Retired Baltimore Urologist Credits Clinical Curriculum
Dr. Robert Gessler is a board certified urologist and fellow in the American Academy of Surgeons. With 32 years of experience in the field, Gessler explains that his primary reason for wanting to become a doctor stemmed from his deep-rooted interest in different forms of science and how the body functions. His goal, over the course of his career, has been to use what he learned and implement it in ways to help people with their health.
Dr. Gessler earned a bachelor of science from the University of Maryland, College Park and a medical degree from Georgetown University. He completed his residency in urology at Brown University. Even though Dr. Gessler recently retired from actively practicing medicine, he is still a known urologist and is affiliated with Central Maryland Urology Associates in Ellicott City.
What are the responsibilities of your current role?
"I actually retired from medicine last year. I am an urologist. My responsibilities include seeing patients in the office and performing necessary surgeries both inpatient and outpatient. Surgeries would include things such as kidney stone treatment, prostate cancer therapy, etc."
What is your favorite part about your daily duties?
"My favorite part of my daily activities is seeing patients and figuring out what their medical issues are and then treating those conditions."
How has your education and training prepared you for your current role?
"Georgetown University had a strong clinical curriculum that prepared us for what we were going to encounter as physicians."
What do you do to continue your education and training?
"First off, to maintain a license, a physician needs to have continuing medical education which would include conferences, online courses and lectures and specialty journal evaluation. A physician needs to obtain a certain amount of credits to keep their license. In urology, to maintain board certification, a certain amount of continuing education credits is necessary. And there are certain steps that need to be completed every two years followed by an extensive re-certification exam every 10 years. Since medicine is an always-changing field, one needs to keep up with current issues and information."
Do you have any advice for others looking to enter this field?
"Follow your dreams, be focused and read, read, read. Always ask questions...be inquisitive."
Laura Catherine Hermoza has a lifelong love for writing. In addition to serving as a contributor to various media publications, she is also a published novelist of several books and works as a proofreader/editor. LC resides in Baltimore County.
