Faculty Focus: Q&A with urologic oncologist Grant Henning, MD

What’s special to you about joining the Iowa Urology team?

As a native Iowan, I am incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to take part in caring for the neighbors of my friends and family. It is important to me that the people of our state and surrounding areas have access to world-class urologic care in a timely fashion. The University of Iowa shares those same commitments and is a perfect environment for me to work.

What are you looking forward to as a member of the Iowa Urology team?

Our University of Iowa Urology team draws from a diverse background, and each provider brings a unique skillset to patient care. I’m looking forward to learning from and with my colleagues to make sure each patient we see is getting the most effective, up-to-date care in a comprehensive fashion.

What do you love about being a urologist?

Our field is in such an exciting space right now. Urologists have long been at the forefront of implementing shared decision making with patients, thinking about quality of life as an essential aspect of care, and utilizing technology that allows us to perform minimally invasive surgery when it is best for a patient. We continue to work every day to improve care and are actively pushing to develop new tools like biomarkers and artificial intelligence in ways that makes sense and can help us spend more time with patients discussing the things that matter most.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

I am so lucky to be doing a job where I get up every morning excited to go to work. When I’m not at the hospital, I try to lead an active lifestyle and enjoy being outside with my partner, Abby, and our golden retriever, Juniper. Although I didn’t grow up a Hawkeye fan… we also love sports and hope to be regulars at Iowa sporting events. We have so many fantastic men’s and women’s teams playing in Iowa City.

What’s the best advice you ever received from a mentor?

It’s hard to fully express the immense gratitude I have for the many mentors I’ve had throughout the years. I wouldn’t be here without them. While not specific advice, the two guiding principles I try to live by are “through truth comes strength” and “the needs of the patient come first.” I think if we are honest and do the right things for the right reasons, everything else has a way of falling into place.

Do you have a favorite inspirational quote or motto?

One line that I’ve loved for a long time comes from a paper written by a surgical oncologist in 1997: “I have been a cavalier and blatant procurer of ideas from others – from mentors, friends, colleagues, residents, students, patients, and the literature.” I’ve found medicine to be such a team sport that if you listen closely enough, there is no end to how much growth you can see.