Robert D. Oates, MD
Dr. Oates is a Professor of Urology at Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. He directed the research leading to the first peer-reviewed manuscript linking Congenital Bilateral Absence of the Vas Deferens and mutations in the Cystic Fibrosis genes and subsequent studies regarding anatomical and genetic variants and, therefore, was the first to marry clinical phenotype and genotype in this nascent field. He was first to publish in the United States information, techniques and results of vibratory stimulation to induce ejaculation in spinal cord injured patients. He and two embryology colleagues published the first studies of intentionally cryopreserving epididymal and testis sperm to be used at a later date as the source of sperm for ICSI – now standard practice world-wide. He authored the definitive publication on the clinical aspects of a Y chromosomal AZFc microdeletion with David Page at MIT. He authored the first case report of microsurgical testis tissue extraction in an adolescent Klinefelter male as a possible option to preserve their future fertility. However, as data accrued and experience was gained, he argued against an unnecessarily aggressive approach in these young boys that one researcher in particular had advocated. This non-aggressive and non-emergent position is now accepted by most in the field. He brought national and international recognition to his department, the medical center and Boston University and was always immensely proud of being able to do so. He has served as President of the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction (SSMR), President of the Society of Male Reproduction and Urology (SMRU), and President of the New England Fertility Society. He has served as Program Chair for many national societal meetings and was the Scientific Program Chair for the 2012 ASRM Annual Meeting. His goal has always been to integrate the medical and surgical evaluation and management of male infertility patients with the genetic and endocrine bases of their conditions. In 2015 (at the age of 60 – just a number) he was the impetus behind the establishment of the first and most comprehensive Transgender surgical program in the Boston area with Dr Jaromir Slama, the team’s first neovaginoplasty being performed in 2016.
He has been at the School of Medicine (1978-1982), General Surgery residency (1982-1984), Urology residency (1984-1987), and a Faculty member of the Department of Urology continuously since returning after his fellowship in Houston in 1987-1988. Although he was one of the first Urologists formally trained in the new and evolving field of Male Infertility, it was always clear he would return to BU/BMC with Dr Robert Krane as his Chaiman and Dr Richard Babayan as his Vice-Chair, even though he was offered multiple opportunities to join one of the other academic programs in and around Boston but he has never waivered in his desire to stay here at BU/BMC. Delving right into resident education and mentorship, Dr Oates was Program Director for nearly 15 years and has now assumed the role of Associate PD, helping Linda Ng is whatever capacity she needs. Due in large part to their exposure to all things “Male Infertility”, 13 former residents have chosen their career path to include Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery – all having attained fellowships. Dr Oates has also trained multiple fellows of his own in Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery over these many years. A commitment to teaching and mentorship is part of his DNA. For many years he was the “Male Infertility” component of the Beth Israel Boston IVF Reproductive Endocrinology fellowship – having contributed to the education of approximately 25 of their past fellows. He has been working with the Department of Endocrinology at BMC for many years, training and lecturing their fellows in male reproductive endocrinologic issues.
He has given hundreds of presentations at various institutional, local, regional, national and international meetings. He initiated and directed the first “Genetics” instructional course at the American Urological Association (AUA), has participated in innumerable panels, symposia, post-graduate, and plenary courses/sessions at the AUA, ASRM (American Society of Reproductive Medicine), ASA (American Society of Andrology) and many others. Having been selected by his peers to organize and run courses, to be elected to prominent positions in various societies, to be recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Society of Male Reproduction and Urology (2025) is humbling. But none of those compare to the privilege he has experienced working at BU/BMC for his entire career and the honor and gratitude of helping the 10s of 1000s of patients to build their families and realize their dreams.
- Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine
- Residency: Boston Medical Center
- Fellowship: Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
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