This question is at the heart of Courtney Rowe, MD’s clinical and research mission.

Dr. Courtney Rowe cares for children born with differences in their bladder or urethra—children who often face complex, life-changing surgeries so they can grow up able to hold and empty their urine normally and live full, confident lives. At Connecticut Children’s, she serves as Director of the Reconstructive Urology Program and Director of the Scientific Center for Fetal & Neonatal Regenerative Medicine. She is also the recipient of the inaugural $50,000 research grant in 2022 from Connecticut Children’s Connection, a group of advocates and changemakers committed to advancing the future of children’s health.

Translating the challenges she sees in her patients into research, Dr. Rowe focuses on improving outcomes for children. In the Rowe Laboratory, she studies how children heal after reconstructive surgery, identifies gaps in surgical outcomes, and designs innovative solutions to improve recovery. From developing new techniques to prevent pain after surgery to exploring regenerative approaches that enhance healing, her work focuses on making surgery safer, recovery smoother, and long-term outcomes stronger.