Joseph C. Liao, MD, the Kathryn Simmons Stamey Professor and professor of urology, is the new chair of the Department of Urology, effective Aug. 1.
Liao succeeds Eila Skinner, MD, the Thomas A. Stamey Research Professor in Urology, who helmed the department for 14 years.
“Dr. Liao’s distinguished career as a surgeon and scientist over two decades at Stanford Medicine has been defined by collaboration, innovation and leadership,” said Lloyd Minor, MD, the Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Dean of the School of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs at Stanford University. “I am confident that, by drawing on these strengths, he will lead the Department of Urology along its exciting trajectory of growth in world-class patient care and research.”
Liao is an accomplished physician-scientist, urologic surgeon and educator who is nationally recognized for his contributions to precision diagnostics for major urological diseases, particularly bladder cancer, his primary clinical focus.
His lab explores innovative solutions ranging from endoscopic molecular imaging and artificial intelligence-assisted imaging of bladder cancer to urine-based liquid biopsy for noninvasive early detection and treatment monitoring. He has authored more than 200 manuscripts and has received continuous funding support from the National Institutes of Health for 20 years.
Earlier this year, Liao co-led an interdisciplinary Stanford team that developed a novel non-invasive test for the recurrence of bladder cancer, which can affect more than half of people treated. The new urine test reduces false positives and detects biomarkers that could predict responses to surgery and immunotherapy, paving the way for more effective, personalized cancer treatments.
Throughout his career, Liao has been a dedicated mentor to generations of residents, fellows and early-career faculty. He directs the NIH-funded K12 Urology Research at Stanford (KUReS) Career Development Program, which guides early-career physicians and scientists in obtaining independent funding toward an academic career. He was awarded the 2026 Distinguished Mentor Award by the Urology Care Foundation, the official foundation of the American Urological Association that supports its research and education missions.
A Stanford Medicine alum
Liao is a graduate of Harvard College and earned his medical degree from the Stanford School of Medicine. After his urology residency and fellowship in endourology and minimally invasive surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles, he returned to Stanford Medicine in 2006 to join the faculty of the urology department.
Liao served as the Department of Urology’s director of research from 2017 to 2025 and the chief of urology to the VA Palo Alto Health Care System from 2006 to 2021. Prior to becoming chair, he was vice chair for five years and served as interim chair during Skinner’s sabbatical from 2024 to 2025. He is a member of the Stanford Cancer Institute, Bio-X, the Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute, and the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging.
He is an elected member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation and an active member of the American Urological Association, the Endourology Society and the Society of Urologic Oncology.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Stanford Urology at this pivotal moment,” Liao said. “As a proud Stanford alumnus and longtime member of the faculty, I deeply value our storied history; our culture of respect; our innovative ecosystem; and, most importantly, our people — undoubtedly our greatest asset.”
Liao will steer a department that has grown significantly in recent years. Under Skinner, the research enterprise expanded, the department’s faculty nearly doubled, and clinical and surgical volumes more than doubled. Liao said he would prioritize delivering high-quality clinical care to patients while nurturing the cross-disciplinary teamwork that drives discovery and innovation.
“I envision our department as a catalyst for multidisciplinary collaboration — bringing together clinicians, scientists, educators and trainees — to elevate patient care, accelerate discovery and cultivate the next generation of leaders in academic urology,” he said.
