Laurence S. Baskin

MD

Urologist
Chief of Pediatric Urology
Surgeon-scientist and photographer

Dr. Laurence S. Baskin is a urologist who serves as chief of pediatric urology. He is an expert in genital development and reconstructive surgery. He specializes in treating the spectrum of pediatric urological conditions, including undescended testicles, blocked kidneys and ureters, prenatal urinary tract obstruction such a posterior urethra valves, adolescent varicoceles (enlarged veins in the testicles), disorders of sex development, cancers of the genital and urinary organs, and disorders that require urinary tract reconstruction. He founded the UCSF Center for the Study and Treatment of Hypospadias, to advance treatment for a developmental birth defect affecting the penile urethra (the tube through which urine is voided).

Baskin has written extensively on hypospadias and genital reconstruction, lectures extensively on these topics and has produced videos on numerous surgical techniques. The Baskin Laboratory focuses on investigating the causes of pediatric urological diseases – both those present at birth and those that develop later – to advance the prospect for cures. The lab looks specifically at how cells communicate during normal and abnormal development and at the effects of abnormal environmental exposures during pregnancy.

Baskin earned his medical degree at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, followed by a general surgery residency at UCSF. He completed a fellowship in pediatric urology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Baskin is past president of the Societies for Pediatric Urology, Society for Fetal Urology, Asia Pacific Association of Pediatric Urology, American Association of Pediatric Urologists and Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons. He is a member of the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons, Societies of Pediatric Urology and American Urological Association (AUA), and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American Academy of Pediatrics. He is a past member of the American Board of Urology, serving on its exam committee, and served as assistant editor of the Journal of Urology (one of AUA's official journals). He is past head of the National Institutes of Health's study section on urologic disease, the primary author on more than 300 research articles, and editor of the Handbook of Pediatric Urology and Hinman's Atlas of Pediatric Urologic Surgery.

Baskin has participated in humanitarian trips to perform pediatric urological surgery in Honduras and Vietnam. He has received numerous honors, including awards from the AUA and the European Society for Paediatric Urology.

  • Education

    David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 1986

  • Residencies

    UCSF, Surgery, 1991

  • Fellowships

    Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pediatric Urology, 1993

  • Board Certifications

    Urology, American Board of Urology

    Pediatric Urology, American Board of Urology

  • Academic Title

    Professor

It is a great honor to take care of the children of California – and beyond – with urological issues.

Conditions I specialize in

  • Urinary tract obstruction

Treatments I provide

  • Robot-assisted urologic surgery

Where I see patients (1)

    My reviews

    4.5

    Overall Experience
    242 Ratings
    About our process
    Mar 07, 2023
    the care provider, dr. baskin, was very friendly, communicative, open to questions, etc.
    Feb 21, 2023
    Dr. Baskin's loving care has blessed our family beyond measure! Our gratitude is endless and overflowing!
    Feb 08, 2023
    Very good quality of service and kindness.
    Jan 03, 2023
    Care provider was extremely knowledgeable and assured me that my child is doing well. For what he was supposed to do, I think I got what I needed. But his follow up advice is different from a previous provider who said that my child needs to be monitored yearly, so I'll need to figure that out on my own. I would absolutely come back to see this care provider if an issues arises again, but I feel his communication style is a bit short.
    Dec 20, 2022
    Dr. Baskin very knowledgeable, kind and professional. He made our visit easy going and made a great impression. Very lucky to have met him!
    Nov 01, 2022
    Great!
    Sep 27, 2022
    We are extremely grateful to Dr. Baskin!!!
    Sep 20, 2022
    Everything else was very nice!
    Aug 02, 2022
    Great experience overall, we weren't quite sure if we were supposed to check with front desk on the way out so we just left. Otherwise, friendly staff throughout the process, highly recommend
    Jul 27, 2022
    Fair
    Jul 19, 2022
    It was an experience where everything was very easy to understand.
    Jun 21, 2022
    I know not the hospital's fault, but it would be helpful to add a note about where to park/cost/where to enter etc for patients :) It was a nightmare to navigate to which parking area to go in for those not familiar and the lights around the hospital are SO LONG.
    May 24, 2022
    We were deeply touched by Dr.Baskin's attention to every detail!
    May 17, 2022
    We were taken care of on time and treated very well.
    May 17, 2022
    Dr Baskin was very kind personable and explained the situation well
    Apr 26, 2022
    We alway enjoy seeing Dr. Baskin!
    Apr 19, 2022
    Thank you and we are so grateful for your care
    Apr 19, 2022
    It was very easy to access the parking lot and find the right place. The staff was all very nice.
    Apr 12, 2022
    It was very useful and helps us to understand more.
    Mar 29, 2022
    My experience was very good.
    Mar 22, 2022
    The best!
    Feb 28, 2022
    The team was very helpful from scheduling my appointments to the carw provider answering all my questions very politely
    Feb 15, 2022
    Thanks
    Feb 01, 2022
    We were lost and arrived late but we were still seen and in a timely manner thank you
    Feb 01, 2022
    It was great. We came here for a second opinion
    Dec 28, 2021
    Excellent attention.
    Oct 19, 2021
    Positive experience
    Sep 28, 2021
    This procedure cost almost after insurance. I am disappointed that some sort of people skills and human treatment of the patient/ family by the doctor is not expected/ requires of the doctor.
    Sep 08, 2021
    I would just like to thank the organization as a whole for being very streamlined, organized and just on top of the latest greatest technologies to help with communication and health care of my child. So, thank you.
    Aug 03, 2021
    He cared about my kid and made sure I got my questions answered.
    Jul 30, 2021
    The team was great as usual
    Jun 30, 2021
    Everything was good of what the doctor was saying about the surgery and how long it would take
    Jun 29, 2021
    I thought there was good communication with the staff calling me to coordinate various tests and to push up my appointment so accommodate those tests. I was seen earlier than expected which was nice. I didn't have to wait long at all
    Jun 01, 2021
    As big as the clinic is at Mission Bay I felt that communication throughout the clinic was really good. Everyone was helpful. I feel like UCSF is a pretty well oiled machine, if you will.

    My work

    • UCSF Baskin Lab

      The Baskin Laboratory investigates the causes of pediatric urological diseases present at birth or acquired later. The lab's research has a special focus on curing and preventing hypospadias, in which the urethra's opening is on the underside of the penis.

      Learn more

    • UpToDate

      Baskin serves as section editor for pediatric urology at UpToDate, an online reference tool that provides support to health care professionals making treatment decisions based on the most current evidence. He is the first author of many chapters on pediatric urological conditions.

      Learn more

    • Robot-assisted urologic surgery

      Baskin's pediatric urology team offers cutting-edge robot-assisted surgical techniques using the da Vinci Xi system. This has advantages for procedures such as pyeloplasty, partial and total nephrectomy, ureteral reconstruction and urachal cyst removal.

      Learn more

    Selected research

    See all research

    Contact me

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