By 2005, Steve Waxman, MD, had firmly established himself as an experienced and highly trained urologist. With years of private practice and academic experience, multiple fellowships and even a law degree, he had settled into a busy, Indiana-based urology practice when he decided to take a different road.

The road to Baghdad.

A product of a military family—his father and brother were both United States Air Force veterans—Dr. Waxman enlisted in the Army in August 2005. It was a time of growing troop surges and heavy action in Iraq.

“I always knew I was going to serve,” says Dr. Waxman, now with Midwest Physicians’ Jackson County Urology practice in Independence. “The action in Iraq was pretty strong during that time, so I knew it would be a good time to enlist.”

After being based at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Dr. Waxman was deployed to Baghdad in February 2007, where he worked in a busy combat support hospital in the “Green Zone.” Dr. Waxman treated United States troops, Iraqi troops and civilians who needed care.

Dr. Waxman served in Iraq until August 2007. By the time he left active duty in 2008, he had earned two Army commendation medals and a Bronze Star medal. After his discharge, he completed a fellowship in laparoscopic/robotic surgery and endourology and then moved back to his hometown of Kansas City.

In 2010, however, he was deployed again, this time to Afghanistan, where he cared for injured coalition soldiers and civilians.

“It was a busy time to be a surgeon there,” says Dr. Waxman. “All injured American soldiers came through our hospital on their way back home.”

Chaotic as the pace and conditions were, Dr. Waxman left his work there with a feeling of fulfillment.

“Working in places such as Afghanistan or Iraq shows you what practicing medicine in a third-world country is like. The civilians had very few other options for healthcare, and it’s gratifying to know that you helped,” he says.

Dr. Waxman was released from active duty in January 2011 and joined Jackson County Urology, practicing adult and pediatric urology. He is also on the medical staff of Centerpoint Medical Center. Dr. Waxman is board certified in urology and fellowship trained in urodynamics, female and reconstructive urology, pediatric urology, urologic oncology, laparoscopic/robotic surgery and endourology. He is a fellow of American College of Surgeons and of the American College of Legal Medicine. He is a member of the American Urological Association, the Society for Urodynamics and Female Urology, the Society of Genitourinary and Reconstructive Surgeons, and the Society of Government Services Urologists.

Jackson County Urology provides comprehensive, board-certified expertise in pediatric and adult urology. The practice offers same- and next-day appointments and accepts all major insurance plans. Jackson County Urology has two convenient locations, 206 NW Mock Ave. Ste. 200 in Blue Springs, Mo. and near Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence at 19550 E. 39th St. Ste. 419. Call (816) 698-8878 or visit JacksonCountyUrology.com to learn more.