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About Yahir A. Santiago-Lastra, MD

Yahir Santiago-Lastra, MD, is director of UC San Diego Health's Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, which provides comprehensive and multidisciplinary care for a wide range of urogynecologic and pelvic floor dysfunctions. She specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of urogenital conditions in both men and women, including those caused by neurologic disorders. These include pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, voiding dysfunction, overactive bladder, neurogenic bladder, ureteral stricture, and post-prostatectomy incontinence, among other pelvic floor disorders.

Her other areas of expertise include procedures such as neuromodulation for overactive bladder, bladder augmentation and urinary diversion. She also works with patients with congenital urologic malformations who are transitioning from pediatric to adult care.

As an associate professor in the Department of Urology, Dr. Santiago-Lastra instructs medical students, residents and fellows at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Her research interests include transitional care in patients with neurogenic bladder, sacral and peripheral neuromodulation, urinary diversion and urinary incontinence.

Dr. Santiago-Lastra completed a fellowship in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery at University of Michigan Medical School and a residency in urology at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, where she was selected for her clinical and leadership skills to serve as chief resident. Following her residency, Dr. Santiago-Lastra served as a clinical instructor in surgery in the Department of Urology at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Santiago-Lastra earned her medical degree from University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, where she graduated magna cum laude and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

She is a member of the Society of Women in Urology, the Society for Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU), and the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS).

Dr. Santiago-Lastra was recently awarded an Academy of Clinician Scholars Faculty Development Award for her work in developing a Transition Urology Care Program for adults with congenital urologic conditions.

Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her family and writing non-fiction. Dr. Santiago-Lastra is from San Juan, Puerto Rico and speaks Spanish and French fluently.

UC San Diego Health Links

For more information, see Urology and Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery.

Medical DegreeUniversity of Puerto Rico, School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto RicoResidencyHarvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MAFellowshipUniversity of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
GenderFemale
LanguagesFrenchSpanish
Date Joined Staff2016-07-21
Board Certifications
American Board of Urology
Conditions and Treatments
  • Voiding Dysfunction
  • Neurogenic Bladder
  • Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence
  • Congenital Urologic Malformations / Transition Care Urology
  • Bladder Augmentation
  • Urinary Diversion
  • Urinary Incontinence
  • Pelvic Floor Surgery
  • Overactive Bladder
  • Neuromodulation
  • Pelvic Floor Disorders
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse
  • Urogynecology
  • Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
  • Adult Congenital Urology
  • Urinary Tract Infections
Urology

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Meet Yahir Santiago-Lastra, MD: Urologist and Urogynecologist

Meet Yahir Santiago-Lastra, MD: Urologist and Urogynecologist

Open Payments Program Notification

For informational purposes only, a link to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page is provided here. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires that detailed information about payment and other payments of value worth over ten dollars ($10) from manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics to physicians and teaching hospitals be made available to the public.

View Open Payments Data for Dr. Santiago-Lastra