Frequently Asked Questions

(updated October 24th, 2018)

What is a Urologist?

A urologist is a physician who specializes in diseases and treatment, including surgery, of the genitals and urinary tract.  This can include problems affecting the adrenal glands, kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate, urethra, penis, testicles, scrotum, epididymides, and vagina.

How long have you been practicing Urology?

I graduated medical school in 2003, completed Urology residency from 2003 to 2009 and have been in private practice since 2009.  I have been practicing in Maui since 2016.

In your practice, what are the most common medical concerns you see in patients when they come in for an appointment?

Kidney stones, urinary difficulties from enlarged prostate, urinary incontinence (leakage) in women and men, vaginal prolapse (bulging from the vagina), erectile dysfunction in men, recurring urinary tract infections, pain or dryness with sex in women, vasectomy counseling and in-office procedures for sterilization (permanent birth control), groin (inguinal) hernias, hematuria (blood in the urine) and diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the kidneys, adrenals, ureters, bladder, prostate, urethra, penis and testicles.  We also treat and repair many congenital genital abnormalities, such as undescended testicles and hernias in children.

 Are any of these common occurrences preventable?

 Many, but not all genitourinary problems are preventable.  For example, kidney stones are often the result of chronic dehydration with high protein and high salt diet.  Some of the popular high protein diets right now (e.g. Atkins and paleo diets) are the perfect set-up for making kidney stones if you’re not keeping well hydrated at all times.  Eating lots of meat with soy sauce is another.  Most bladder cancers are the result of tobacco use.  Other problems, such as prostate and kidney cancer, have as much or more a genetic component as they do diet and environment, so the key to those is early detection and treatment, before they get out of hand.

What types of surgeries are you able to provide patients with when necessary?

We can perform almost any genitourinary surgery right here on Maui.  Many of our surgeries are quick outpatient procedures done at Aloha Surgery Center, in Kahului.  Some of our bigger surgeries are done in the main operating room at Maui Memorial, such as removing a cancer-containing kidney or prostate.  Fortunately, even these surgeries usually are done in a minimally-invasive manner with small incisions and relatively short hospitalizations.  Most of our smaller procedures, like vasectomies and cystoscopy with botox (to treat overactive bladder and urge urinary incontinence) are done right here in the office.  The vasectomy procedure we perform is with no needle, no knife and no stitch, and the botox procedure is done with no incision at all, so they’re as minimally invasive as procedures can be.

If there was only one thing you want all of your patients to know, what would it be?

Many patients come in with significant anxiety about their problems and about the potential treatments.  Fortunately, we’re great at allaying your concerns, both through our compassion and through sharing the wealth of knowledge that our mentors shared with us.  One of my passions is teaching patients about their bodies and how they and any potential treatments work.  I prefer patients to understand what’s going on and make a well-balanced and informed decision for any treatment they may decide upon.  When it comes to office-based procedures, most patients walk out saying, “that was way easier than I expected”.  That’s our goal.

Outside of work, what do you like to do for fun?

I have a beautiful family with kids that are active in sports and various extracurricular activities, so we spend much of our time encouraging them and helping them pursue their goals.  I try to surf multiple times per week, depending on the swells and the weather. We travel to snowboard and just to explore.  Other than that, I love most outdoor activities and we’ve made some close connections here in Maui, so we’re enjoying continuing to explore and take in all that the island has to offer.  It’s always been easy to see why people say Maui no ka oi, but even more so now that we call this our home. Mahalo to everyone who has welcomed us to the community.