administration Medical Center
1700 Wheeling St
Aurora, CO 80045
303-399-8020

Hospital Affiliation
  • Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Urology, Board Certification
Clinical Interests
Laser enucleation of prostate (HoLEP); Kidney stone surgery (ureteroscopy and PCNL); Metabolic stone prevention; Advanced imaging using robotic multiplanar fluoroscopy (e.g. intraoperative ultra-low dose CT scan)