Joel Gelman, MD's Online Review Report Card

I am a physician and had a recurrent urethral stricture unable to be managed by repeat DVIU. I sought out a top urologist with an expertise in urethroplasty surgery. I was extremely impressed by Dr. Gelman right from the start. I was across the country at the time of having a suprapubic catheter, and I had multiple calls with him to discuss my case, imaging, and best timing for surgery. There was absolutely no delay in scheduling a consult and OR date on a Friday and Saturday to accommodate my coming in from out of state. At the time of meeting in person, I found Dr. Gelman's bedside manner to be outstanding and attention to detail to be similarly phenomenal. The surgery itself was ~5 hours and recovery with two catheters for 3 weeks went as expected. I was tube free with excellent function right on schedule, and had no evidence of recurrence at my 4 month follow up appointment. I am extremely satisfied with the outcome and hope anyone in my situation is able to have surgery with him.

I am a physician and had a recurrent urethral stricture unable to be managed by repeat DVIU. I sought out a top urologist with an expertise in urethroplasty surgery. I was extremely impressed by Dr. Gelman right from the start. I was across the country at the time of having a suprapubic catheter, and I had multiple phone calls with him to discuss my case, imaging, and best timing for surgery. There was absolutely no delay in scheduling a consult and OR date on a Friday and Saturday to accommodate my coming in from out of state. At the time of meeting in person, I found Dr. Gelman's bedside manner to be outstanding and attention to detail to be similarly phenomenal. The surgery itself was ~5 hours and recovery with two catheters for 3 weeks went as expected. I was tube free with excellent function right on schedule, and had no evidence of recurrence at my 4 month follow up appointment. I am extremely satisfied with the outcome and hope anyone in my situation is similarly able to have surgery with Dr. Gelman. Of note, his surgical coordinator, Denise, was similarly thorough, kind, and a pleasure to work with as well.

I had urethroplasty done by Dr. Gelman in April of 2022. I've since healed well and the surgery has been a success! I've seen a lot of urologists for treatment of urethral stricture, and Dr. Gelman is far and away the best. His knowledge, experience, and technical skill with treating urethral stricture is incredible. The actual experience of undergoing treatment and surgery with Dr. Gelman was overall much less painful and uncomfortable than I had expected it to be, and I have no doubt that Dr. Gelman's technical skill and respect for his patients' well-being played a large part in this experience. Denise, who works in Dr. Gelman's office, was informative and hugely helpful with scheduling appointments as well as any other questions I had a long the way. A big thank you to Dr. Gelman!

I had a urethral stricture since I was 14 as a result of an impact on the top-tube of a bicycle. For exactly 50-years I’d had a number of urethrotomy’s with both scalpel and lazar; I managed through self-dilation during those intervening 3-5 year periods. Through a lark I decided to change doctors to get a urologist closer to home. The new doctor referred me to Dr. Gelman. As it turns out, Dr. Gelman’s office is very close to where I live and he’s been doing urethral reconstruction since 1998 – and that’s all he does. Dr. Gelman went out of his way to describe the two procedure options and the likely outcome for each. He also did a good job setting up expectations and time-tables. The procedure went very well – in fact I had my 64th birthday in the hospital the day after the procedure – and I am now fully recovered. I can urinate without restriction and without any kind of urethral “management”. People come to see him from across the country – and from around the world.

I had a urethral stricture since I was 14 as a result of an impact on the top-tube of a bicycle. For exactly 50-years I’d had a number of urethrotomy’s with both scalpel and lazar; I managed through self-dilation during those intervening (approximately 5-years) periods. Through a lark I decided to change doctors to get a urologist closer to home. The new doctor referred me to Dr. Gelman. As it turns out, Dr. Gelman’s office is very close to where I live and he’s been doing urethral reconstruction since 1998 – and that’s all he does. Dr. Gelman went out of his way to describe the two procedure options and the likely outcome for each. He also did a good job setting up expectations and time-tables. The procedure went very well – in fact I had my 64th birthday the day after the procedure – and I am now fully recovered. I can urinate without restriction and without any kind of urethral “management”. Dr. Gelman is out-of-network, but it was worth every penny! What can I say? Dr. Gelman is thorough. And let me once again emphasize – urethral reconstruction is all he does! People come to see him from across the country – and from around the world.

Dr. Gelman is undoubtedly a world renowned expert in the field of urethral reconstruction for a reason. He and his staff were both professional and informative . His skills as a surgeon are unmatched.

Dr. Gelman is the very best at what he does. You are in good hands!

Dr. Gelman is the very best at what he does. You are in good hands!

horrible conceited authoritarian who lacks any bit of empathy or sympathy. The man treated me as an insignificance and did not try to listen nor understand me. I know my body I know I am suffering and nearly about to die, so I spend 300$ for an emergency tele consult just to get insulted and told I need to see a mental health doctor. Are you serious?? After speaking my mind he offers me a chance to meet him in person where I pay another 500$ where the nurse mentions I cannot empty my bladder completely and that there was blood in my urine. He never once mentions any of this to me, and simply says this isnt my specialty and refers me to someone else and doesnt even label it as urgent. Who knows when Ill be helped. This man utterly wasted my time and literally looked down on me as a nuisance. I begged and begged him for help as I thought I was in the greatest hands to be treated like this. Doctors are supposed to help people, this man didnt care at all just left me to die.

horrible conceited authoritarian who lacks any bit of empathy or sympathy. The man treated me as an insignificance and did not try to listen nor understand me. I know my body I know I am suffering and nearly about to die, so I spend 300$ for an emergency tele consult just to get insulted and told I need to see a mental health doctor. Are you serious?? After speaking my mind he offers me a chance to meet him in person where I pay another 500$ where the nurse mentions I cannot empty my bladder completely and that there was blood in my urine. He never once mentions any of this to me, and simply says this isn't my specialty and refers me to someone else and doesn't even label it as urgent. Who knows when I'll be helped. This man utterly wasted my time and literally looked down on me as a nuisance. I begged and begged him for help as I thought I was in the greatest hands to be treated like this. Doctors are supposed to help people, this man didn't care at all just left me to die.

I felt it was fate that brought Dr. Gelman into my familys life. Of course, like any other parent, I wanted a doctor with the most experience and the highest success rate to be my sons surgeon. My son had a urethral stricture which happened to be unprecedented. It was longer, extremely narrow, and its location in the urethra would make for an even more difficult surgery. Due to my sons very narrow stricture, he had an uncomfortable burning each time during urination. After surgery and when everything was removed, he was able to urinate free from any burning and with such a powerful stream like never before. Words cannot express how grateful my family is to Dr. Gelman and his team at UC Irvine Douglas Hospital, as well as his excellent assistant/secretary Denise. My son has recovered and is doing well. If you need urethral reconstruction I would feel extremely confident in recommending Dr. Gelman. Get it done right the first time. This has been lifechanging for my son.

I felt it was fate that brought Dr. Gelman into my family's life. Of course, like any other parent, I wanted a doctor with the most experience and the highest success rate to be my son's surgeon. My son had a urethral stricture which happened to be unprecedented. It was longer, extremely narrow, and its location in the urethra would make for an even more difficult surgery. Due to my son's very narrow stricture, he had an uncomfortable burning each time during urination. After surgery and when everything was removed, he was able to urinate free from any burning and with such a powerful stream like never before. Words cannot express how grateful my family is to Dr. Gelman and his team at UC Irvine Douglas Hospital, as well as his excellent assistant/secretary Denise. My son has recovered and is doing well. If you need urethral reconstruction I would feel extremely confident in recommending Dr. Gelman. Get it done right the first time. This has been life-changing for my son.

I would highly recommend Dr. Gelman for his expertise in urethral reconstruction. I waited over 20 years of my life dealing with this issue until I found the right doctor. Robert

I would highly recommend Dr. Gelman for his expertise and experience in urethral reconstruction. I waited over 20 years of my life dealing with this issue until I found the right doctor.

I would highly recommend Dr. Gelman for his expertise and experience in urethral reconstruction. I waited over 20 years of my life dealing with this issue until I found the right doctor.

Dr. Gelman is one of the best doctors I have ever had! I had reconstructive surgery back in 90s and have had no problems since then! He has such an excellent way with patients and deserves every bit of praise he gets. I had countless dilations for my structures before having the surgery, as well as an appendix removed. And his staff is just as special as he is! In my opinion, there is no one better.

Dr. Gelman is one of the best doctors I have ever had! I had reconstructive surgery back in 90s and have had no problems since then! He has such an excellent way with patients and deserves every bit of praise he gets. I had countless dilations for my strIctures before having the surgery, as well as an appendix removed. And his staff is just as special as he is! In my opinion, there is no one better. S. LEARY

Dr. Gelman is one of the best doctors I have ever had! I had reconstructive surgery back in 90's and have had no problems since then! He has such an excellent way with patients and deserves every bit of praise he gets. I had countless dilations for my structures before having the surgery, as well as an appendix removed. And his staff is just as special as he is! In my opinion, there is no one better.

My experience with Dr. Gelman from start to finish has been nothing but incredible. He is kind, knowledgeable and very skillful. I am over the top thrilled with Dr. Gelman and his staff. Thank You

I had a prostatectomy at Johns Hopkins. After 6 weeks I had a bladder neck contracture and it recurred not less than 8 times. Doctors at Hopkins were no help in resolving. That is when I saw Dr. Gelman who was brilliant in his treatment and surgical procedure. It worked no more stricture after more than two years of Hopkins docs trying to resolve! This literally changed the quality of my life Importantly, Dr Gelman was compassionate and understanding of what I had been through. I appreciated his bedside manner, his clarity in explaining what to expect and his diligence. His staff was very helpful, efficient and courteous to me.