Fernando Kim, MD, MBA, FACS, presented “Caring for Underserved and Vulnerable Populations for Over 23 Years” during the 42nd Annual Ralph E. Hopkins Urology Seminar on February 1, 2023, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
How to cite: Kim, Fernando J. “Caring for Underserved and Vulnerable Populations for Over 23 Years.” February 1, 2023. Accessed Apr 2026. https://grandroundsinurology.com/caring-for-underserved-and-vulnerable-populations-for-over-23-years-2/
Caring for Underserved and Vulnerable Populations for Over 23 Years – Summary
Fernando Kim, MD, MBA, FACS, Chief Emeritus of Urology at Denver Health Medical Center and Professor of Surgery/Urology at the University of Colorado at Denver, shares insights gathered from his more than 23 years of caring for underserved and vulnerable populations. Dr. Kim describes some of the needs and characteristics of these populations, and gives examples of the traumatic experiences to which those populations are regularly exposed. He also emphasizes the importance of physicians understanding their patients’ cultures, communication styles, and needs so that they can effectively treat those patients.
He addresses time constraints for patients who cannot afford to be out of work, and how developing a minimally-invasive practice can help support those patients. He cites disparate oncological profiles along demographic lines, as well as research that supports multiple factors influencing patient treatment selection. For example, he explains that, especially for African-American men, the less invasive nature of cryoablation appeared to influence opinions regarding surgery for the treatment of localized prostate cancer.
Dr. Kim cites another study that reaffirms the importance in health disparities research of modeling interactions between race/ethnicity and variables that reflect diverse aspects of a patient’s socioeconomic circumstances, since the research showed that doctors’ treatment recommendations were less aggressive for poor or indigent populations. He concludes by reemphasizing the importance of empathy, cultural humility, and understanding when working with vulnerable and underserved communities.
About The 42nd Annual Ralph E. Hopkins Urology Seminar:
The Ralph E. Hopkins Urology Seminar is a multi-day meeting focused on training urologists in the latest in assessing, diagnosing, and treating urologic conditions in the clinical setting. Updates are provided on urologic cancers, stone disease, urologic reconstruction, female urology, infertility, sexual function, emerging surgical techniques, and general urology. The 42nd iteration of the meeting took place from February 1st to 4th, 2023, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
For further educational activities from this conference, visit our collection page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fernando J. Kim, MD, MBA, FACS, is a Urologist with AdventHealth Medical Group in Riverview, Florida. Dr. Kim is active in the American Urological Association (AUA) as part of their leadership program, served as their host country liaison, and was awarded their Presidential Citation for his international relations and contributions to minimally invasive urological surgery. Dr. Kim served as president of the SCSAUA. He also received the Presidential Juscelino Kubitschek Medal from the Society of Brazilian Urology, the Ernest E. Moore Trauma Award, and the Societá Italiana di Urologia International Guest Recognition.
Dr. Kim earned his MD from the University of São Paulo in São Paolo, Brazil. He completed a research fellowship in Trauma Medicine and an internship in General Surgery at the University of Colorado in Denver. Dr. Kim then completed a residency in Urology at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. After which, he completed fellowships in Minimally Invasive Surgery, Endourology, and Urology at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Kim then earned his MBA in Healthcare Administration from the University of Colorado. He has also been certified in Clinical and Industrial Drug Development from MIT xPRO in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Dr. Kim is president of the South Central Section of the American Urological Association (SCSAUA), editor-in-chief ofAUA NEWS in Portuguese, and associate editor of theJournal of Urology Plusand thePatient Safety in Surgery Journal. He has received several research grants and is a primary investigator (PI) or co-PI, including studies of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, development of minimally invasive surgical techniques, and prostate cancer prevention in minority communities. He has over 200 published articles, book chapters, videos, and monographs.
