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Charles Douglas Scales Jr.

Associate Professor of Urology
Urology
DUMC 3707, Durham, NC 27710
300 W Morgan Street - 8th Floor Receptionist Desk, Duke Box 3850, Durham, NC 27701

Overview


Charles D. Scales, Jr., MD MSHS FACS is Associate Dean for Clinical Research Initiatives and Associate Professor of Urology and Population Health Science. He completed medical school and residency training in urology at Duke University.  After residency, Dr. Scales completed the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program at UCLA, where he received advanced training in health services research, health policy, and quality of care.  He teaches these skills to future generations through the Duke Master of Management in Clinical Informatics (MMCi) degree program, and in 2025 will present his course, “Data, Information, and Health Care Transformation” for the 10th consecutive year.

From the research perspective, Dr. Scales has a longstanding interest in the epidemiology of and patient care for urinary stone disease.  Recent studies have redefined the epidemiology of urinary stone disease in the United States, compared the effectiveness of dominant stone removal technologies, and identified new opportunities for improving patient-centered and policy-relevant outcomes, such as unplanned care after procedural interventions.  His research and perspective on urinary stone disease has been highlighted in U.S. News & World Report, Reuters, NPR, and the Wall Street Journal, among other media outlets.

Currently, Dr. Scales leads a diverse health services and clinical research program at the Duke Clinical Research Institute, where he is the Principal Investigator for the Scientific Data and Research Center for the NIDDK Urinary Stone Disease Research Network (U01).  Within the USDRN, he leads the multicenter Prevention of Urinary Stones with Hydration (PUSH) randomized clinical trial, which is the largest randomized controlled stone prevention trial to date, and the multicenter Study to Enhance Understanding of Stent-Associated Symptoms (STENTS) cohort study. 

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor of Urology · 2017 - Present Urology, Clinical Science Departments
Associate Dean for Clinical Research Initiatives · 2024 - Present School of Medicine
Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences · 2021 - Present Population Health Sciences, Basic Science Departments
Membership in the Duke Clinical Research Institute · 2013 - Present Duke Clinical Research Institute, Institutes and Centers
Affiliate Faculty Member, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy · 2024 - Present Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, University Initiatives & Academic Support Units

In the News


Published March 17, 2020
Types of Kidney Stone Surgery
Published October 31, 2019
WCE2019: Quality of Life in Stone Formers
Published July 7, 2016
Examining Emergency Department Returns for Kidney Stones

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Recent Publications


Development of Prediction Models for Severe Pain and Urinary Symptoms After Ureteroscopy With Ureteral Stent Placement: Results From the STENTS Study and Initial Validation of Pain Interference.

Journal Article J Urol · April 2025 PURPOSE: We developed prediction models for severe pain and urinary symptoms after ureteroscopy with ureteral stent placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The development cohort included 424 adults and adolescents enrolled in the multicenter STENTS prospective ... Full text Link to item Cite

Reply by Authors.

Journal Article J Urol · April 2025 Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


USDHub: community resource for Urinary Stone Disease research

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Vanderbilt University Medical Center · 2025 - 2029

UrogynCREST Program

ResearchMentor · Awarded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development · 2019 - 2029

Duke KURe Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2013 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications


Duke University, School of Medicine · 2004 M.D.