George D. Webster
George D. Webster
Biography
Biography
George D. Webster, MB, ChB, FRCS is Professor Emeritus of Urology at Duke University Medical Center, a British-trained urologist who became one of the foundational figures of modern genitourinary reconstructive surgery in the United States. His career spans four decades at Duke and is most often associated with posterior urethroplasty for pelvic fracture urethral distraction defects, the transperineal elaborated approach to the posterior urethra, and the stepwise techniques (distal urethral mobilization, corporal body separation, inferior pubectomy, supracrural rerouting) that allow tension-free anastomotic repair of long posterior urethral injuries.
He founded Duke's reconstructive urology fellowship in 1982 — the first formal reconstructive urology fellowship in the United States — and trained 32 consecutive fellows over the next three decades. Many of his trainees became international leaders in GU reconstruction, carrying forward the principles of staged posterior urethroplasty, urinary incontinence surgery, and neurogenic lower urinary tract reconstruction that define the "Webster School."
Principal Contributions
Posterior urethroplasty — Webster's systematic approach to pelvic fracture urethral distraction defects codified the elaborated perineal approach, using progressive maneuvers to obtain tension-free anastomosis: distal urethral mobilization, corporal body separation, inferior pubectomy, and supracrural corporal rerouting. The stepwise Webster algorithm remains the framework taught globally for complex posterior urethral reconstruction.
Urinary incontinence — contributions to the surgical management of intrinsic sphincter deficiency, pubovaginal fascial slings, and artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) placement, including salvage AUS after prior failures.
Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction — reconstructive approaches for spinal cord injury, spina bifida, and multiple sclerosis populations, including bladder augmentation and continent diversion in the neurourologic patient.
Vesicovaginal and rectourethral fistula repair — establishing the transperineal gracilis-interposition approach as a workhorse for complex post-radiation and post-prostatectomy fistulas.
The Duke Fellowship
Founded in 1982 at Duke University Medical Center, the Duke reconstructive urology fellowship under Webster's directorship was the first formal fellowship of its kind in the United States. Between 1983 and 2013, Webster directly mentored 32 consecutive reconstructive urology fellows, a continuous lineage that forms one of the major dynasties of contemporary GU reconstruction. Webster trainees populate academic and private-practice reconstructive programs across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australasia.
In 2013, Webster transitioned fellowship mentorship to Andrew C. Peterson, his 2002–2003 fellow, who has directed the program since. In 2016 the fellowship evolved into the combined Reconstructive Urology and Genitourinary Cancer Survivorship Fellowship, reflecting the institutional emphasis on post-cancer-treatment reconstructive care.
The full list of graduated fellows is maintained by the Duke Department of Urology and accessible via their fellowship page.
Recognition
Webster has been recognized throughout his career with the highest honors of international reconstructive urology, including named lectureships and honorary memberships in surgical societies across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. His textbook contributions — particularly on posterior urethroplasty and reconstructive pelvic surgery — are standard references in the field.
Key Publications
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Videos & Media
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