February 2025
Amir Khan, MD
Tell us a little bit about where you grew up and your journey here to Nashville!
I was born in Detroit but grew up in Memphis, TN. I did a bunch of zig zags from North to South throughout my education, so this is the first time I've been close to home in a while. My sisters both went to Vanderbilt for undergrad and one for medical school, so I knew the area well from having visited them, although it has changed quite a bit!
What inspired you to train in endourology?
A few things. I'm a big believer that you should go into whatever you feel happiest doing and what you feel you are naturally most comfortable at. I found early on that I really enjoyed endoscopic and robotic surgery. I also had amazing mentors in endourology at Yale who paved the way for me (shout out to Dr. Dinesh Singh and Dr. Piruz Motamedinia!). Another thing I love about endourology is how groundbreaking of a field it is--- for stones, we went from big open incisions and morbid surgeries to same day discharge with no incisions. And not only that, but the fact that such surgeries are available and used in even resource-poor countries and health systems around the world, that global applicability and universality of the field is something I find amazing.
Where do you think you will end up landing after fellowship is over?
Likely somewhere in the Southeast, to be close to family.
Aside from work, what are your other interests? Any secret hobbies? Unusual skills?
I used to wrestle in high school, so I love all things martial arts. Huge UFC and boxing fan. Also Formula 1. I am really into languages (I speak Urdu and learned Spanish) and am trying hard to learn one more language in my life, we'll see if it's possible. And, as many of the residents have now learned, I am also a proud tinfoil hat wearing UFO enthusiast.
If you weren’t tackling kidney stones and large prostates, what career would you want to pursue?
Architect!
Love it. What is your favorite endourology instrument and why??
The Iglesias working element, what a name!
Ok, let’s do some rapid-fire questions.
Favorite restaurant in nashville so far? Deg thai.
Favorite Disney movie? I dont know if it counts as disney, but wicked was amazing.
Brunch sweet or savory? Savory
Cat, dog, or parrot? Cat
What are your plans for your next vacation? My wife and I went on a cruise for the first time last year, so definitely a cruise!
Interviewed by Kim Maciolek, MD
