DR. CAROL J. BENNETT - LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD-WINNING UROLOGIST

I was so honored and a tad nervous to Conversate with Dr. Carol J. Bennett. Not only is she an Award-Winning and First Black Female Urologist. Dr. Bennett is a brilliant force. My brother Demetrius urged me to reach out & I was so ecstatic when she answered yes! I had a BLAST Conversating with Dr. Bennett. - Enjoy!

Good morning, Dr. Bennett thank you so much for joining me for our Conversating series.

I am going to jump right in … how would you introduce yourself to those that are unaware of you…

Hi, my name is Carol Bennett I am a Urologist. I trained at the University of Michigan where I did my residency.

I went to undergrad at University of Michigan, and went to Georgetown for medical school, and then went onto University of Michigan.

I have been at a variety of Institutions including University of Southern California and now University California of Los Angeles. I enjoy my field of Urology, but I am not just a Urologist. I am a mother, wife, and my husband is a physician as well, he is a Neurosurgeon. I have two adult children, one girl, and one boy.

Congrats on your Lifetime Achievement Award … that is definitely what I call a ‘hair flip moment’. You are the Nation’s first black woman in Urology. Did you always know that you wanted to be a Urologist?  And if you did…please describe your journey. Anytime you are the first at something, often it is not the smoothest journey because you have nothing to compare it to.

You are fortunate when you can research other people’s pitfalls, and how to avoid (the pitfalls). When you are the first there are no roadmaps.

So, did you always know that you wanted to be a Urologist, and how was your journey…

No, I did not know that I wanted to be a Urologist. I had never heard of a Urologist before I went to medical school. When I was a teenager, I thought I wanted to be a Social Worker.

The pivotal change in my decision to become a physician was when my dentist got me a job when I was a teenager at the hospital.

It was a summer job when I was sixteen years old, and this was very important to me – because I could make real money. At the time it was Pittsburgh Hospital. That was when I decided that I wanted to be a doctor.

Although I did not know what type of doctor I wanted to be. I worked in the Administrative Offices of the hospital. So, I was not necessarily around physicians except for those that came in for meetings with the Chief of the Hospital.

The physicians were all white and male at the time. It was something about them as they walked in in their white coats. I thought at that time…if they can do this, I can do this – and something just clicked in my head at that moment that I can be a doctor.

It never occurred to me that I was a woman, that I was black. I mean I knew that they were male and that they were white. But it never occurred to me that I could not do it. So, I went to Boston University School for my undergraduate degree, and it was Pre-Med.

I then went to Georgetown for Medical School. When I was ready to do my Residency, I decided on Urology. Originally, I thought that I wanted to be a Nephrologist, a kidney doctor, until I got into Rotation in the hospital. When I went through Urology…I thought wow this is kind of like Nephrology. So, it turned out that I went with Urology.

I met a doctor, a white, male physician, a Urologist that took an interest in me. He was a Urologist and took the time with me when I rotated in the operating room as a medical student. He took his time to let me look, let me see and to let me try.

He had a large family … eight children. He lived in Bethesda, Maryland with his family, and invited me to his home when he knew that I was interested in Urology.  

I met his wife, children, and had dinner with his family.  It was that impetuous, that level of enthusiasm for me entering the field, that convinced me. I never thought again about how many females, and blacks were Urologists.

From there I went to two highly rated programs – Northwestern University, and University of Michigan. I must say again, it was the Chief of Urology at University of Michigan, another white male that really wanted me on his team, when I was a Resident.

When I interviewed at University of Michigan, he expressed his interest in wanting me on his team. The Chief of Northwestern University as well expressed an interest in me being on his team. Those were my two top places, and they were the top hospitals in the country.

I selected, and they selected me also the University of Michigan. I thought that I would get more done there. I thought that if I go to Chicago, it would be more distractions there. You know that is true.

I was going to say well one is warmer than the other…thinking no they are both cold. I praise you for doing that alone. I barely made it in Philadelphia, when I was in college … it was so cold. The fact that you survived the winters is a hair flip to you!

You know it is amazing because back then I never thought of the cold. When I go to Michigan now just for a day, I am like it is too cold. Do you think it was the energetic youthfulness, that you were excited, and nothing bothered you?   Maybe! Because it never occurred to me that it was cold there.

I never remembered needing, or wearing the hat, gloves, and scraping the car in the morning. It never occurred to me that was an issue.  Now even going there in the month of September I am cold.

Do you think too it was your mindset too?  …  my parents raised me (to know) – I am mixed. My mom is black, and my dad is Venezuelan. Yes, my last name is Gutierrez, and you are aware of societal limitations, but it does not matter.

You are you – you are smart. So, do you think that type of mindset was the catalyst to how you have achieved so much? You acknowledged it, but it did not hinder you.  It was not your ball and chain. Yes, this is what it is, was your mindset ‘I am still me and I am still going to do what I want’?

Yes! That was exactly the type of mindset that I had; you must decide. Yes, I am black, that is not something that I could hide if I wanted. However, that is just a part of my identity, it did not define me, nor did it stop me.

I am proud of being black, I went for the opportunity that I wanted, and I got them. It was exhilarating, and I loved my years at the University of Michigan.

Now that is another ‘hair flip moment’…as I say just do a ‘hair flip’ through your accomplishments. Ahahaha…yes, I just ‘hair flipped’ through that time.

You have also been pioneering in Neurourology, Neurogenics. Why did you select to specialize in the spinal cord? And is there a specific reason? 

It was an area of interest of mine. As life happens your initial interests morph into other areas. Also, the subsequent Chair of Michigan was an expert in this area of Neurourology. He introduced me to the area of infertility in his patient population.

That is the area where things started to take off for me. I did some studies and was published in that area. It was a new unheard-of area, why spinal cord injured patients cannot have children. I understood the bladder dysfunction and their spinal cord injury issues.

That was the lightening in the bottle for me, when everything came together. The ability to define and interpret the literature fell into place for me. I was able to attend international meetings, and present. So, that was fun for me.

Yes, it would be my time, my moment. You have already done the research to be there, now the fun part is what will I wear. Oh yes, yes. It has become even more important for me now, I have come more into the look. Yes, it is so much fun!

I have even evolved into wearing Birkenstocks. Yes! Off topic… I know! If I have one pair of Birkenstocks, I have forty pairs.

What are your tips for a healthy mindset…

Exercise. Reading novels, fiction, and non-fiction. Read a variety of literature. Also read books about Spirituality.

Okay so what is your favorite exercise, and author right now …

Favorite exercise of all that I have done I would say is boxing. I am not currently doing boxing. Now I am doing more walking.  I like lifting weights.  Yes, I use the Bala weights all day.  Oh, so do you wear them all day long. Yes, all day!

Favorite author… a book that I read ten years ago, and I have reread it a couple times since, ‘Brideshead Revisited’, by Evelyn Waugh. It is about morality and Catholicism. It is also a love story, the core of the novel is about religion, and it is beautifully written.

I love to read, but some are impactful at the time but not impactful over time. Yet, this book was that for me (impactful over time).

Which medical challenges do you see in Urology that are on the rise, and what can we do to combat that with our daily habits…

Medical challenges in Urology include treatment of Prostate Cancer. As well the evaluation and treatment of Bladder Cancer. Which is less prevalent than Prostate Cancer but can be devastating.

Bladder Cancer gets into the muscle of the bladder. It is not as popular as Prostate Cancer, but it deserves more time and attention in people’s awareness.

What can people do to circumvent it? I would assume drinking less alcohol …  would that play a part?  

Actually, the most common risk factor is smoking. Yes, if you are a chronic smoker those people are at risk of developing bladder cancer.

Is it just cigarette smoking? Is it also vaping? … You are right vaping does also likely increase your risk.

What are three staples of clothing that make you feel your most confident…

My three staples of clothing… jeans! And I do like the baggy jean look.  I have more pairs that anyone would need…I mean how many pairs does one need?

 Ohhh, I don’t know from someone that has over one-hundred pairs. You need every style because it reflects a different mood.  Well, there you go I am buying that pair that I have been eyeing. I like also a jean skirt.

The other staple is a well-tailored suit. I have a couple of tailored suits. I was in Spain in last Fall, and I bought a Carolina Herrera gray suit. Aaahhh that is my girl!  She is a fellow Venezuelan and is an absolute magician. Yes!

It looks like nothing on the rack, but just fits so well. I can wear it year around, it is comfortable, and I can wear it with heels or flats. I just love it.  And it is easy, I love easy.

I like sweaters. I like Jenni Kayne. Her sweaters are easy. Yes! I feel Jenni Kayne is the new Vince for sweaters too.

What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your job? …

Taking care of patients and interacting with patients. When I was doing the spinal cord injury and infertility work in specific, it was the product. And the product is the baby. There are couples that have no hope of having children.

Now since I have been doing this for so many years, I have patients that have children that are now 25, 30 years old. And I still Christmas cards from them.

How do you define resilience…

The ability to get up. Eye on the prize, and to always see where I want to go. My career has been so effortless, I mean I have had my ups and downs and everyday was not Sunday.

I knew where I wanted to go, I knew what I wanted to be, and once you define that - that is the hardest part.

What is your favorite way to unwind…

Sailing.  My husband, Dr. Keith Black and I, sail. We are going on a sailing trip for a week in a couple of days. We have boats … one is docked in Marina del Rey, Ca., and the other boat are in the Caribbean. That is the one that we sail the most.

We have some boats that we rent out for Charter. So, we are going down to our newest boat with family and some friends.

Well, what a perfect way to start the summer. Then we are coming back for a week. Then going back down (to the Caribbean) for the holiday week (July 4th) with family. My daughter and her husband, my son and his girlfriend, and of course my husband.

That sounds like a blast … I thank you so much for your time. Of course! this has been delightful, and wonderful.