Dr. David K. Ornstein, MD

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Get to know Urologic Oncologist Dr. David K. Ornstein, who serves patients in Naples, Florida.

Dr. Ornstein has experience in all areas of urologic oncology with particular expertise in robotic prostatectomy, robotic total and partial nephrectomy as well as cystectomy with urinary diversion. Having performed more than 3,000 robotic surgical procedures, he is one of the most experienced robotic surgeons in the United States. 

In practice with Naples Urology Associates in Naples, Florida, he has been and remains fully committed to providing the best possible care for patients with urologic malignancies. He believes that it is a privilege to help patients solve their problems and that a truthful and interactive relationship between the patient and surgeon is critical.

Although basic and translational research has always been an important aspect of Dr. Ornstein’s career, his true passion is patient care. An accomplished laparoscopic surgeon, he began performing robotic radical prostatectomies in November 2003. Since that time, he has expanded the use of robotic surgery for the treatment of bladder and kidney cancer. In fact, he was the first surgeon in North America to report having completed a cystectomy with an ileal neobladder entirely with the DaVinci robot.

Receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 1988, Dr. Ornstein went on to earn his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in 1992. He completed a residency in urologic surgery at Washington University where he was also the recipient of an American Cancer Society Clinical Oncology Fellowship. 

Following residency, Dr. Ornstein completed a fellowship in urologic oncology at the National Cancer Institute, where he concentrated on both open and laparoscopic surgery for treating all forms of kidney cancer. After his fellowship, he joined the faculty of the University of North Carolina where he specialized in urologic oncology and began his research on the identification of new prostate cancer biomarkers. 

Following three years in North Carolina, he was recruited to join the faculty in the Department of Urology at the University of California, Irvine. In September of 2006, Dr. Ornstein joined the clinical staff of Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and the Todd Cancer Institute as Medical Director of Urologic Oncology and Robotic Surgery. In August of 2009, he relocated his family to Naples, Florida  to join Naples Urology Associates. NUA is now part of Genesis Care, an international multi-disciplinary network of  oncological, urologic, surgical and gynecologic specialists. With over 30 years of experience in his field, he is board-certified in urology by the American Board of Urology (ABU). The mission of the ABU is to act for the benefit of the public by establishing and maintaining standards of certification for urologists, as well as to work with certified urologists to achieve lifelong learning to insure the delivery of high quality, safe, and ethical urologic care.

In addition to training urology residents, Dr. Ornstein has taught and proctored several surgeons throughout the United States. He has lectured extensively on the topic of robotic surgery, both national and internationally. He has performed multiple live robotic surgeries, including a live robotic female cystectomy at a robotic symposium in Seoul Korea. He also has specific expertise in the evaluation and management of patients with elevated PSA and hematuria, and has published and lectured extensively on the proper use of the PSA test and on other methods for early prostate cancer detection.

Having authored more than 50 scientific manuscripts, review articles and book chapters, Dr. Ornstein has received over 1 million dollars in competitive funding for prostate cancer research from federal and non-profit organizations. He has served on the editorial boards for Investigative Urology and Clinical Proteomics, and on a review panel for the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program.

Urology, also known as genitourinary surgery, is the branch of medicine that focuses on surgical and medical diseases of the male and female urinary-tract system and the male reproductive organs. A urologic oncologist is a physician with special training in diagnosing and treating cancers of the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs. These organs include the bladder, kidneys, prostate, penis and testicles. 

In recognition of his clinical and academic excellence, Dr. Ornstein’s career has already been highlighted by the receipt of numerous awards. In 1996, he received first place in the clinical category for the resident essay contest at the annual South Central Section meeting of the American Urological Association. As an oncology fellow, he was awarded first prize for his research paper at the Clinical Sciences Fellows Symposium in 2000. As faculty at the University of North Carolina, he received a Young Investigator Award from CaPCURE and the Edwin Beer Award from the New York Academy of Medicine. At the 2001 meeting of the American Urological Association, Dr. Ornstein was awarded the Best Abstract Prize in the prostate cancer category. In 2007, he received the “Young Investigator Award” from the Society of Urologic Oncology. This award recognizes excellence in clinical practice and/or basic research that contributed to improvement of clinical care and progress in science in the field of urologic oncology. In 2009, he was named as one of the Physicians of Excellence by the Orange County Medical Association. Has been named a “Best Doctor” by Castle and Connoly everyear since 2012. 

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