Dr. Seth Bechis

Seth Bechis, MD, is a board-certified urologist who cares for patients with diseases of the urinary tract, including kidney stones, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate, and men's health issues. As a member of the Comprehensive Kidney Stone Center at UC San Diego Health, he has a special interest in advanced surgical treatment, medical prevention, and research on kidney stone disease. He has surgical expertise in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for complex stones, ureteroscopy and shockwave lithotripsy.

Dr. Bechis specializes in all procedures of the prostate including minimally invasive procedures such as Rezum water vapor therapy and UroLift, as well as robotic surgery and GreenLight™ Laser photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP).

Dr. Bechis is among only a select number of physicians in the country to be designated as a Center of Excellence for GreenLight™ Laser Therapy. He is the first in California to achieve this recognition which marks a high degree of experience with GreenLight™ Laser Therapy and commitment to delivering effective, long-lasting therapy to men suffering from BPH.
As a urologist at an academic medical center, Dr. Bechis is involved in teaching and education. He also serves as the associate program director for the UC San Diego - Kaiser Laparoscopy/Endourology Fellowship in the Department of Urology at UC San Diego School of Medicine. His previous research includes the study of molecular pathways in the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia, risk factors for stone formation, and analysis of age and other risk factors on predicting prostate cancer-specific survival. His current research includes improving surgical techniques and clinical outcomes in stone disease, as well as tools for stone diagnosis and opiate-sparing pathways for managing pain. His research has been featured in peer-reviewed medical journals, including Journal of Urology, Journal of Endourology, and World Journal of Urology. Additionally, he was editor of First Aid Q&A for the USMLE Step 1, Second Edition and has authored chapters for university handbooks.

Prior to joining UC San Diego Health, Dr. Bechis worked at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he taught residents and medical students in the operating room and clinic. Dr. Bechis has won numerous awards and honors over the years, including the Whitehill Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching in 2019, Plenary Address for Best Abstract from the American Urological Association in 2015, and first place in the 2014 Max K. Willscher Resident Research Award Competition. He has been invited to speak nationally and internationally at conferences on topics including benign prostatic hyperplasia and stone disease.

Dr. Bechis completed fellowship training in laparoscopy/robotics and endourology at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and residency training at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital. He earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and holds additional Master of Science training in biomedical research, also from UCSF. Biomedical research (or experimental medicine) focuses on ways to prevent and treat diseases. It is a key component of the Comprehensive Kidney Stone Center, which offers patients access to clinical trials that examine newly developed therapies and procedures.

Dr. Bechis is a member of several professional medical organizations, including the American Urological Association (AUA), the Endourological Society, and the Western Section of the AUA.