John D Edmondson, MD

Biography

Advocating for your child and the medical care they need

When patients and families meet Dr. John Edmondson for the first time, they aren’t just meeting a pediatric urologist. They’re meeting an individual who will be their advocate to get the treatment needed by even the youngest infant.

“I aim to explain a child’s condition and treatment options clearly and completely, in a way that everyone can understand,” says Dr. Edmondson, who is board certified in urology. “Families know that I’ll do my very best to help their child. I can’t guarantee it will be easy for them, but I will do what I can to make it as easy as it can be.”

Dr. Edmondson cares for children who have problems with their urinary tract, which includes kidney and bladder conditions, as well as male and female genital conditions. Common issues include bedwetting and daytime wetting, urinary tract infections, kidney stones and birth defects involving the kidneys and bladder. He also treats young patients with hernias, boys whose testicles haven’t descended since birth and complex repairs of the penis, as well as traditional circumcisions.

Bringing in a child to see a pediatric specialist can be a little scary for everyone, and Dr. Edmondson understands that. “I encourage parents to do their best to relax and take the medical experience in stride,” he says. “I want parents – and children – to speak up and voice their opinion. The more that our families share, the better we can develop a treatment plan that is truly tailored to the child. Parents can’t ask too many questions.”

While some patients require complex reconstruction to live healthy lives, Dr. Edmondson advocates for minimally invasive surgery, when appropriate, for equally effective outcomes and quicker recovery. “As a doctor, I want my patients to get better with as minimal discomfort or intrusion into their lives as possible,” says Dr. Edmondson, whose patients range in age from birth to 18.

“I also really enjoy telling a family that we don’t need to do anything for their child. There are some conditions for which nothing needs to be done, but we’ll continue to follow that child and monitor their urological health,” he says. “That’s always a treat to reassure concerned families.”

Pediatric urology is undergoing much change, with important benefits for patients. “We are making it easier for patients to go through what they need to go through,” says Dr. Edmondson, who discovered the urology specialty after exploring different areas during his medical training. “We’re also making advances in decreasing complication rates and providing a better experience in the daily process of treating our young patients.”

In his spare time, Dr. Edmondson enjoys cooking, tennis and endurance sports.