Texas Center for Urology

By Meredith Knight

James Kelley has no problem putting himself in his patients’ shoes. He knows all too well what it feels like to be on the receiving end of medical care. When he was a teen, a hip disorder landed him in a wheelchair for two years followed by a complete hip replacement at age 21. He learned firsthand the difference a compassionate and caring doctor can make, and that knowledge informs his practice of medicine, every day. For Dr. Kelley, one of the best aspects of his job is getting to know and care for his patients and the greatest compliment he can receive is when someone considers him to be “their doctor”.

“My goal is to provide my patients with a well-rounded and patient-centered approach to their urologic care, treating them as a whole person rather than just a disorder, diagnosis, or problem,” he said. “Patients tell me I’m easy to talk to, and they feel things were explained well and discussed in ways they can understand. Certainly, that began with me being a patient first and a doctor second.”

That mindset also helps him understand the importance of serving as his patients’ advocate and taking the time to guide them toward the best options for their treatment. “No two patients are exactly the same,” he said. “I like to spend as much time as it takes with each patient so they can feel comfortable with treatment plans going forward. I always want them to feel they have a voice in making decisions about their own care.”

Urology has been the perfect specialty for Dr. Kelley. “It’s a rapidly advancing field where I can follow my patients for years,” he said. “And I’m able to treat problems that greatly improve my patients’ quality of life. My goal is to treat every patient like a member of my family. They can rest assured any treatment options I discuss I’d also recommend to my family and friends.”

Dr. Kelley is trained in the DaVinci robotic surgery system, which allows him to provide a minimally invasive surgical approach for multiple urologic diseases. But although he is a skilled and experienced surgeon, he believes in exhausting all non-surgical options before recommending surgery.

In his free time, Dr. Kelley participates in patient education events to help spread awareness regarding men’s health issues. There’s no doubt where his inspiration comes from though. “I’m most passionate about my family,” he said. “My beautiful wife, three daughters, and extended family are the most important things in the world to me. They’re the reason for everything I do.”