Bellevue Urology Associates Inc. PS

Dr. Richard S. Pelman is among an elite group of top urologists in the Pacific Northwest, and joined the practice in 1988. Prior to this, Dr. Pelman had established his own urologic practice.

Dr. Pelman states “My commitment to my patients is greater than a promise of currency and excellence in urological diagnosis and surgery. It is with this broader commitment in mind that I seek to help patients understand all elements of their care, whether it be studies, diagnosis, procedures or surgical intervention.”

Due to his outstanding dedication to his practice Dr. Pelman has received numerous awards as a physician:

• His peers voted him one of Seattle’s Top Physicians in Seattle Magazine in several annual editions.
• In September of 1997, Dr. Pelman received Pfizer’s “Scholars in Urology”.
• Dr. Pelman was listed in the “Guide to Top Doctors”, published by the Centers for Study Services Consumer Checkbook in multiple recent years.

Dr. Pelman has been in involved in medical student and urology resident education since his initial faculty appointment at the University Of Washington School Of Medicine in 1987 as Clinical Instructor in Urology. His present title Clinical Professor of Urology at the University of Washington School of Medicine recognizes his commitment to education and urological surgery.

Dr. Pelman is committed to keeping current with the latest developments in urological medicine and as a Diplomat of the American Board of Urology he has re-certified by taking and having passed the re-certification exam for the American Board of Urology. He comments that education is a two way street and he credits his keeping current with the latest surgical techniques, such as the “no scalpel vasectomy” and the “nerve sparing radical prostatectomy” in part to his interaction with students and residents at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

As his achievements would indicate, Dr. Pelman is an experienced urological surgeon. Since 1985 he has served as a member of the Active Staffs of Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue, Washington, and Evergreen General Hospital in Kirkland, Washington. He additionally has served on the Active Staff as a consultant at the Seattle Veteran’s Administration Hospital Medical Center and has served as member of the Courtesy Staff of Swedish Hospital, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the former Providence Hospital in Seattle, and Virginia Mason Medical Center of Seattle.

In addition to his role as a staff physician, Dr. Pelman currently serves in a leadership role for state, national, and local organizations:

• Western Section Representative Board of Director for the American Association of Clinical Urologists
• Member Technical Expert Panel, Evidence Based Practice Centers Program of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for Guidelines for Overactive Bladder 2008-2009
• Western Section Representative to UROPAC Board of Directors

He is proud to have served as President, Washington State Urology Society, 1999-2000. He served on the Executive Committee of that organization since 1993 and continues to function in the capacity as Chair of the Committee. He has also served as an Executive Committee member of the Northwest Urological Society which he has been a member of since 1986, in 2009 holds the officer seat of Treasurer and is designated to be President in 2012. In addition, Dr. Pelman belongs to:

• The American Medical Association
• American Urological Association
• American Society for Reproductive Medicine
• Seattle Surgical Society
• American Association of Clinical Urologists
• King County Medical Society

He has also served at Overlake Hospital Medical Center in the following positions:

• Member of the Executive Committee at Overlake Hospital Medical Center.
• Chairman of Practice Development Committee at Overlake Hospital Medical Center, 2000-2002.
• Chairman of the Credentials Committee at Overlake Hospital Medical Center, 1997- 2000.
• Chief of Surgery, Overlake Hospital Medical Center, 1991-1993.

Dr. Pelman is a Board Member to the University School of Medicine Alumnae Association representing his Class of 1979, and is a member of the Advisory Committee to the University of Washington, Department of Urology, Community Urology--Clinical Faculty Committee.

Dr. Pelman was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1951. He returned to his Northwest roots where his great grandparents had settled at the turn of the century, to attend the University of Washington as undergraduate in 1969. After graduating from the University Of Washington School Of Medicine in 1979, Dr. Pelman served both as a surgical house officer in 1979 to 1982 and a urological resident from 1982 to 1985 at Boston University Affiliated Hospitals. Because of his close ties to the Northwest he chose to return to the Seattle area to begin practice where he initially opened his own office in 1985 before joining with Bellevue Urology Associates in 1988. His medical licensure includes current active licensure in the State of Washington and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He is a Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners, and as mentioned, is Board Certified and Re-certified with the American Board of Urology.

Dr. Pelman is married, has two children and tends to enjoy his leisure time with his family and the outdoors. He is also proud of his contribution to education of primary care practitioners with his Urology for Primary Care Manual which he edited and authored chapters on Overactive bladder, Prostatitis and lower urinary tract symptoms including benign prostatic hypertrophy and treatment thereof.