Lai named chair and DEO of Department of Urology
After a national search, H. Henry Lai, MD, has been selected to serve as chair and department executive officer of the Department of Urology.
H. Henry Lai, MD, has been appointed chair and department executive officer of the Department of Urology at University of Iowa Health Care. He will start his new role on Jan. 31, 2026.
Lai, who will serve as the Rubin H. Flocks Chair of Urology, is an international leader in benign urologic diseases. He currently serves as the Gerald L. Andriole Professor of Urologic Surgery and professor of anesthesiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He is also the director of urologic research in the Division of Urologic Surgery and the Urology Residency program director.
“Dr. Lai has a strong reputation for building up robust, interdisciplinary research, education, and clinical care teams, and I am thrilled to welcome him to UI Health Care,” says Denise Jamieson, MD, MPH, University of Iowa vice president for medical affairs and the Tyrone D. Artz Dean of the Carver College of Medicine. “At WashU Medicine and across national and international groups, Dr. Lai has served in key leadership roles to advance the field of urology. His positive, collaborative spirit, combined with his record of excellence, will be invaluable as he leads the Department of Urology toward continued innovation in patient care and academic excellence."
Lai specializes in treating lower urinary tract symptoms, chronic pelvic pain, and overactive bladder. With more than 200 papers published in scientific journals, Lai is well-known for his research and clinical care of interstitial cystitis and urinary incontinence.
Lai has earned continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for more than 15 years and has been actively involved in NIH peer review committees and study sections. In 2019, he was appointed the network chair of the NIH flagship cooperative research network focused on lower urinary tract symptoms, or bladder dysfunction.
Recently, Lai was named the research chair of the American Urological Association (AUA) and serves as chair of the organization’s Practice Guideline Panel on Male Chronic Pelvic Pain. He has also served on the American Board of Urology Examination Committee and the American Urological Association Practice Guideline Panel on Interstitial Cystitis.
Beyond his leadership roles, Lai is a prominent figure in the academic and medical publishing world. Lai is the associate editor of the journal Neurourology and Urodynamics and the section editor of the AUA Core Curriculum, and a faculty on the AUA Instructional Courses.
His scientific contributions have been recognized nationally, earning him the AUA Rising Stars in Urology Research Award and the Paul Zimskind Award from the Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction.
Lai earned his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College. He completed residency and fellowship training in neurourology, urodynamics, and female urology, both at Baylor College of Medicine.
“It is an honor to be able to work with such an exceptional team of clinicians, trainees, and researchers to advance the tripartite mission of academics,” Lai says. “Urology will continue to grow and become a preeminent program that excels in providing outstanding care to patients, engaging in innovative research, and training the next generation of leaders.”
Jamieson expressed her gratitude to Karl Kreder, MD, MBA, for his longstanding tenure as chair of urology and for his willingness to remain in the role until Lai joins UI Health Care early next year. Kreder will remain a faculty member after he steps down from his chair position.
Jamieson also thanked members of the search committee—led by Patricia Winokur, MD, executive dean of the Carver College of Medicine, and Kalpaj Parekh, MBBS, professor and chair of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery—for their work in conducting a national search for the position.
As the chair and department executive officer, Lai will oversee all aspects of the department, represent faculty, and serve as the spokesperson within the Carver College of Medicine, UI Health Care, and in interactions with practitioners across the state and nation.