Anthony J. Schaeffer,
MD, MPH
Languages Spoken: English
As a pediatric urologists, Dr. Schaeffer specializes in diagnosing, managing, and repairing congenital birth defects and acquired conditions involving the male and female urinary and reproductive systems in children from pregnancy to 18 years. He performs surgery on the adrenal glands, kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, penis, testicles, and the inguinal canal. Specific conditions he manages include swelling of the kidneys (hydronephrosis as a result of “UPJ” or “UVJ” obstruction), kidney stones, involuntary urinary leakage (urinary incontinence), Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), reversed flow of urine from the bladder to the kidney (VesicoUreteral Reflux or VUR), poorly functioning bladders as a result of brain or spinal cord problems (neurogenic bladder), undescended testicles (cryptorchidism), swelling of the inguinal canal and/or scrotum (inguinal hernia and hydrocele), and penile curvature (chordee).
Dr. Schaeffer has extensive training from several of the world's foremost experts in complex urinary reconstruction. This experience has led to a strong interest in repairing the most complex genital and urinary birth defects in boys and girls. These conditions include the diagnosis, surgical repair, and long term management of genital ambiguity (Disorders of Sexual Differentiation (DSD), formerly known as intersex conditions), improperly formed urethras (hypospadias and epispadias), and major bladder reconstructions for those born with an open (bladder exstrophy) or poorly functioning (neurogenic) bladders.
Dr. Schaeffer believes that the care of one can lead to improved care for other future patients. Accordingly, he asks many patients to become involved with research that seeks to decrease the costs, improve the access, and better the outcomes of all patients.
Clinical Locations
Primary Children's Hospital
Pediatric Urology801-662-5555
Primary Children's Hospital Outpatient Services at Riverton
Specialties
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments | Surgery
-
Assistant Professor |
| Academic Divisions | Urology |
| Board Certification | American Board of Urology (Sub: Pediatric Urology) |
Patient Rating
The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey.
Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.
Likelihood of recommending care provider
4.8/ 5
Care provider's explanation of condition/problem
4.8/ 5
Care provider's effort to include me in decisions
4.8/ 5
Wait time at clinic
4.6/ 5
Care provider's concern for questions & worries
4.8/ 5
Patient Comments
Patient comments are gathered from our Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survery and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
UofU Patient
November 26, 2021
RIVERTON CLINICS
After looking back at doctors notes there were many things that were charted that were not actually done. Charted incorrectly in regards to when the issues arose.
UofU Patient
September 12, 2021
PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER
I feel we've had great service every time we've been seen in the clinic. All the staff as well as Dr Shaffer have always showed concern to all of my questions.
UofU Patient
August 24, 2021
RIVERTON CLINICS
Dr. Mary Niu was very nice and she explained everything that needed to be done with my sons treatment.
UofU Patient
July 11, 2021
PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER
This doctor has always had my child's best interest and has been a life line for the betterment of him and his life.
UofU Patient
June 29, 2021
PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER
Dr. Schaeffer is an amazing provider who has dedicated so much time to my child and I. He answers questions and lets me know he is available if I need anything. Best doctor.
UofU Patient
April 20, 2021
PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER
Dr. Schaefer relates very well to children, explains in a manner they can understand.
UofU Patient
March 29, 2021
PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER
Dr. Shaeffer was very easy to work with. He explained the post op care and showed me how to do it for my baby. I was very happy with the service we had.
UofU Patient
February 26, 2021
PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER
One of the best doctor's appointment ever! Friendly, informative, and he gave advice not only choices. Quite cool!
UofU Patient
February 26, 2021
PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER
Dr. Schaefer was very thorough in explaining our sons diagnosis and treatment options and plan even over zoom. He was also very patient with the inherent technical difficulties of meeting remotely. We appreciated how thorough and responsive he was to us.
UofU Patient
November 24, 2020
PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER
While the info delivered during the appointment was scary the Doctor made me feel like he cared very much about my Son and what he was experiencing. He made my son smile and feel as comfortable as was possible in the situation. I wish we had met Dr Shaeffer sooner.
UofU Patient
October 26, 2020
PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER
the only thing that was never discussed was what future issues would occur if we didn't do the surgery but I was very happy with the doctor and everything else he did, he made sure it was extremely easy to contact him once we left the hospital
UofU Patient
October 19, 2020
PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER
Dr Schaeffer actually listened and was open minded about my concerns. He was willing to look into testing procedures that he was unfamiliar with, which I very much appreciated.
UofU Patient
August 16, 2020
RIVERTON CLINICS
Dr. Schaeffer was very thorough and reassuring and had great bedside manner.
UofU Patient
June 29, 2020
PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER
My wife and I were very impressed with Dr. Schaeffer. We were impressed with how much time he spent discussing our daughter's condition.
UofU Patient
June 22, 2020
PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER
We couldn't be happier with choosing Dr. Schaffer. He has been so knowledgeable about our daughter condition (even before she was even born) and has done a phenomenal work operating on her. Even during surgery we were at ease knowing she is in the BEST hands. I cannot say enough good things about this doctor and we feel lucky to have found him!
As a pediatric urologists, Dr. Schaeffer specializes in diagnosing, managing, and repairing congenital birth defects and acquired conditions involving the male and female urinary and reproductive systems in children from pregnancy to 18 years. He performs surgery on the adrenal glands, kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, penis, testicles, and the inguinal canal. Specific conditions he manages include swelling of the kidneys (hydronephrosis as a result of “UPJ” or “UVJ” obstruction), kidney stones, involuntary urinary leakage (urinary incontinence), Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), reversed flow of urine from the bladder to the kidney (VesicoUreteral Reflux or VUR), poorly functioning bladders as a result of brain or spinal cord problems (neurogenic bladder), undescended testicles (cryptorchidism), swelling of the inguinal canal and/or scrotum (inguinal hernia and hydrocele), and penile curvature (chordee).
Dr. Schaeffer has extensive training from several of the world's foremost experts in complex urinary reconstruction. This experience has led to a strong interest in repairing the most complex genital and urinary birth defects in boys and girls. These conditions include the diagnosis, surgical repair, and long term management of genital ambiguity (Disorders of Sexual Differentiation (DSD), formerly known as intersex conditions), improperly formed urethras (hypospadias and epispadias), and major bladder reconstructions for those born with an open (bladder exstrophy) or poorly functioning (neurogenic) bladders.
Dr. Schaeffer believes that the care of one can lead to improved care for other future patients. Accordingly, he asks many patients to become involved with research that seeks to decrease the costs, improve the access, and better the outcomes of all patients.
Academic Locations
Primary Children's Hospital
801-662-5555
(801) 662-5547
Primary Children's Hospital Outpatient Services at Riverton
801-662-5555
Research Statement
Dr. Schaeffer is an Assistant Professor in Surgery (Urology) at the University of Utah and Head Urologist in the Utah Fetal Center at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital and was a 2016-2018 Vice President’s Clinical and Translational (VPCAT) Research Scholar. Dr. Schaeffer’s clinical and research interests are aligned around a unifying goal to better understand the disease course of several common pediatric urology conditions so that we can improve the delivery and outcomes of care. Dr. Schaeffer’s team are currently studying pediatric hydronephrosis, leveraging the patient volume at Intermountain with advanced bioinformatics at the University of Utah to improve radiology reports and precisely define the natural history of the disease. The end goal of this research is to implement a standardized care management pathway for all children with hydronephrosis within the Intermountain System.
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments | Surgery
-
Assistant Professor |
| Academic Divisions | Urology |
| Board Certification | American Board of Urology (Sub: Pediatric Urology) |
Research Interests
- Bladder, Neurogenic
- Bladder Augmentation
- Bladder Calculi
- Bladder Exstrophy
- Hypospadias
- Incontinence
- Cost Allocation
- Cost-Effectiveness
- Delivery of Health Care
- Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation
- Development of the Constructs of the Perceived Quality of Life (PQOL) Measurement Instrument
Education History
| Fellowship | Boston Children’s Hospital Pediatric Urology Fellow, 2015 |
| Graduate Training | Harvard School of Public Health Clinical Effectiveness M.P.H., 2014 |
| Chief Resident | Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Brady Urological Institute Urology Chief Resident, 2011 |
| Residency | Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Brady Urological Institute Urology Resident, 2010 |
| Internship | Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions Surgery Intern, 2007 |
| Professional Medical | University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine Medicine M.D., 2006 |
| Research Fellow | National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute Cancer Research Research Fellow, 2002 |
| Undergraduate | Northwestern University German B.A., 2000 |
Selected Publications - Journal Articles
Journal Article
- Malhotra NR, Schaeffer AJ, Slade AD, Cartwright PC, Lau GA (2020). Post-hypospadias urethrocutaneous fistulae: no difference in repair success between proximal and distal fistulae. Can J Urol, 27(6), 10466-10470.
- Malhotra NR, Kuhlthau KA, Rosoklija I, Migliozzi M, Nelson CP, Schaeffer AJ (2020). Children's experience with daytime and nighttime urinary incontinence - A qualitative exploration. J Pediatr Urol, 16(5), 535.e1-535.e8.
- Schaeffer AJ, Cartwright PC, Lau GA, Ebert MD, Fino NF, Nkoy FL, Hess R (2020). Utilization of Radiographic Imaging for Infant Hydronephrosis over the First 12 Months of Life. Adv Urol, 2020, 2108362.
- Anderson RE, Hanson HA, Lowrance WT, Redshaw J, Oottamasathien S, Schaeffer A, Johnstone E, Aston KI, Carrell DT, Cartwright P, Smith KR, Hotaling JM (2017). Childhood Cancer Risk in the Siblings and Cousins of Men with Poor Semen Quality. J Urol, 197(3 Pt 2), 898-905.
- McNamara ER, Kurtz MP, Schaeffer AJ, Logvinenko T, Nelson CP (May 2015). Morbidity after augmentation enterocystoplasty and appendicovesicostomy: A NSQIPP analysis. J Pediatr Urol, 11(4), 209e1-6.
- McNamara ER, Schaeffer AJ, Logvinenko T, Seager C, Rosoklija I, Nelson CP, Retik AB, Diamond DA, Cendron MA (May 2015). Management of proximal hypospadias with 2-Stage repair: 20 year experience. J Urol, 194(4), 1080-5.
- Schaeffer AJ, Sood S, Logvinenko T, Rivera-Castro G, Rosoklija I, Chow JS, Nelson CP (2014). Variation in the documentation of findings in pediatric voiding cystourethrogram. Pediatr Radiol, 44(12), 1548-56.
- Schaeffer AJ, Johnson EK, Logvinenko T, Graham DA, Borer JG, Nelson CP (2014). Practice patterns and resource utilization for infants with bladder exstrophy: a national perspective. J Urol, 191(5), 1381-8.
- Massanyi EZ, Shah B, Schaeffer AJ, DiCarlo HN, Sponseller PD, Gearhart JP (2013). Persistent vesicocutaneous fistula after repair of classic bladder exstrophy: a sign of failure? J Pediatr Urol, 9(6 Pt A), 867-71.
- Schaeffer AJ, Stec AA, Baradaran N, Gearhart JP, Mathews RI (2013). Preservation of renal function in the modern staged repair of classic bladder exstrophy. J Pediatr Urol, 9(2), 169-73.
- Preece JP, Schaeffer AJ, Suson KD (2013). Pre-sacrococcygeal teratoma as an unusual cause of neonatal bladder outlet obstruction. 24(3), 13.
- Schaeffer AJ, Yenokyan G, Alcorn K, Furth SL, Diener-West M, Wu AW, Gearhart JP, Dodson JL (2012). Health related quality of life in adolescents with bladder exstrophy-epispadias as measured by the Child Health Questionnaire-Child Form 87. J Urol, 188(5), 1924-9.
- Baradaran N, Stec AA, Schaeffer AJ, Gearhart JP, Mathews RI (2012). Delayed primary closure of bladder exstrophy: immediate postoperative management leading to successful outcomes. Urology, 79(2), 415-9.
- Stec AA, Baradaran N, Schaeffer AJ, Gearhart JP, Matthews RI (2012). The modern staged repair of classic bladder exstrophy: a detailed postoperative management strategy for primary bladder closure. J Pediatr Urol, 8(5), 549-55.
- Schaeffer AJ, Stec AA, Purves JT, Cervellione RM, Nelson CP, Gearhart JP (2011). Complete primary repair of bladder exstrophy: a single institution referral experience. J Urol, 186(3), 1041-6.
- Ross AE, Marchionni L, Phillips TM, Miller RM, Hurley PJ, Simons BW, Salmasi AH, Schaeffer AJ, Gearhart JP, Schaeffer EM (2011). Molecular effects of genistein on male urethral development. J Urol, 185(5), 1894-8.
- Schaeffer AJ, Feng Z, Trock BJ, Mathews RI, Neu AM, Gearhart JP, Matlaga BR (2011). Medical comorbidities associated with pediatric kidney stone disease. Urology, 77(1), 195-9.
- Matlaga BR, Schaeffer AJ, Novak TE, Trock BJ (2010). Epidemiologic insights into pediatric kidney stone disease. Urol Res, 38(6), 453-7.
- Schaeffer AJ, Handa SE, Lingeman JE, Matlaga BR (2008). Transsplenic percutaneous nephrolithotomy. J Endourol, 22(11), 2481-4.
- Schaeffer AJ, Purves JT, King JA, Sponseller PD, Jeffs RD, Gearhart JP (2008). Complications of primary closure of classic bladder exstrophy. J Urol, 180(4 Suppl), 1671-4; discussion 1674.
- Zorn KC, Orvieto MA, Mikhail AA, Gofrit ON, Lin S, Schaeffer AJ, Shalhav AL, Zagaja GP (2007). Effect of prostate weight on operative and postoperative outcomes of robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. Urology, 69(2), 300-5.
- Schaeffer AJ, Chung J, Heretis K, Wong A, Ledbetter DH, Lese Martin C (2004). Comparative genomic hybridization-array analysis enhances the detection of aneuploidies and submicroscopic imbalances in spontaneous miscarriages. Am J Hum Genet, 74(6), 1168-74.
- Schaeffer AJ, Nguyen M, Liem A, Lee D, Montagna C, Lambert PF, Ried T, Difilippantonio MJ (2004). E6 and E7 oncoproteins induce distinct patterns of chromosomal aneuploidy in skin tumors from transgenic mice. Cancer Res, 64(2), 538-46.
- Qian Y, Sensibar JA, Zelner DJ, Schaeffer AJ, Finlay JA, Rittenhouse HG, Lee C (1997). Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis detects prostate-specific antigen-alpha1-antichymotrypsin complex in serum but not in prostatic fluid. Clin Chem, 43(2), 352-9.
Review
- Schaeffer AJ, Diamond DA (2014). Pediatric Urinary Incontinence: Classification, Evaluation, and Management. Afr J Urol. 20(1):1-13, 2014. [Review]. Afr J Urol, 20(1), 1-13.
- Schaeffer AJ, Burnett AL (2012). Nonsurgical interventions for Peyronie disease: 2011 update. [Review]. J Androl, 33(1), 3-14.
Abstract
- Schaeffer AJ, Gearhart JP, Matlaga BR (2010). Percutaneous cystolithopaxy following complex lower urinary tract reconstruction: the role of CT-guided access [Abstract]. American Urological Association.