Robert H. Drury, MD
Tulane University School of Medicine
New Orleans, LA
Born and raised in Idaho, I am the youngest of seven children. We are a close-knit “yours, mine, and ours” family, a modern-day Brady Bunch. I met my beautiful wife, Hannah, while we were both attending Brigham Young University (BYU). Ironically, I was raised a Boise State Broncos fan and she a University of Utah enthusiast, both major rivals of BYU. After moving to New Orleans for medical school and falling in love with southern culture, Hannah and I were delighted to match at UF. We’ve been married for 7 years and have an energetic four-year-old son, Jude, and a tranquil five-month-old daughter, Amelia.
Why urology?
I didn’t “see the light” and convert to urology until the beginning of my third year of medical school. For the first two years, I had pursued research in trauma and critical care surgery. However, I realized I wanted more longitudinal relationships with my patients. I also desired a greater variety of surgical modalities (e.g., open, robotic, transurethral) and practice settings (e.g., high-acuity inpatient, low-acuity outpatient). When I discovered urology, it was a perfect combination of these things. Urologists also tend to be surgeons with great senses of humor, which always keeps things fun.
What are you looking forward to?
I am excited to finally “get my hands dirty” and become a urology resident. From seeing consults in the emergency department to operating using minimally invasive techniques, my training over the next five years will be both exciting and exhausting. During this dynamic time, I look forward to building lasting relationships with both my attendings and co-residents. Also, with one of my sisters being a pharmacist who did her schooling at UGA, I look forward to destroying the Georgia Bulldogs in football!
What are your hobbies?
I love listening to audiobooks while doing the dishes (latter part keeps my wife happy), sneaking in some daily weight training (using my son as a dumbbell), and engaging with wildlife (including too-close-for-comfort encounters with alligators).
A funny story
With BYU being rated the number one “stone-cold sober” school and Tulane University the top “party school,” I’ve experienced both ends of the spectrum. When my family and I moved from Utah to Louisiana, we’d heard some crazy stories about Mardi Gras traditions, etc. However, the Big Easy proved incredibly family friendly. I did, though, get flashed by someone on the street–though not in the expected way.
One day, on the way home from the hospital, a car sped towards me, going the wrong way on a one-way street. After stopping the car and yelling at me, the driver proceeded to stand up and expose himself. After collecting my thoughts, I realized he was a former urology patient. Apparently, he had a question that couldn’t wait for a more private setting. Needless to say, it was a memorable walk home from school.
