Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health Pediatric Urology Chief Guides Programmatic Growth with New Hires and Innovative Technology
Thomas Vates, M.D., prioritizes multidisciplinary collaboration, investment in technology to ensure precise, minimally invasive care for pediatric patients
Rather than treating pediatric patients as small adults, Thomas Vates, M.D., chief of Pediatric Urology at K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, brought on specialized technology to best care for children’s smaller anatomy and ensure families’ highest possible comfort.
This includes recently procuring flexible ureteroscopes in three smaller sizes to right-fit young patients’ anatomy and address kidney stones with laser technology without the need for incisions and ensuring a wide range of stents and catheters are available to address complex case needs. Since taking helm of Pediatric Urology in 2016, he’s also ushered in robotic surgery and laser capabilities, both the technology and expert urologists.
A board-certified pediatric urologist with more than 25 years of experience in caring for children with urological conditions, Dr. Vates advocated successfully for the recruitment of additional urologists and other specialized experts, including a full-time pediatric nephrologist on location and a urodynamics nurse. The team also includes a nurse practitioner who supports community physician outreach and education and supports physicians with growing volumes of ongoing care.
Facilitating multidisciplinary care is another high priority for Dr. Vates. For example, the team seamlessly coordinates post-urological kidney stone treatment with Pediatric Nephrology for metabolic review and medication treatment to address underlying causes and prevent future kidney stones.
The team also collaborates with maternal-fetal medicine, oncology and general surgery to review prenatal cases and prepare physicians and new parents in advance of treatment. This team includes a nurse navigator who helps connect families to the appropriate specialties as they transition to postnatal care. He also credits the center’s depth of experience and expertise in anesthesia, radiology and critical care with their success handling complex urologic cases.
Prior to joining Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health, Dr. Vates was the Section Chief of Pediatric Urology at Monmouth Medical Center. He has been recognized as an NJ Top Doctor for eight consecutive years, and as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for the past ten years. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Urology as well as the American College of Surgeons. Additionally, he is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery-Urology at UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Dr. Vates is a graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed a fellowship in pediatric urology with Children's Hospital of Michigan. He is board certified in both pediatric urology and urology.
In his personal time, the father of three volunteers with Monmouth County CASA, which provides court-appointed representatives for underserved children.
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