What inspired you to work in sexual medicine?
Serendipity. I was in San Francisco on a 2-year neuro-stimulation fellowship with Dr. Tanagho as my supervisor and met a young, energetic new staff-person who was doing innovative and exciting animal work on erectile physiology - Tom Lue. The rest, as they say, is history.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your career?
Working with fellow urologists, trainees, fellows, residents, and medical students from around the world. I enjoy the clinical exposure, but most enjoy the ability to demonstrate and teach surgical techniques and watch them acquire new skills and understanding of the surgical approach. Outside the OR, I have been privileged to serve in several leadership positions within SMSNA (Secretary), the Canadian Urological Association (President), and the ISSM (President) and have derived enormous pleasure and satisfaction from seeing new members join, develop their careers, and flourish by networking in these societies.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I am actually very tall. The issue is that most people I meet are taller. Everything is relative.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
A very well-respected general surgeon took a liking to me as a first-year surgical resident at McGill in Montreal. He told me that it doesn't matter what you choose to do or become but you should aspire to be “the person” people think about when they have a clinical question about that area of medicine. Specialize in the left great toe and make it your own, or the left shoulder, or in my case, Peyronie’s disease. Aspire to be the authority of your area, publish on it, develop clinical approaches, and become the authority.
What would your ideal vacation be?
Anyplace where it is safe, my extended family can join my wife and myself, and it has a direct flight. Good internet connectivity is a must.
- London, Ontario
- Member of the Month: December 2023
