Lee Ponsky, MD
Specialty
Urology, Urology-Urologic Oncology
Accepting New Patients
Biography
- Director, Urologic Oncology Center, UH Seidman Cancer Center
- Division Chief, Pediatric Urology, UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital
- Chair, Department of Urology, UH Cleveland Medical Center
- Professor, CWRU School of Medicine
Lee Ponsky, MD, attended University of Rochester as an undergraduate and then Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He began his training at the Cleveland Clinic and completed his residency and extended his training to do a research fellowship in urologic oncology, followed by an additional fellowship in Advanced Urologic Laparoscopy and Endourology.
In 2005 Dr. Ponsky joined the faculty at University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and is currently the chairman of the Department of Urology and Director of the UH Urology Institute. He is a professor of urology and holds the Leo and Charlotte Goldberg Chair in Advanced Surgical Therapies, and a Master Clinician in Urologic Oncology. He has over 100 publications and has been invited as a visiting professor at numerous national and international conferences and institutions. Dr. Ponsky is the co-principle investigator on an NIH RO1 grant. He is the editor-in-chief of a textbook on robotic radiosurgery and has authored more than 12 textbook chapters.
Dr. Ponsky has received numerous accolades for his medical contributions as well as his role as the founder of MedWish International in 1993. MedWish is a not-for-profit organization that saves lives and the environment by repurposing discarded medical supplies and equipment to provide humanitarian aid in developing countries. Recognitions include: U.S. Congressional Recognition; Crains Forty under Forty, as one of Northeast Ohio’s most influential people under the age of 40; Cleveland Upstander: Portraits of Courage; the recipient of the Golden Doc Award, from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation; and received the Rescuer of Humanity Award from Project Love, which recognizes and honors an individual or an organization of national or international stature, which has chosen to use their leadership beyond professional or institutional requirements to positively change the course of humanity. He has also been recognized by the Manhattan Institute in New York with the Richard Cornuelle Award for Social Entrepreneurship, for originating and effectively implemented a new nonprofit organization providing direct services to those in need. In 2011, he was recognized by Smart Business as the nonprofit board executive of the year and also received the University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Urology Institute Faculty Teaching Award from his students and residents, for recognition of outstanding commitment and efforts to student and resident teaching. In 2019 he received the Champion of Integrity Award by the Better Business Bureau for consistently displaying an aggressive commitment to ethical, honest and fair business practices.
Dr. Ponsky also serves as a founding board member of the non-profit MedWorks, which provides free health care to the uninsured and underinsured. Lee and his wife Monica have three children, Ilan, Eric and Maiya.
Expertise
- Adrenal Cancer
- Cyberknife Procedures
- Genitourinary Oncology
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Robotic-Assisted Surgery
- Urologic Oncology
- Urology
Awards
- Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, 2011
- Urology Institute Faculty Teaching Award, 2011
- The Richard Cornuelle Award for Social Entrepreneurship, The Manhattan Institute, 2011
- Rescuer of Humanity Award, Project Love, 2011
- The Arnold P. Gold Foundation God Doc Award, 2009
- Outstanding Recent Alumni Award, Case Western Reserve University, 2009
- Crain’s Cleveland Forty under 40, 2008
Videos
Watch to find out more about this University Hospitals provider.
Watch UH Urology Institute Chairman Lee Ponsky, MD share his vision-forward for the UH Urology Institute.
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Office Locations
Patient Experience Reviews
4.8 out of 5
213 Ratings
Patient Comments (36)
Reviewed On 9/1/2023
Excellent Urologist and staff. Very efficient office.
Reviewed On 9/1/2023
Very happy with my care with Dr Ponsky! I trust him with my care.
Reviewed On 8/1/2023
Great doctor....literally, a life saver! Greatly respect his expertise and admire his dedication to his profession. Bonus is that I like him as a person. Poor guy needs a break from patient load, IMHO.
Reviewed On 8/1/2023
I feel I'm receiving the best care possible with Dr Pinski and his staff
Reviewed On 8/1/2023
Overall excellent experience. This provider was a referral from another family member. I would say exceeded expectations.
Reviewed On 8/1/2023
Dr Ponsky and his entire team are magnificent. I couldn't ask for a better staff to look after my health.
Reviewed On 8/1/2023
I found the staff particularly polite and professional.
Reviewed On 7/1/2023
All went well. The doctor explained everything very thoroughly I was very impressed with his bedside mannerlooop
Reviewed On 7/1/2023
All good
Reviewed On 7/1/2023
The medical staff (care provider) did an outstanding job.
Reviewed On 7/1/2023
Extremely pleased with caregivers help and assistance.
Reviewed On 6/1/2023
Effective and efficient
Reviewed On 6/1/2023
I love my doctor but would have liked to have seen him in person. I didn't get a chance to finish my virtual visit because we got disconnected.
Reviewed On 5/1/2023
First class
Reviewed On 5/1/2023
First Time meeting Dr.Ponsky... He was easy to talk with and discuss my future tests and made the discussion easy to understand.
Reviewed On 5/1/2023
Very blessed to have Dr Ponsky as a provider. Direct, amazingly intelligent and conveys a positive attitude every visit. His bedside manner helps to calm patients facing cancer.
Reviewed On 5/1/2023
Great Doctor and Staff ***
Reviewed On 5/1/2023
The Doctor and the staff are wonderful. ***
Reviewed On 4/1/2023
All visits with this doctor helpful and encouraging
Reviewed On 4/1/2023
Always an excellent health care experience with Dr. Ponsky and his staff.
Reviewed On 4/1/2023
Dr. Ponske was always willing to answer any questions or concerns. He made me feel like I was in good hands. Overall, we worked in tandem about my on going care, which put me at ease making important decisions. I felt he cared about my well-being.
Reviewed On 3/1/2023
I couldn't have been treated better.
Reviewed On 3/1/2023
Dr. Ponsky is a truly outstanding, compassionate doctorhe takes all the time a patient needs to answer all of their questions and concernsHe is always answers and addresses every concern of his patients He never rushes a patient..always talks in a way that is informative, not frightening and caring..I am so lucky he is my doctorHe is the pefect example of howe all doctors should act
Reviewed On 3/1/2023
Feel very comfortable with my doctor and the care he is providing
Reviewed On 3/1/2023
Extremely satisfied with my Doctor.
Reviewed On 3/1/2023
The staff were very polite and caring. Doctor is very skillful and has a very good bedside manner. He listens to the patient and explains the situation well. He provided me with a literature for learning more about my conditions.
Reviewed On 3/1/2023
Waited an hour in the exam room! Love Dr. Ponsky but it was very stressful waiting so long. I finally opened the door and asked the nurse that was passing by if they forgot about me.
Reviewed On 2/1/2023
I have known and been under the regular care of Dr. Ponsky for *** years. He knows my medical background and family history ***. My *** has historically been high, and on this occasion, it was quite high. Dr. Ponsky knows that I have had two biopies and on MRI over the past *** years, with no indication of cancer. He is reasonable and clearly knowledgable about my condition, and about his specialty.
Reviewed On 1/1/2023
Dr Ponsky is great. Only issue was a one hour wait on the call
Reviewed On 1/1/2023
I could not be more pleased with the care I receive from Dr Ponsky. Dr Ponsky and his staff always show compassion and respect for my well being and the upmost concern for my health.
Reviewed On 1/1/2023
The visit was a routine follow up. However, no vitals were taken. After appointment, my health record showed weight, blood pressure, and heart rate results that weren't from my visit.
Reviewed On 1/1/2023
Good
Reviewed On 12/1/2022
Dr. Ponsky is great.
Reviewed On 12/1/2022
Dr. Ponsky is truly and outstanding physician who takes the time to get to know his patients..listen to their concernsand explain in terms that are understandable how he can help a patient deal with the condition they have. He is kindextremely knowledgable, and takes the time to answer any and all questionsHe is the perfect example of how doctors should treat the patients they seeHis compassion and empathy is truly appreciated.and I am so fortunate that he is my Doctor.
Reviewed On 11/1/2022
DR. PONSKY HAS SUCCESSFULLY GUIDED ME THROUGH *** CANCER FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS. I HAVE EXTREMELY HIGH REGARD FOR HIM AND HIS ABILITIES. IN ADDITION, I APPRECIATE HIS DIRECT AND "NO NONSENSE" APPROACH TO MEDICAL ISSUES.DR. BUCHINSKY IS A NEW PROVIDER FOR MY PARTNER AND I. HIS WARM AND CARING APPROACH TO MEDICAL CARE HAS MADE US FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE, CONSIDERING OUR NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. BOTH MY PARTNER AND I ARE VERY PLEASED (AND THANKFUL) TO BE IN DR. BUCHINSKY'S CARE.
Reviewed On 11/1/2022
It was great experience
Research & Publications
Research Interests
Advanced imaging techniques (particularly MRI) for the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer, Active surveillance for prostate cancer, Robotic radiosurgery for kidney tumors
Certifications & Memberships
- Urology - American Board of Urology
Education
Fellowship | Endoscopy - Advanced
Endoscopy - Advanced - Cleveland Clinic (2004 - 2005)
Research Fellowship | Urologic Oncology
Urologic Oncology - Cleveland Clinic (2003 - 2004)
Residency | Urology
Urology - Cleveland Clinic (1998 - 2003)
Internship | General Surgery
General Surgery - Cleveland Clinic (1997 - 1998)
Medical Education
Case Western Reserve University (1997)
Undergraduate
University Of Rochester (1993)
Industry Relationships
University Hospitals is committed to transparency in our interactions with industry partners, such as pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical device companies. At UH, we disclose practitioner and their family members’ ownership and intellectual property rights that are or in the process of being commercialized. In addition, we disclose payments to employed practitioners of $5,000 or more from companies with which the practitioners interact as part of their professional activities. These practitioner-industry relationships assist in developing new drugs, devices and therapies and in providing medical education aimed at improving quality of care and enhancing clinical outcomes. At the same time, UH understands that these relationships may create a conflict of interest. In providing this information, UH desires to assist patients in talking with their practitioners about industry relationships and how those relationships may impact their medical care.
UH practitioners seek advance approval for certain new industry relationships. In addition, practitioners report their industry relationships and activities, as well as those of their immediate family members, to the UH Office of Outside Interests annually. We review these reports and implement management plans, as appropriate, to address conflicts of interest that may arise in connection with medical research, clinical care and purchasing decisions.
View UH’s policy (PDF) on practitioner-industry relationships.
As of December 31, 2016, Lee Ponsky disclosed the following Outside Relationships with Industry:
- - Accuray Inc. - Consulting
- - Tengion Inc. - Consulting