W. Bedford Waters (1948 – 2019)
MD Professor

Department of Urology at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville,
Director of the Urology Residency Program, and an employee of University Urology, PC.

W. Bedford Waters, MD is Professor and Chairman, Department of Urology at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, Director of the Urology Residency Program, and an employee of University Urology, PC.

He received an undergraduate degree in chemistry/pre-medical from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, 1970, and a medical degree from that same institution in 1974, the second African-American to graduate from Vanderbilt Medical School. He completed his internship and one-year residency in general surgery at the University of California, San Diego 1974-1976, followed by urologic training at the Harvard Program in Urology (Longwood Area) in Boston, Massachusetts 1976-1980. After residency, Dr. Waters became an Assistant Professor of Surgery (Urology) at the University of Illinois in Chicago. One year later, he joined the faculty at Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, where he remained for twenty years. He joined the staff at The University of Tennessee Medical Center in 2001, where is Professor and Chairman, Department of Urology and Program Director. Dr. Waters has trained 66 residents in his academic career. Dr. Waters has authored over 75 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 18 book chapters, and given over 180 presentations at local, national, and international meetings. He received the Excellence in Teaching Award June 2016 from the University Of Tennessee Graduate School Of Medicine.

Dr. Waters has extensive experience in the treatment of urologic cancers, focusing on renal cancer, testis cancer, bladder cancer and urinary diversion. He has served as a leader of many regional and national organizations: Society of Urologic Oncology, Urology Section National Medical Association, Chicago Urological Society, Illinois Urological Society, Society of University Urologists, and The American College of Surgeons. Dr. Waters is involved in the local chapter of the American Cancer Society, and was member of the Mid-South Division Board of Directors 2009-2012. He was a 2017 Hope Gala Honoree, American Cancer Society November 10, 2017. He has been active in promoting early prostate cancer detection in the African-American community.

He has served as a member of the Examination Committee of The American Board of Urology, Inc. (1995-1999). He is a Trustee Emeritus of the American Board of Urology, Inc, serving as President 2008-2009, Secretary-Treasurer, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Chairman of the Finance Committee, Chairman of the Recertification Committee, and Representative to the American College of Surgeons while serving on the American Board of Urology from 2003-2009. Dr. Waters finished a three-year term (2009-2012) as Chairman of the Maintenance of Certification Committee of the American Board of Urology. Dr. Waters was elected an active member of the prestigious American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons in 2008 (the first African-American to be elected to this society). He was selected a Fellow at the April 2013 meeting. He was selected a physician member to the University Health Systems, Inc. Board of Directors July 2015-2018, 2018-2021. He is President Vanderbilt Medical Alumni Association Board of Directors 2018-2020. He was recognized as An Unrepresented Minority in Medicine by Vanderbilt Medical School on Dec 17, 2019 with a portrait unveiling ceremony. He is the recipient of the 2019 American Urological Association Life-Time Achievement Award which will be presented on May 6, 2019 at the AUA Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.