Melody Ann Watral, CPNP-PC

After finishing college, I enrolled in pharmacy school. I spent a summer working with the abdominal transplant team in Detroit, Michigan. My first experience in the operating room (OR) was watching a kidney transplant. I found it remarkable the impact that the surgeon and the team had on this individuals’ life. That specific moment inspired me to enroll in medical school and eventually surgery. Seeing a surgeon is a stressful time in someone’s life. Being a part of an individual’s journey is truly a privilege and I take this responsibility seriously. In many instances, I will see a patient for many years, long beyond their initial surgery. As such, it is important to me to get to know my patients and their families and to be available to them throughout their journey. I enjoy all aspects of colorectal surgery. My specific interests include inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and diverticulitis. When I am not with patients, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I especially enjoy travelling, seeing new places and new cultures. I enjoy being outdoors and hiking.

I have always had a passion for education and teaching, helping others, and the science of medicine since I was very young. I love being an advanced practice provider because it allows me to be collaborative with other health care providers while providing optimal patient education. My approach to patient care is to combine expertise and knowledge with empathy and understanding to give the patient the best and most understanding patient care possible. Outside of work, I am very involved in community theater. It has always been a hobby of mine since I was young, and I still enjoy performing and volunteering whenever I can.

I am a urologist who specializes in taking care of patients with genitourinary cancers and runs a translational research lab. With the various treatment options available for patients with urologic cancers, I enjoy working with patients to identify the treatment choice that optimizes both their cancer outcome and personal goals. My research focuses on using genomic analysis of bladder and kidney tumors to learn more about alterations in the tumor and surrounding cells to improve treatment decisions and patient outcomes.