The Gerald D. and Helen M. Stephens Center for Stone Disease pushes the frontier of advanced stone research. One of the first of its kind in the nation, the center researches the causes of urological stone disease to provide better treatments, prevention and quality of life. Our team also studies risk factors for developing stone diseases, such as bladder and kidney stones, thereby providing early intervention and treatment.

Goals of the Center

• Develop technologies and techniques for accurate diagnostics and surgical removal of stones.
• Collect and study biological stone samples for risk prediction and development of personalized treatment plans.
• Improve patient care and quality of life for people who have, or are at risk for, stone disease.
• Educate future doctors and researchers to sustain progress in better understanding, treating and caring for patients with stones.

Conditions We Treat

• Bladder stones
• Kidney stones

Founding the Stephens Center

Gerald D. and Helen M. Stephens, establishing donors of the Stephens Center for Stone Disease

The Gerald D. and Helen M. Stephens Center for Stone Disease launched in 2018 through the generous philanthropy of established business leader Gerald “Jerry” Stephens and his wife, Helen.

In 1961, Stephens founded RLI Corp., a specialty insurance company headquartered in Peoria, Illinois. Over the next 50 years, Stephens grew his company through a relentless focus on innovation and kept his eye toward opportunity until eventually reaching a national audience. Since retiring in 2011, Stephens, along with his wife, has enabled a similar pursuit at Johns Hopkins to advance stone disease care. With their gift, Helen and Jerry aspire to help current and future generations that suffer from stone disease find the best treatments possible.

Learn more about the Gerald D. and Helen M. Stephens Center for Stone Disease and the generosity of the Stephens family.