Bedford Waters, MD (1948-2019)

Dr. Waters received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Vanderbilt University in 1970 and became the second African American to graduate from VUSM.

He served his residency in San Diego, California, and became the chief resident in urology at the Harvard Program in Urology (Longwood Area) and served on the faculties of the University of Illinois and then the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago. He practiced in Chicago for more than 20 years before returning to his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2001 to help create the urology residency at University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he also served as both chairman and program director.

He was an expert in the treatment of urologic cancers, focusing on renal cancer, testis cancer, bladder cancer and urinary diversion, and served as a leader of many regional and national organizations. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Urological Association for advancing urologic oncology and inspiring diversity in the field of urology.

In December 2018, VUSM honored Dr. Waters as one of six pioneers for his historic contributions to education, science and medicine during a formal portrait unveiling at Langford Auditorium.