There are just 400 urologists in all of the United States and Canada.
Twenty-five-bed Gifford Medical Center in tiny Randolph, Vt., has two part-time urologists seeing patients in Randolph and White River Junction, a full-time urology physician assistant with more than a decade of experience and just added a world-renowned urologist to its staff – full time.
Dr. Richard Graham has practiced urology for 27 years, performed some of the first da Vinci (robotic- and computer-assisted minimally invasive) surgeries, including the first da Vinci surgery in urology in the world and the first prostate surgery using da Vinci in America.
He has also performed more than 3,000 laparoscopic surgeries around the world, including in Italy, Russia, South America, England, Canada and the United States. He’s done more than 300 laparoscopic kidney transplants, been a leader in teaching laparoscopic surgeries at the Cleveland Clinic and Duke University, and is now seeing patients full-time at Gifford in Randolph and the Twin River Health Center in White River Junction.
Dr. Graham is board certified in urology by the American Board of Urology, has many research and publications as well as hospital and academic appointments to his credit, and is a member of a host of professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Urological Association, the American Fertility Society and the International Society for Minimally Invasive Therapy.
He was born in Virginia, and spent his entire academic career there, attending Episcopal High School in Alexandria, the University of Virginia and then the Medical College of Virginia. He went on to work at Virginia Urology and then Urological Specialists of Virginia, both in Richmond.
The decision to leave his lifelong home was a difficult one, but his family wanted to move to New England. The decision to choose 25-bed Gifford and the medical center’s small White River Junction practice over bigger institutions was far easier.
“I talked to (Gifford Vice President of the Surgery Division) Rebecca (O’Berry). We were sold in 20 seconds,” says an outgoing and friendly Dr. Graham.
“It’s an incredibly gorgeous place and the people are probably as nice as people anywhere in the world,” he adds.
At Gifford, Dr. Graham will provide general urology care as well as laparoscopic kidney and bladder surgeries for conditions like male and female incontinence (including “sling” procedures), treat upper urinary tract disease and evaluate prostate conditions.
“We feel extremely fortunate to have been able to bring someone of Dr. Graham’s caliber to our community, especially since urology is such a highly sought after specialty yet scarce in many areas of the country,” says O’Berry. “Not only is Dr. Graham very skilled at what he does, but he is also extremely personable and clearly loves caring for patients.”
This veteran, world-class physician is now living in Norwich. He is married with four sons. In his free time he enjoys skiing and playing lacrosse. He is a former lacrosse coach, including serving as the University of Virginia’s women’s head coach.