Carol Davis-Dao
•Manager of Research Programs, Division of Urology, Rady Children's Health, Orange County
•Assistant Project Scientist, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Department of Urology
Biography
Carol Davis-Dao, Ph.D., is Manager of Research Programs in the Division of Urology at Rady Children's Health, Orange County and Assistant Project Scientist in the Department of Urology at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. She directs the urology research team at CHOC, managing all aspects of urology research including study design, data analysis, and manuscript development. Davis-Dao received a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, where her doctoral dissertation examined the role of steroid hormones in the etiology of urologic diseases.
Davis-Dao's research focuses on pediatric urology, with particular emphasis on prenatal hydronephrosis, vesicoureteral reflux, and neurogenic bladder. She has contributed to the development of prognostic tools for pediatric urologic conditions, including work on the Posterior Urethral Valve Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease (PURK) score and the Hydronephrosis Outcome Prediction (HOP) score. Her work spans multiple collaborative research networks, including the Society for Fetal Urology Prenatal Hydronephrosis Registry and the Western Pediatric Urology Consortium.
Davis-Dao is a Research Scientist Member of the American Urological Association and serves on the Societies for Pediatric Urology Hydronephrosis Task Force. She has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications and presented more than 50 abstracts at scientific meetings. Her earlier research at USC examined genetic and hormonal factors in testicular cancer, cryptorchidism, bladder cancer, and male infertility, with several publications investigating androgen receptor gene variations and their associations with urologic conditions.
Return to topEducation
- B.A. in Biological Sciences, Smith College, 2001
- M.S. in Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, 2005
- Ph.D. in Epidemiology, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, 2011
Areas of Expertise
- Pediatric Urology
- Hydronephrosis Management
- Vesicoureteral Reflux
- Hypospadias Repair
- Neurogenic Bladder
- Posterior Urethral Valves
- Machine Learning Risk Prediction
Recent Publications
- Skowronski K., Davis-Dao C., Herndon C.D.A., Braga L.H., “Letter to the Editor re: “Applying the pyeloplasty predictive score in patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction”” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 22, 2026.
- Kim JK, Szymanski KM, Misseri R, Reddy P, Strine A, Vanderbrink BA, Mcleod D, Jayanthi R, Davis-Dao C, Khoury A, Comella A, Taghavi K, Kattini R, Wang ZTP, Dave S, Boswell T, Bicknell BT, Merguerian P, Santos JD, Lorenzo AJ, et al., “Predicting progression to renal replacement therapy in children with posterior urethral valves: international validation of the secondary use of the posterior urethral valve risk of chronic kidney disease (PURK) score” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 21, pp. S1477-5131(25)00399-7, 2025.
- Lockwood GM, Leach AJ, Shelton J, Carter KD, Hansen J, Edwards A, Storm DW, Zee RS, Ebert K, Wojcik L, Cannon ST, Chamberlin JD, Sheth K, Fox J, Braga LH, Welch V, Khoury AE, Kern NG, Davis-Dao C, Dudley AG, et al., “Interrater reliability of objective and subjective measures of urinary tract dilation by pediatric urologists: A multicenter analysis” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 21, pp. 1764-1770, 2025.
- Huen KH, Davis-Dao CA, Schaeffer A, Fendereski K, Nguyen V, Marietti-Shepherd S, Sturm RM, Rutherford E, Wehbi EJ, Chuang KW, Khoury AE, Stephany HA, Western Pediatric Urology Consortium, “Smooth sailing or rocky road in navigating the ureteral orifice: Does preoperative tamsulosin improve success of primary ureteroscopy in children?” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, 2025.
- Kim JK, Yadav P, Bitcon C, Keefe D, Comella A, Taghavi K, Kattini R, Davis-Dao CA, Khoury AE, Khondker A, Chua M, Wehbi EJ, Chuang KW, Heidi SA, Wang ZTP, Dave S, Boswell T, Bicknell BT, Ansari MS, Romao R, et al., “Development and international validation of a novel multivariate prognostic tool: posterior urethral valve risk of chronic kidney disease (PURK) score” (opens in new tab), Pediatric Nephrology, vol. 40, pp. 2267-2276, 2025.
- Macaraeg AM, Alshehabi SM, Huen KH, Davis-Dao CA, Williamson SH, Boswell TC, Chalmers C, Stephany HA, Chuang KW, Wehbi EJ, Kain ZN, Kaplan SH, Khoury AE, “Experiences and barriers with home bladder manometry in the pediatric neurogenic bladder population: A qualitative study” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 173-180, 2025.
- Huen KH, Davis-Dao CA, Sayrs L, Ehwerhemuepha L, Martin-King C, Kain Z, “Adults with Spina Bifida Fare Worse Than Young Adults: A Systemic Vulnerability in Urinary Tract Infection-Related Hospital Care” (opens in new tab), Journal of Urology, vol. 212, no. 5, pp. 749-756, 2024.
- Wehbi EJ, Davis-Dao CA, Williamson SH, Herndon CDA, Chamberlin JD, Dudley AG, Cannon S, Lockwood GM, Kern NG, Zee RS, Braga LH, Welch V, Chuang KW, McGrath M, Stephany HA, Khoury AE, “The conundrum of high-grade hydronephrosis with non-obstructive drainage on diuretic renography” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 20, pp. S11-S17, 2024.
- Boswell TC, Davis-Dao CA, Williamson SH, Chamberlin JD, Nguyen T, Chuang KW, Stephany HA, Wehbi EJ, Khoury AE, “Endoscopic treatment of primary obstructive megaureter with high pressure balloon dilation in infants” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 67-74, 2024.
- Yamashiro JR, Austin JC, Braga LH, Chuang KW, Davis-Dao CA, Hecht S, Holzman SA, Khoury AE, Kurzrock EA, Lerman SE, McGrath M, Merguerian PA, Saltzman AF, Schaeffer AJ, Seideman C, Singer JS, Wang P, Wehbi EJ, Wu HY, Sturm RM, “Identifying variability in surgical practices and instrumentation for hypospadias repair across the Western Pediatric Urology Consortium (WPUC) network” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 19, pp. 277-283, 2023.
- Huen KH, Macaraeg A, Davis-Dao CA, Kashmiri H, Williamson SH, Boswell TC, Thomas JE, Suhale Z, Wehbi EJ, Chuang KW, Stephany HA, Khoury AE, “Recurrent Ventral Curvature After Corporoplasty with Tunica Vaginalis Flap” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 38.e1-38.e7, 2023.
- Huen K.H., Macaraeg A., Davis-Dao C.A., Williamson S.H., Boswell T.C., Suhale Z., Chamberlin J.D., Chuang K.-W., Stephany H.A., Wehbi E.J., Khoury A.E., “The double-face onlay-tube-onlay transverse preputial flap: An advantageous alternative to the two-stage hypospadias repair?” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 19, pp. 701-701.e8, 2023.
- Huen KH, Macaraeg A, Davis-Dao CA, Williamson SH, Boswell TC, Chuang KW, Stephany HA, Wehbi EJ, Khoury AE, “Single-Layer Acellular Porcine Bladder Matrix as Graft in Corporoplasty for Ventral Curvature in Pediatric Proximal Hypospadias Repair: An Initial Experience” (opens in new tab), Urology, vol. 169, pp. 196-201, 2022.
- Chamberlin JD, Braga LH, Davis-Dao CA, Herndon CA, Holzman SA, Herbst KW, Zee RS, McGrath M, Kern NG, Welch VW, Dudley AG, “Continuous antibiotic prophylaxis in isolated prenatal hydronephrosis” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 18, pp. 363-363.e7, 2022.
- Huen KH, Chamberlin JD, Macaraeg A, Davis-Dao CA, Holzman SA, Beqaj L, Abdelhalim A, Mahmoud R, Stephany HA, Chuang KW, Wehbi EJ, “Home bladder pressure measurements correlate with urodynamic storage pressures and high-grade hydronephrosis in children with spina bifida” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 18, pp. 503-503.e7, 2022.
- Holzman S.A., Davis-Dao C.A., Khoury A.E., “From Conception to Adulthood: The Impact of Androgens on Abnormalities of Male Genital Development and Size” (opens in new tab), Androgens, vol. 3, pp. 80-84, 2022.
- Williamson S.H., Davis-Dao C.A., Huen K.H., Ehwerhemuepha L., Chuang K.-W., Stephany H.A., Wehbi E.J., Kain Z.N., “Timely orchiopexy by 18 months of age: Are we meeting the standards defined by the 2014 AUA guidelines?” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 18, pp. 683-683.e7, 2022.
Most Cited Publications
- Davis-Dao CA, Tuazon ED, Sokol RZ, Cortessis VK, “Male infertility and variation in CAG repeat length in the androgen receptor gene: a meta-analysis” (opens in new tab), Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 92, no. 11, pp. 4319-4326, 2007.
- Davis-Dao CA, DeLellis Henderson K, Sullivan-Halley J, Ma H, West D, Xiang YB, Gago-Dominguez M, Stern MC, Castelao JE, Conti D, Pike MC, Bernstein L, Cortessis VK, “Lower risk in parous women suggests hormonal factors important in bladder cancer etiology” (opens in new tab), Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, vol. 20, no. 6, pp. 1156-70, 2011.
- Banks K, Tuazon E, Berhane K, Koh CJ, De Filippo RE, Chang A, Kim SS, Daneshmand S, Davis-Dao CA, Lewinger JP, Bernstein L, Cortessis VK, “Cryptorchidism and testicular germ cell tumors: comprehensive meta-analysis reveals that association between these conditions diminished over time and is modified by clinical characteristics” (opens in new tab), Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), vol. 3, no. 182, pp. 1-11, 2013.
- Davis-Dao CA, Koh CJ, Hardy BE, Chang A, Kim SS, De Filippo R, Hwang A, Pike MC, Carroll JD, Coetzee GA, Vandenberg D, Siegmund K, Cortessis VK, “Shorter androgen receptor CAG repeat lengths associated with cryptorchidism risk among Hispanic white boys” (opens in new tab), Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 97, no. 3, pp. E393-9, 2012.
- Holzman SA, Braga LH, Zee RS, Herndon CDA, Davis-Dao CA, Kern NG, Chamberlin JD, McGrath M, Chuang KW, Stephany HA, Wehbi EJ, Nguyen TT, Dudley AG, Welch VW, Lockwood GM, Farhat WA, Khoury AE, “Risk of urinary tract infection in patients with hydroureter: An analysis from the Society of Fetal Urology Prenatal Hydronephrosis Registry” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 17, pp. 775-781, 2021.
- Davis-Dao CA, Siegmund KD, Vandenberg DJ, Skinner EC, Coetzee GA, Thomas DC, Pike MC, Cortessis VK, “Heterogeneous effect of androgen receptor CAG tract length on testicular germ cell tumor risk: shorter repeats associated with seminoma but not other histologic types” (opens in new tab), Carcinogenesis, vol. 32, no. 8, pp. 1238-43, 2011.
- Holzman SA, Ahn JJ, Baker Z, Chuang KW, Copp HL, Davidson J, Davis-Dao CA, Ewing E, Ko J, Lee V, Macaraeg A, Nicassio L, Sadighian M, Stephany HA, Sturm R, Swords K, Wang P, Wehbi EJ, Khoury AE, “A multicenter study of acute testicular torsion in the time of COVID-19” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 478.e1-478.e6, 2021.
- Davis-Dao CA, Cremer M, Felix J, Cortessis VK, “The effect of cervicitis on visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA)” (opens in new tab), Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 282-6, 2008.
- Holzman SA, Chamberlin JD, Davis-Dao CA, Le DT, Delgado VA, Macaraeg AM, Dorgalli C, Chuang KW, Stephany HA, Wehbi EJ, Khoury AE, “Retractable foreskin reduces urinary tract infections in infant boys with vesicoureteral reflux” (opens in new tab), Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 209.e1-209.e6, 2021.
- Holzman SA, Davis-Dao CA, Khoury AE, Fortier MA, Kain Z, “Telemedicine and patient satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic: A case-control study of outpatient pediatric urology patients” (opens in new tab), Journal of Child Health Care, vol. 27, pp. 351-359, 2021.
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Last updated on 5/19/2026.