Sara Lenherr

Dr. Sara Lenherr is an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine, specializing in neurourology and pelvic reconstructive surgery. She directs the Urology Residency Program and serves as faculty for the Spinal Cord Injury Fellowship at Nelson Rehabilitation Hospital and the Urogynecology Fellowship.

Her educational background includes:

• M.D. from University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
• 6-year Urology Residency at Lahey Clinic Medical Center
• Dual Fellowships in Female Pelvic Medicine/Reconstructive Surgery and Health Services Research at University of Michigan
• M.S. in Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis from University of Michigan

Dr. Lenherr's research focuses on neurogenic bladder, spinal cord injury, and patient-centered outcomes, with particular emphasis on quality-of-life impacts and innovative management strategies. Her work leverages large-scale registries like the Neurogenic Bladder Research Group (NBRG) to advance understanding of bladder phenotypes, UTI prevention, and psychosocial factors affecting care. She integrates engineering approaches including machine learning to develop precision treatment frameworks for complex urological conditions.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent themes: spinal cord injury populations represent her primary research cohort; bladder management strategies dominate clinical focus; and patient-reported outcomes drive methodology. Her work increasingly incorporates health services research lenses to address disparities in neurogenic bladder care while maintaining strong surgical outcomes orientation.

As Program Director for Urology Residency and fellowship faculty, Dr. Lenherr mentors trainees in complex reconstructive techniques and evidence-based practice. Her leadership in the Neurogenic Bladder Research Group facilitates multi-institutional collaborations examining bladder management transitions, surgical outcomes, and quality-of-life metrics.

She co-founded the Neurogenic Bladder Research Group (NBRG.org), establishing a national registry tracking spinal cord injury patients to investigate bladder management efficacy, complication patterns, and long-term outcomes. This collaborative platform enables large-scale studies on neurogenic bladder phenotypes and drives innovation in reconstructive techniques.