About

Why Choose North Alabama Urology, PC

Physicians

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Joseph P. Hicks, MD

I am a native of Jackson, Georgia. I graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Biology. I received my medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia, where I also trained in General Urology. After my residency, I completed a Pediatric Urology fellowship at Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. I moved to Huntsville in 1995. Here, I specialize in treating patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly, who have congenital or acquired urologic conditions. I am certified by the American Board of Urology.

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Joseph A. Pettus, MD

I am a native of Huntsville, Alabama. I went to Auburn University and graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1995. Following that, I went to the University of Alabama at Birmingham for medical school. I trained in General Urology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City before doing a Urologic Oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. I spent three years as Assistant Professor of Urology at Wake Forest University before moving home and joining North Alabama Urology. Here, I specialize in minimally invasive cancer surgery as well as general urology. My cancer care philosophy is geared toward a multidisciplinary approach with a clear understanding that treatment must be tailored to the individual patient.  I am certified by the American Board of Urology.

Dr. zbell

Paul J. Zbell, MD

I am a native of Trumbull, Connecticut. I received a degree in Biology and Genetics from Cornell University in 1987 before attending Baylor College of Medicine. I finished my General Urology training at Baylor in 1997 and then moved to Huntsville to join North Alabama Urology. Here, I have a special interest in Endoscopic Urology as well as General Urology. I am certified by the American Board of Urology.

Dr. Black

Ryan D. Black, MD

I was born in Michigan and moved to the Nashville area as a child. I graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology in 2008. I attended medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, graduating in 2013. I completed my internship in surgery, and my residency in urology in Memphis as well, graduating in 2018. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our three boys, running, and photography. I have an interest in general urology, endoscopic urology and robotic surgery. I am certified by the American Board of Urology.

Allied Professionals

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Stephanie F. Carter, NP

I was born in Wiesbaden, Germany (military father) and later moved to Arab, Alabama as a child. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) in 1998. As a registered nurse, I worked in a variety of clinical settings including cardiac, medical, and surgical intensive care units, as well as school nursing. I later earned a Master of Science in Nursing Administration degree from UAH in 2002. I later completed a Post Master Certificate from UAH as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2015 working in pain management, sleep medicine, and then joining North Alabama Urology in 2017.

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Bennett B. Smith, PA-C

I am a native of Huntsville, Alabama. I went to Troy University and graduated with a major in Biomedical Sciences and minor in Psychology. Following that, I went to the University of South Alabama for my Physician Assistant Studies Program. After graduation, I moved back to Huntsville, Alabama and began my career in urology.  Along with the physicians in our practice, I spend my time seeing patients in the clinic as well as first assisting in surgery.  I am certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.