Martha K. Terris

Martha K. Terris, MD, FACS, serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Urology at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, holding the Witherington Distinguished Chair in Urology. She concurrently serves as Co-Director of the Cancer Center and maintains appointments in The Graduate School and College of Allied Health Sciences (Physician Assistant Program).

Education:

• BS in Biology, Mississippi State University (1982)
• MD, University of Mississippi (1986)
• General Surgery Residency, Duke University
• Urologic Surgery and Oncology Fellowship, Stanford University

Research Focus: Dr. Terris specializes in prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers with emphasis on racial disparities, cardiovascular comorbidities in prostate cancer patients, molecular mechanisms of tumor progression, and urologic education. Her work leverages the SEARCH database for large-scale outcomes research in equal-access healthcare systems.

Scholarly Trends: Recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate sustained focus on prostate cancer active surveillance pathways, metastatic castration-sensitive disease management, and molecular drivers of racial disparities in bladder/renal cancers. Her SEARCH database analyses consistently address socioeconomic determinants of cancer outcomes and cardiovascular complications in prostate cancer cohorts.

Scientific Awards:

• American Urological Association Distinguished Service Award (2022)
• Urology Practice Best Reviewer (2023, 2024)
• Urology Practice Top Reviewer (2025)
• Castle Connolly Top Doctors (2025)
• Best Doctors in America
• Top Doctors in Cancer

Leadership and Mentoring: As Urology Residency Program Director since 2003, Dr. Terris expanded the program from one to three residents annually, with graduates pursuing fellowships and academic careers. She mentors undergraduate students and serves nationally on the ACGME Urology Residency Review Committee, American Board of Urology, and as President of the Society of Urology Chairs and Program Directors. Her leadership transformed the Division of Urology into a full Department in 2023.

Research Infrastructure: Dr. Terris co-founded the SEARCH database consortium and co-directs the Cancer Center, enabling multi-institutional research on urologic cancers across Veterans Affairs and equal-access healthcare systems.