Cookeville Regional welcomes new urologist

Dr. Robert Parham has a few “firsts” in his career.

He is the first surgeon to conduct robotic surgery in Texarkana, Texas, beginning in 2007 — the same year the robotic-surgery system was introduced in Cookeville.

“Robotic surgery has come a long way,” he said. “The 3D capabilities, the optics and the microscopic instruments really give surgeons the precision that results in faster healing times and shorter hospital stays.”

Parham is the newest surgeon to join the Upper Cumberland Urology group.

He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Then he completed a surgical internship and urologic residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.

“I always had an interest in the surgical fields, but was drawn to urologic surgery after my senior year externships in urology and kidney transplantation,” he said.

He practiced in Texas before coming to Cookeville, beginning in Texarkana and then most recently in Dallas-Fort Worth.

What brought him to Cookeville?

“After eight years of navigating the large Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, my wife and I wanted to relocate to a town with a strong sense of community,” he said. “We discovered what we were looking for when we visited Cookeville.”

“I love the family feeling this group of physicians creates,” he said. “We look forward to exploring all that Cookeville and Tennessee has to offer!”

He joins fellow urologist Dr. Aaron Moore in offering robotic surgery, prostate removal, partial nephrectomies, adrenal surgery, ureteral injury repairs, and removal of kidney blockages.

He has extensive experience in extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (a procedure to break up stones inside the urinary tract, bile ducts or pancreatic duct with a series of shock waves generated by a machine called a lithotripter), basic and advanced laparoscopy for urologic surgeons, hand assisted laparoscopy and radio frequency ablation physics, tissue and safety for lasers, and more.

With his arrival, he will be offering treatments for erectile dysfunction including the use of penile implants, treatments for male urinary incontinence utilizing artificial sphincters and male slings and will offer Cookeville his experience and success with Bulkamid as an alternative to mesh for female incontinence.

Parham is trained in other procedures as well, such as cryosurgery for prostate and kidney cancers, photovaporization of the prostate using GreenLight laser, Rezum water vapor therapy to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, tension free vaginal tape for female stress urinary incontinence and Optilume Stricture Treatment for strictures or narrowing of the male urethra.

He is also an assistant professor for TCU School of Medicine and a member of the American Urological Association and the American Association of Clinical Urologists.

Parham is board certified by the American Board of Urology.

He and his wife, Kim, a board-certified dermatologist, have three children.

“We’re excited to have Dr. Parham join the urology team,” said Paul Korth, Cookeville Regional CEO. “He brings a good deal of expertise and knowledge to the growing team of urologists here at Cookeville Regional.”

In addition to Dr. A. Moore, Parham joins Dr. Rick Smith and Dr. Lee Moore at the practice.

To set up an appointment with Dr. Robert Parham, call the Upper Cumberland Urology group at 931-783-4103.