Georgia Urology Physicians In North Fulton Named Top Docs

ATLANTA, GA — Twenty-one physicians from Georgia Urology –the largest urology practice in the Southeast– rank among Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors. All of these professionals are recognized as Atlanta’s Top Doctors in "Atlanta" magazine’s July issue. More than 40 percent of the physicians in the publication’s urology category and all of the physicians in the pediatric urology category come from this one practice.

Those physicians are: Drs. Roosevelt Allen, David Banks, Carl Capelouto, Darrell Carmen, Bert Chen, Walter Falconer, Allen Futral, Lawrence Goldstone, Froylan Gonzalez, Mark Haber, Charles Kaplan, Andrew Kirsch, A. Keith Levinson, Jeffrey Proctor, Joel Rosenfeld, Hal Scherz, Brent Sharpe, Fred Shessel, Edwin Smith, Shaya Taghechian, and Barry Zisholtz. These doctors represent nearly 50 percent of Georgia Urology’s practice.

"Atlanta" magazine uses a database of top doctors compiled by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., an established healthcare research company based in New York, to assist in its annual effort. This year, the publication honors 860 physicians. Doctors are nominated for consideration through both a nationwide survey and a peer nomination process open to licensed physicians in Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, and Rockdale counties. Castle Connolly’s physician-led team of researchers then select the Top Doctors through a rigorous screening process that includes an evaluation of educational and professional experience.

According to Dr. Hal Scherz, managing partner of Georgia Urology, having a highly skilled and reputable staff affirms the practice’s longstanding mission.

“Curating and retaining a dream team of physicians to provide the best level of care to our patients continues to be a goal for Georgia Urology,” said Scherz, who was honored along with the rest of the doctors at the recent 2019 Atlanta magazine Top Doctors Reception at Atlanta History Center. “Receiving this type of honor is not only humbling, but confirms we’re reaching that objective.”

Dr. David W. Banks practices out of Georgia Urology’s Cumming and Roswell offices. Dr. Banks is fully trained in the most up-to-date urologic treatments such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and ureteroscopy for treatment of kidney stones. He earned both his undergraduate degree and Doctor of Medicine from Emory University. His post-graduate medical education included two years of training in general surgery followed by four years of specialty training in urologic surgery. Dr. Banks is certified by the American Board of Urology and is a member of the American Urological Association. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Lawrence Goldstone practices out of Georgia Urology’s Alpharetta and Sandy Springs offices. His areas of expertise include male infertility, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and prostate cancer. He received his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. He received his general surgery training at the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center and served his residency in urology at Baylor College of Medicine, where he also was a fellow in urologic oncology. He is a member of the American Board of Urology, the American Urological Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Fertility Society, the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction, and the American Society of Andrology. Dr. Goldstone also is a board member of the Atlanta Chapter of the American Jewish Committee.

Dr. Froylan Gonzalez practices out of Georgia Urology’s Canton and Sandy Springs offices. Dr. Gonzalez earned his B.A. with honors from Williams College. He then graduated from Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health. He completed his residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital – Washington University Medical Center in Saint Louis, Mo. He then served as clinical instructor of the Division of Urology at Washington University from 2006 to 2008 with a clinical specialty in laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Gonzalez also has additional postgraduate training in both laser and robotic surgery, his areas of expertise. He is a member of the American Medical Association and the Southeast section of the American Urological Association.

Dr. Mark A. Haber practices out of Georgia Urology’s Cumming and Sandy Springs offices. His areas of expertise include female urology, endourology, urologic oncology, and robotic surgery. He received his medical degree from the Emory University School of Medicine and completed an internship in internal medicine there, along with a residency in general surgery. He also completed a residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Urological Association.

Dr. Andrew J. Kirsch practices out of Georgia Urology’s Sandy Springs pediatrics office. His areas of expertise include pediatric urology. He has written about vesicoureteral reflux, cryptorchidism, and magnetic resonance urography. He received his medical degree from the State University of New York Health Science Center, where he received two research fellowship awards from the National Institutes of Health. He completed residencies in general surgery and urology at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed his fellowship in pediatric urology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where he was an American Foundation for Urologic Disease scholar. He has invented a surgical device and developed an endoscopic technique to correct urinary reflux in children that has become the standard of care worldwide. He is a member of the American Urological Association, American Association of Pediatric Urologists, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Society for Pediatric Urology. Dr. Kirsch is a multiple recipient of America’s Top Doctors honors by Castle Connolly.

Dr. Hal Scherz practices out of Georgia Urology’s Alpharetta, Marietta, and Sandy Springs pediatrics offices. He earned his medical degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He performed his surgical and urology residencies at the University of California, San Diego. He completed a fellowship in pediatric urology at the Children’s Hospital of San Diego and the University of California, San Diego. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics – Urology Section, the American Urological Association, Genitourinary Reconstructive Society, UROPAC, American Association of Clinical Urologists, American College of Surgeons, Medical Association of Georgia, and the Greater Atlanta Pediatric Society. Dr. Scherz also is an associate professor of urology at Emory University School of Medicine and is an original member of the board of directors for the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Ambulatory Surgery Center. He is the managing partner of Georgia Urology and Georgia Pediatric Urology. He has been recognized as a Top Doctor by Atlanta magazine every year since 2007.

Dr. Fred S. Shessel practices out of Georgia Urology’s Alpharetta and Sandy Springs offices. His areas of expertise include urinary incontinence, InterStim therapy, prostate disease, stone disease, and interstitial cystitis. He received his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine and completed his internship at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Shessel completed a fellowship in female urology and urodynamics at the Institute of Urology, London England. He also performed a residency at the University of Miami Hospital. Dr. Shessel is a member of the American Urological Association and American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Edwin A. Smith practices out of Georgia Urology’s Sandy Springs pediatrics and Marietta offices. He has a special interest and broad experience in the management of pediatric urinary stone disease and genitourinary reconstructive surgery. A graduate of Davidson College, he received his medical degree at Emory University School of Medicine. His general surgery internship and urology residency were completed at Emory University affiliated hospitals. Dr. Smith completed a two-year postgraduate fellowship in pediatric urology at Egleston Children’s Hospital and Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital. Dr. Smith is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Surgeons. He is also a member of several professional medical associations, including the American Urological Association, Society for Pediatric Urology, and the Society for Fetal Urology. Dr. Smith is a clinical faculty member at Emory University. He has published numerous scientific articles and book chapters.