Lance Hampton, MD

Biography

Fusing robots and relationships into urologic treatment

Dr. Lance Hampton has treated urologic cancer and (kidney) stone disease for more than two decades. At VCU Health, Dr. Hampton is at the forefront of our robotic surgery program – in particular, use of the state-of-the-art da Vinci Surgical System. As director of Robotic Surgery at VCU Medical Center, Dr. Hampton has performed well over 1300 robotic operations for both benign and malignant conditions and oversees a team that uses the da Vinci system to minimize pain and speed up recovery.

“Long before I became a physician, I was interested in the intersection of technology of medicine,” says Dr. Hampton, a board-certified urologist who is fellowship-trained in urologic oncology (cancer care) and robotic surgery. “After spending time with surgeons in the early part of my education, I knew I wanted to become a surgeon who could work with the latest medical technology in order to cure disease and improve people’s lives.”

And yet it is the fundamentals of medical care – making and cultivating long-term relationships with patients – that brings him to VCU Medical Center and our outpatient clinics each day. “It is so rewarding to be able to diagnose someone, treat or operate on them, and then see them afterwards for many years living a full, quality life,” he says.

The field of urology has changed significantly since Dr. Hampton graduated from medical school in the mid-1990s, with minimally invasive treatments evolving and offering better care, faster recovery, and less scarring for urologic conditions. “Surprisingly, urology has the most variety of surgical techniques of any specialty,” he says. “I was also drawn to the wide range of types of patients, including men and women, and children.”

Dr. Hampton teaches future and current surgeons how to use the da Vinci Surgical System, which, compared to traditional laparoscopic surgery, allows for more fine movements, precision and control with the use of wristed instruments and a high-resolution 3D video feed. Dr. Hampton has successfully performed robotic surgery on thousands of patients during his career.

During his residency at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Dr. Hampton developed an interest in minimally invasive and laparoscopic urology and was instrumental in initiating a laparoscopic program at the school. For his contributions, he was given the Pfizer Scholar award. His research has been published in Urology, Urologic Clinics of North America, and the Journal of Robotic Surgery. He has traveled the world for both work and pleasure, and is passionate about meeting new people and learning about their traditions and cultures.