Leonard N. Zinman
Leonard N. Zinman
Biography
Biography
Leonard N. Zinman, MD is a senior reconstructive urologist at the Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts, where he built one of New England's foundational programs in complex urinary tract reconstruction. Trained in part in the British reconstructive tradition, Zinman brought bowel reconstruction, complex ureteral substitution, and posterior urethroplasty expertise to the northeastern United States and mentored a generation of Lahey-based reconstructive urologists over a career spanning more than five decades.
Principal Contributions
Ileal ureter substitution — Zinman is among the most experienced North American surgeons in total and partial ileal ureteral substitution for long-segment ureteral loss from radiation injury, iatrogenic injury, stone disease, and ureteral stricture. His case series and technical descriptions of the ileal ureter — including configurations for bilateral disease and in the solitary kidney — have been influential reference material for reconstructive urologists approaching long-segment ureteral reconstruction.
Bowel reconstruction of the urinary tract — broader contributions to continent diversion, bladder augmentation, and composite bowel reconstructions for patients with radiation cystitis, neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction, and post-oncologic reconstructive needs.
Posterior urethroplasty and rectourethral fistula — Zinman's series on transperineal repair of complex posterior urethral strictures and rectourethral fistula, particularly in the post-radiation and post-prostatectomy setting, established many of the principles of gracilis interposition and staged reconstruction now standard in the field.
Complex upper tract reconstruction — pyeloplasty, complex uretero-ureterostomy, and renal autotransplantation for selected long-gap ureteral loss.
The Lahey Program
Zinman built and directed the Lahey Clinic reconstructive urology service, mentoring urologists who now staff academic and tertiary-referral reconstructive programs across New England and beyond. The Lahey program became a regional referral destination for ileal ureter substitution, complex fistula repair, and bowel-based urinary reconstruction.
Recognition
Zinman has been honored by the AUA and its New England Section, and is frequently cited in reconstructive urology texts for his contributions to bowel and ureteral reconstruction. He remains an emeritus figure at Lahey and a widely sought reference for complex upper-tract and posterior-urethral reconstructive cases.
Key Publications
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Preferred Instruments & Setup
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Videos & Media
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