Yair Lotan, M.D., is a Professor of Urology, Chief of Urologic Oncology, and holder of the Jane and John Justin Distinguished Chair in Urology, in Honor of Claus G. Roehrborn, M.D. at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He is also the Medical Director of the Urology Clinic at UT Southwestern and Parkland Health and Hospital System.
He was class valedictorian in high school and graduated with high honors from the University of Texas at Austin and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He trained in general surgery and urology at UT Southwestern and joined the faculty in 2003.
A board-certified urologist, Dr. Lotan treats patients with bladder, prostate, kidney, ureteral, and testicular cancer. He also handles general urologic conditions, such as kidney stones and vasectomies.
He is known nationally for his research on urine markers and molecular markers, which will help determine which patients are at higher risk for recurrent cancer. He is also involved in health economics research, which evaluates the cost-effectiveness of surgery and cancer prevention. Dr. Lotan is the co-chair of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center disease oriented team for urologic cancers. He is also a member of UT Southwestern’s Clinical Research Planning Group and the Tissue Bank Steering Committee and Cancer Committee.
He is a frequent guest speaker at medical conferences around the world and belongs to numerous professional organizations, including the American Urological Association, the Society of Urologic Oncology, and the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network.
He has published hundreds of research articles and several book chapters on urologic care and procedures, and he serves as editorial reviewer for medical periodicals such as the Journal of Urology, European Urology, Cancer, Urologic Oncology, and the British Journal of Urology International.
Dr. Lotan was included in D Magazine's Best Doctors list for 2018, 2021, and 2022.
Yair Lotan, M.D., was born to be a physician: His parents are retired cancer researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and both of his brothers are also doctors.
“With my parents both being scientists, I couldn’t help but be interested in science, too,” he says.
A board-certified urologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Lotan uses minimally invasive, robotic, and open surgical techniques to treat bladder, prostate, kidney, ureteral, and testicular cancer. He was the first in North Texas to perform a robotic cystectomy, or removal of the bladder. He also treats kidney stones endoscopically and percutaneously.
"We routinely treat patients with advanced urologic cancers, rather than just seeing one or two per year."
Professor of Urology, Chief of Urologic Oncology, and holder of the Jane and John Justin Distinguished Chair in Urology, in Honor of Claus G. Roehrborn, M.D. at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Lotan is also Medical Director of the Urology Clinic at Parkland Health & Hospital System. He is nationally recognized for his research on urine markers in bladder cancer and molecular markers in other urologic cancers.
“Molecular markers help us identify patients who are at a higher risk for recurrent cancer so we can recommend the appropriate treatment for them,” he says. “And on the flip side, if their cancer is unlikely to recur, we can try to reduce the number of treatments so they don’t have as many side effects.”
Dr. Lotan enjoys getting to know his patients and educating them so they can make informed decisions about their urologic care and procedures.
“Cancer impacts all aspects of your life and it is important to consider not only how to treat the cancer but also how to minimize side effects and improve quality of life,” he says. “Patients also want to be educated and involved in their decisions so they can get the best possible outcomes.”
