Department of Urologic Surgery

The Surgical Team

Studies have shown that patient outcomes after radical prostatectomy correlate with surgeon and hospital experience.  At Vanderbilt, we have performed over 5000 radical prostatectomies.  We have been able to transfer this experience to robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy to combine the advantages of both approaches.

At Vanderbilt, we have developed a surgical team for robotic prostate surgery based upon our extensive experience with radical prostatectomy.  The team approach combines the talents and experience of fellowship-trained urologic cancer surgeons and highly experienced laparoscopic urologic surgeons with advanced fellowship training.  Since robotic prostatectomy requires both a table side team and console surgeon, this team approach has provided the optimal combination of surgical innovations and surgeon experience and skills. 

Dr. Joseph A. Smith, Jr., Professor and Chair of the Department of Urologic Surgery, completed a fellowship in Urologic Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.  He is President of the American Board of Urology, President of the Southeastern Section of the American Urological Association, and Past-President of the Society of Urologic Oncology.  He is one of the most experienced surgeons in the world in treatment of Urologic cancers and has performed over 2,000 radical prostatectomies. 

Dr. S. Duke Herrell, Associate Professor, is fellowship-trained in laparoscopic Urologic surgery.  He has extensive experience with laparoscopic treatment of Urologic cancers and has served as an expert instructor for robotic prostatectomies at various sites throughout the country.  He is the Director of the Vanderbilt Robotics Committee.

Dr. Michael S. Cookson, Professor and Director of the Urologic Oncology Fellowship at Vanderbilt, is fellowship-trained in Urologic Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He is a highly experienced minimally invasive Urologic Oncologist and a skilled open and robotic surgeon. In terms of minimally invasive surgery, his skills include robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, cystectomy and partial nephrectomy as well as laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Dr. Sam S. Chang, Associate Professor, is also fellowship trained in Urologic Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.  Dr. Chang has an interest in innovative treatments of prostate cancer including robotic surgery.

Dr. Rodney Davis, Professor, completed a fellowship in Urologic Oncology at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.  He was the Director of Urologic Oncology at Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans before joining the faculty at Vanderbilt.  He is a highly experienced minimally invasive Urologic Oncology and a skilled robotic surgeon.

Dr. Daniel Barocas, Assistant Professor, completed a fellowship in Urologic Oncology here at Vanderbilt Medical Center.  He brings a wealth of robotic skill and expertise that he developed in his training at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center and has continued to advance here at Vanderbilt.  His interests include robotically-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, cystectomy, and partial nephrectomy in addition to treatment for a broad range of Urologic Oncology conditions. 

Dr. Peter E. Clark, Associate Professor, completed his fellowship training in Urologic Oncology at University of Southern California, Kenneth Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles, California.  In addition to his surgical practice, Dr. Clark also is active in Urologic Oncology research.