Chester C. Hicks, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Hicks is a native of Gadsden, Alabama. He is magna cum laude graduate of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He graduated from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in 1970.

Dr. Hicks completed his internship at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. He completed a year of general surgery residency at the University of Alabama Hospitals and Clinics, followed by two years of surgical service in the United States Army Medical Corps. Dr. Hicks then completed his residency in Urology at Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta. He serves as the Chairman of the Gadsden Regional Medical Center Advisory Board. Dr. Hicks is certified by the American Board of Urology, having passed his boards in 1979 and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He is a member of the American Medical Association, Alabama Medical Association, and the American Urologic Association.

Dr. Hicks and his wife, Martha, have two daughters. He is active in church activities and in his spare time enjoys raising prize-winning Simmental cattle.

John F. Pirani, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. John Pirani, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, attended Christian Brothers University and the University of Tennessee School of Medicine where he graduated with highest honors. He came to Gadsden after completing his surgical and urologic residency at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Pirani is the current Chief of Surgery at Gadsden Regional Medical Center and is an active member of the Physicians Leadership Group. He is certified by the American Board of Urology and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He has been trained in advanced laparoscopic procedures, including the da Vinci® robot and prostatic brachytherapy. Dr. Pirani is a member of the American Urological Association, American Association of Clinical Urologists, and is the current president of the Etowah County Medical Society.

Dr. Pirani and his wife, Connie, have two boys. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, golfing, fitness training, and spending quality time with his family.

Manish Shah, M.D.

Manish Shah, M.D., is a native of Dallas, Texas. He completed his undergraduate training in 1991 at The University of Texas at Austin. He graduated from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, Texas, in 1995. He completed his general surgical training and urology residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2001. Dr. Shah has been appointed as chairman of the Department of Urology at Gadsden Regional Medical Center and is certified by the American Board of Urology.

His areas of special interests include general urology, management of urological stone disease, and the management of urologic cancer, including kidney, bladder, prostate, and testicular cancers. He is certified in prostatic brachytherapy and in the use of holmium and CO2 lasers.

He is an active member of the American Urological Association, the Endourological Society, and the American Medical Association.

Dr. Shah and his wife, Rhonda, have two children. Dr. Shah's personal interests include golf, skiing, whitewater rafting, softball, fishing, music, travel, and carpentry.

Merle L. Wade, Jr., M.D.

Merle Wade, Jr., M.D., is a native of Gadsden, Alabama, where he graduated with honors from Gadsden High School. Dr. Wade attended Samford University in Birmingham, graduating suma cum laude, as well as the University of Alabama School of Medicine, where he graduated with honors. Dr. Wade returned to Gadsden after completing his urology residency at the University of South Florida in Tampa, where he has trained in advanced laparoscopy, including laparoscopic surgery of the kidney and prostate. His training also includes InterStim neuromodulation for bladder dysfunction, use of holmium laser, brachytherapy, and percutaneous renal surgery. His areas of special interest include urologic malignancy, stone disease, and voiding dysfunction. Dr. Wade is the current chairman of the Deparment of Urology at Riverview Regional Medical Center and is a member of the American Urological Association, the American Association of Clinical Urologists, and the Endourological Society.

Dr. Wade and his wife, Christa, have 3 girls. His interests include spending time with family, water skiing, music and travel.

Clinical Urology Associates, P.C.
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