Pearls & Perspectives: Collaboration, Confidence, and Curvature, with Alexander Tatem, MD

In this episode of Pearls & Perspectives, host Amy Pearlman, MD, sits down with Alexander Tatem, MD, a fellowship-trained urologist specializing in men’s health and prosthetic urology, live from the 26th Annual Fall Scientific Meeting of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America in Grapevine, Texas. The two dive into the evolving landscape of urologic collaboration, innovation, and mindset — from empowering advanced practice providers to addressing imposter syndrome and expanding the boundaries of Peyronie disease treatment.

Tatem shares his experience attending the Women in Prosthetic Urology event, where his physician assistant, Kristen Gumpf, PA-C, served on a panel celebrating diversity and mentorship in a historically male-dominated subspecialty. He reflects on how essential women and advanced practice providers have become in men’s health practices — not just as team members, but as leaders driving clinical and cultural change.

The conversation takes an introspective turn as Pearlman and Tatem discuss imposter syndrome, a challenge often associated with women in medicine but one that transcends gender. Tatem shares how he combats self-doubt by focusing on patient outcomes, team collaboration, and continuous learning rather than external comparisons.

They also explore how APPs can practice at the top of their license, contributing meaningfully to research, education, and patient outreach. Together, they advocate for a more inclusive and transparent dialogue about professional growth and self-confidence within urology.

Switching gears, Tatem discusses his latest research on treating ventral curvature in Peyronie disease using collagenase clostridium histolyticum (Xiaflex)—a study showing that outcomes can be both safe and effective, challenging long-held assumptions from earlier clinical trials. He emphasizes that ventral injections, when performed carefully, should be accessible to trained urologists across practice settings, not just tertiary centers.

The episode closes on a personal note as Tatem shares his upcoming professional milestones, ongoing innovations in the penile implant space, and his plans to take his children to see The Lion King—a reminder that while urology is about restoring connection and intimacy for patients, maintaining relationships outside of the clinic is just as vital.