Mission Statement

The University of Washington Department of Urology consistently ranks among the top urology programs in the country. Our four word motto reflects our mission: Heal, Comfort, Teach, and Wonder

As a clinical department, our emphasis is “to cure the patient when possible and comfort always.” This preoccupation applies not only to routine urologic management but also to the difficult and/or unusual conditions requiring special knowledge and skill. In addition, all professional members of this department have embraced this motto because they wish to teach by example. This teaching involves medical students, resident and fellow physicians, and colleagues in a way that enhances the care of the patient. Finally, most people are in academic medicine because they are intellectually fascinated with the wonder of medical biology and human nature. Clinical and applied laboratory research is a mission of this department and its national ranking is in part because of outstanding research productivity in many urologic subspecialties including cancer, infection, pediatrics, sexual function, transplantation, trauma, and women’s healthcare. As such, another major focus of the Department is to train urologic researchers and surgeon-scientists for the future.