Kamal S Pohar, MD

Kamal S Pohar, MD

Physician

4.9 out of 5

Specialty:Urology

Gender: Male

Languages: French, Punjabi

Academic Title: Associate Professor in the College of Medicine

Research Program: Cancer Biology

  • About Me

    I am a urologist who specializes in treating patients with genitourinary cancers, including bladder, urethral, urothelial, testicular, penile and sarcoma of the urinary tract. My particular focus is on constructing urinary diversion and nerve-sparing for patients with bladder cancer by radial vasectomy, although I’m interested in organ-sparing operations for every cancer that I treat. In addition to my clinical work, I serve as an associate professor in the Department of Urology at The Ohio State University and hold the Julius and Diana Skestos Chair in Urology. I’m passionate about cancer care because it allows me an enormous opportunity to impact the most important commodity anybody has: their health. It’s a privilege to be able to restore a patient’s quality of life and functionality back to the way it was before their cancer diagnosis. I want to return them to their families, their lives, their employment and the things they did before becoming a patient under my care. My work allows me to find better ways to treat these diseases with new treatments, as well as build relationships with my colleagues — including fellow surgeons, medical oncologists and the various nursing services — in a multi-disciplinary team environment. The culture at The James really emphasizes discovery and research, which provides me the opportunity to be both a surgeon and a scientist. As a member of the Cancer Biology Program at the OSUCCC – James, my lab works to better understand the modulation of the tumor microenvironment and identify new therapeutic targets, including new immune therapies to treat the microenvironment. We have a large portfolio of clinical trials for bladder and urothelial cancers and are currently investigating these concepts. Additionally, my research program is very invested in helping the underserved minority population by providing them with clinical care and enlisting them in some of these clinical trials. The thing I enjoy most about working at The James is the people. From top to bottom, everyone who is employed here is friendly and warm, and they all understand why we are here — to provide our patients with the best possible care. I’m proud to have been named to the Castle Connolly list of “Regional Top Doctors” for more than a decade alongside many of my colleagues, as I believe it reflects how much we’re making an impact in people’s lives.

  • Clinical Expertise

    • Bladder Cancer
    • Kidney Cancers
    • Testicular Cancers
    • Urology
    • Prostate Cancers
    • Urethral Cancers
    • Urologic Surgical Procedures
    • Urogenital Cancers
  • Research Interests

    • Carcinoma
    • Prostatic Neoplasms
    • Neoplasms
    • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
    • Carcinoma, Renal Cell
    • Testicular Neoplasms
    • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal
    • Adenocarcinoma
    • Neoplasm Metastasis
    • Kidney Neoplasms
  • Where I See Patients

  • Education & Training

    Fellowship - Urologic Oncology

    • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
      1275 York Ave, New York, NY

    Internship - Surgery (General Surgery)

    • Memorial University of Newfoundland
      300 Prince Philip Dr, St. Johns, NL

    Medical School

    • University of Alberta
      Admissions, Records, Registration, Edmonton, Alberta, AB

    Residency - Urology

    • University of Manitoba
      Faculty of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB
  • Academic Office & Contact Information

    Academic Office:

    915 Olentangy River Rd
    Columbus, Ohio 43212

  • Reviews

    Patient Satisfaction Review

    The overall patient satisfaction rating is an average of all patient responses to the five questions gathered from the Outpatient Oncology survey, developed by Press Ganey Associates for use in oncology clinics across the country. On behalf of The James, Press Ganey administers the survey to patients who see our providers in an outpatient clinic office. For additional information about the patient satisfaction survey, please visit our Patient Satisfaction Survey page

    The comments are submitted by patients and reflect their view and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of The James.

    4.9 out of 5 overall

    Kept you informed about your condition and treatment
    4.8 / 5
    Amount of time spent with you
    4.7 / 5
    Concern for your questions and issues
    4.8 / 5
    Skill and knowledge
    4.9 / 5
    Overall quality of care
    4.9 / 5

    Patient Comments

    Reviewed on February 2, 2025

    Highly caring, kind, thorough, and thoughtful

    Reviewed on December 7, 2024

    Dr Pohar is the best!

    Reviewed on December 7, 2024

    Pohar and his staff are outstanding

    Reviewed on December 7, 2024

    Dr Pohar is a professional Doctor and also I feel that he really cares about his patients.

    Reviewed on November 23, 2024

    Doctor Pohar very intense and personable

    Reviewed on November 4, 2024

    Dr. Pohar wonderful

    Reviewed on October 21, 2024

    Appreciate Dr Pohar

    Reviewed on October 19, 2024

    Dr Pohar is always very involved in details regarding my treatment - great demeanor & always compassionate

    Reviewed on September 30, 2024

    Dr Pohar is excellent! Am very confident in his abilities.

    Reviewed on September 23, 2024

    Dr Pohar and Rachel (nurse) did everythng to keep me calm and confident.

    Reviewed on September 22, 2024

    Dr Pohar has cared for me since diagnosed and kept me well informed

    Reviewed on September 15, 2024

    Im really happy to have been paired up with Dr. Pohar. He is excellent.

    Reviewed on July 27, 2024

    Dr. Pohar and his team were awesome. He has an excellent combination of frankness/straightforwardness, concern, empathy, friendliness and confidence.

    Reviewed on July 27, 2024

    Fantastic

    Reviewed on July 6, 2024

    Dr Pohar is the best.

    Reviewed on June 29, 2024

    Dr Pohar was so kind and put us at ease immediately. We were very nervous and left feeling much better.

    Reviewed on June 15, 2024

    Everything, and everyone, were outstanding.

    Reviewed on June 10, 2024

    Dr. Pohar has a great empathetic bedside manner and always provides excellent care. I have been treated by Dr. Pohar for over eight years and he has helped my overall quality of life.

    Reviewed on June 9, 2024

    Dr Pohar provides wonderful care

    Reviewed on June 6, 2024

    Been seeing my Dr for over 14 years and other than the wait time never any problem

    Reviewed on May 27, 2024

    Dr. Pohar is awesome. He has a deep care for his patients.

    Reviewed on May 25, 2024

    There is none better than Dr Kamal Pohar!

    Reviewed on May 5, 2024

    I love Dr. Pohar

    Reviewed on May 4, 2024

    Dr pohar is a highly skilled, thorough dr who I have complete confidence in

    Reviewed on April 20, 2024

    Dr Pohar reviewed all my records quickly. He quickly scheduled me for surgery. He is awesome. He probably saved my bladder.

    Reviewed on April 13, 2024

    Myself and my entire family could not be happier with the care received while there. In my opinion, there is none better than Foctor Pohar and his wonderful staff

    Reviewed on April 8, 2024

    He was very much patient oriented as always.

    Reviewed on March 19, 2024

    Dr. Pohar and all of his staff are just so awsome. Dr. Pohar has always treated me more like a friend than a cancer patient from the first time I and my family met him. He completely puts his patients at ease and makes sure you understand your options.

    Reviewed on March 16, 2024

    Good

    Reviewed on March 16, 2024

    I am so grateful to have found Dr. Pohar. He has always taken the time to calm my fears.

    Reviewed on March 11, 2024

    Dr. Pohar is fantastic !

    Reviewed on January 30, 2024

    I only wish all doctors were as concerned for their patients.

    Reviewed on January 23, 2024

    Dr. Kamal Pohar and his staff are all brilliant and kind professionals. I always feel safe and well cared for on these appointments.

    Reviewed on January 20, 2024

    I have confidence In Dr Pohar an the staff

    Reviewed on December 16, 2023

    Dr. Pohar came highly recommended and I understand why. He is so knowledgeable and he explained what he believes is my issue and what he can do to improve my quality of life.

    Reviewed on December 16, 2023

    Dr, Polhar is a wonderful Doctor, he's very very polite, and a very concerning doctor.

    Reviewed on December 11, 2023

    Dr. Pohar is a wonderful care provider

    Reviewed on December 9, 2023

    I hope to never need another oncologist other than Dr. Pohar, he is exceptional!

    Reviewed on December 9, 2023

    Dr Pohar has been wonderful. I am so lucky to have found him. While I still have worries, I have a real reduction in anxiety knowing he is taking care of me.

    Reviewed on December 9, 2023

    Dr. Pohar is an excellent physician and I am very happy with him treating my cancer.

    Reviewed on December 4, 2023

    Both the PA and Dr. Pohar spent amply time explaining the cancer itself and the recommended treatment.

    Reviewed on November 15, 2023

    Was treated very well

    Reviewed on November 15, 2023

    All has been very good

    Reviewed on October 23, 2023

    Dr Pohar is an awesome doctor.

    Reviewed on October 22, 2023

    Very friendly

    Reviewed on October 21, 2023

    My good experience is having Dr. Pohar as my primary provider.

    Reviewed on October 14, 2023

    Six month follow up exam and we have a cure!

    Reviewed on October 14, 2023

    Dr Pohar has been my oncologist for close to 20 years. I am very grateful to be a patient in his care

    Reviewed on October 7, 2023

    Dr. Pohar is the beat!

    Reviewed on October 7, 2023

    Dr Pohar and his entire team are great. I would recommend them anytime.

    Reviewed on October 2, 2023

    Dr Pohar was very informative and gave a detailed explanation of plan of action.

    Reviewed on October 1, 2023

    Great patient interaction during the appointment

    Reviewed on September 30, 2023

    Overall good

    Reviewed on August 7, 2023

    Dr. Pohar is the absolute best.

    Reviewed on May 23, 2023

    Dr. Pohar and staff are the best.

    Reviewed on May 18, 2023

    Excellent care & professionalism with Dr. Pohar and his staff ALL.

    Reviewed on April 30, 2023

    Excellent care received from Dr. Pohar.

    Reviewed on April 12, 2023

    Dr. Kamal Pohar has provided EXCELLENT care for me and is the most thorough, helpful, courteous, informative physician I've ever dealt with. Can't say enough about him!

  • Publications

    August 24, 2024

    Bladder-sparing Therapy for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-unresponsive Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer: International Bladder Cancer Group Recommendations for Optimal Sequencing and Patient Selection.

    Li R, Hensley PJ, Gupta S, Al-Ahmadie H, Babjuk M, Black PC, Brausi M, Bree KK, Fernández MI, Guo CC, Horowitz A, Lamm DL, Lerner SP, Lotan Y, Mariappan P, McConkey D, Mertens LS, Mir C, Ross JS, O'Donnell M, Palou J, Pohar K, Steinberg G, Soloway M, Spiess PE, Svatek RS, Tan WS, Taoka R, Buckley R, Kamat AM

    Eur Urol

    March 24, 2024

    Racial Differences in the Detection Rate of Bladder Cancer Using Blue Light Cystoscopy: Insights from a Multicenter Registry.

    Ladi-Seyedian SS, Ghoreifi A, Konety B, Pohar K, Holzbeierlein JM, Taylor J, Kates M, Willard B, Taylor JM, Liao JC, Kaimakliotis HZ, Porten SP, Steinberg GD, Tyson MD, Lotan Y, Daneshmand S, Blue Light Cystoscopy With Cysview Registry Group

    Cancers (Basel)

    February 10, 2024

    Roles of Androgen Receptor Signaling in Urothelial Carcinoma.

    Sundi D, Collier KA, Yang Y, Diaz DA, Pohar KS, Singer EA, Gupta S, Carson WE, Clinton SK, Li Z, Messing EM

    Cancers (Basel)

    December 11, 2023

    Interruptions in bladder cancer care during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

    Gore JL, Follmer K, Reynolds J, Nash M, Anderson CB, Catto JWF, Chamie K, Daneshmand S, Dickstein R, Garg T, Gilbert SM, Guzzo TJ, Kamat AM, Kates MR, Lane BR, Lotan Y, Mansour AM, Master VA, Montgomery JS, Morris DS, Nepple KG, O'Neil BB, Patel S, Pohar K, Porten SP, Riggs SB, Sankin A, Scarpato KR, Shore ND, Steinberg GD, Strope SA, Taylor JM, Comstock BA, Kessler LG, Wolff EM, Smith AB

    Urol Oncol

    April 13, 2023

    Heterogeneity of BCG unresponsive bladder cancer clinical trials limits patients' access to novel therapeutics.

    Chandra M, Li R, Parwani A, Carson WE, Pohar K, Sundi D

    Urol Oncol

    January 1, 2023

    Advancing Clinical Trial Design for Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

    Chang E, Hahn NM, Lerner SP, Fallah J, Agrawal S, Kamat AM, Bhatnagar V, Svatek RS, Jaigirdar AA, Bross P, Shore N, Kates M, Sachse K, Brewer JR, O'Donnell MA, Steinberg GD, Viviano CJ, Bloomquist E, Ribal MJ, Galsky MD, Oliver R, Black PC, Al-Ahmadie H, Brothers K, Pohar K, Dinney CP, Feng Z, Downs TM, Porten SP, Smith AB, Bangs R, Psutka SP, Agarwal N, Amiri-Kordestani L, Suzman DL, Pazdur R, Kluetz PG, Weinstock C

    Bladder Cancer

    June 21, 2022

    Safety of repeat blue light cystoscopy with hexaminolevulinate (HAL) in the management of bladder cancer: Results from a phase III, comparative, multi-center study.

    Pohar KS, Patel S, Lotan Y, Trabulsi E, Woods M, Downs T, Huang WC, Jones J, Taylor J, O'Donnell M, Bivalacqua TJ, DeCastro J, Steinberg G, Kamat AM, Resnick MJ, Konety B, Schoenberg M, Jones JS, Daneshmand S, Flexible Blue Light Study Group Collaborators

    Urol Oncol

    April 14, 2022

    The safety, tolerability, and efficacy of a neoadjuvant gemcitabine intravesical drug delivery system (TAR-200) in muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients: a phase I trial.

    Daneshmand S, Brummelhuis ISG, Pohar KS, Steinberg GD, Aron M, Cutie CJ, Keegan KA, Maffeo JC, Reynolds DL, Raybold B, Chau A, Witjes JA

    Urol Oncol

  • Consulting and Related Relationships

    At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, we support a faculty member’s research and consulting in collaboration with medical device, research and/or drug companies because a faculty member’s expertise can guide important advancements in the practice of medicine and improve patient care. In order to provide effective management of these relationships, the university requires annual disclosures from all faculty members with external interests related to their university responsibilities. As of 09/30/2024, Dr. Pohar has reported relationships with the companies or entities listed below. If you have questions about the relationships listed below, please ask the faculty member. If you have questions about how these relationships are monitored by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, please contact our Compliance Office.

    • CG Oncology Inc