Meet Urologist Richard Natale, MD, FACS

Dr. Richard Natale was born and raised in Southern California. As the son and nephew of physicians, he knew from a very young age that he, too, would pursue a career in medicine. He attended the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences. Given the opportunity to attend his father’s alma mater, he enrolled in the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Kentucky, graduating in 2004. Dr. Natale completed his urology residency training at the University of Florida in 2009. He chose to practice medicine in North Carolina for its natural beauty, friendly people, and unique medical community.

Although Dr. Natale’s expertise covers a broad range of urological conditions, he has a special interest in men’s health. This area of urology includes treatment of common conditions such as erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, Peyronie’s disease, low testosterone, and an enlarged prostate (BPH).

About Dr. Richard Natale

He has had significant experience in more specialized and advanced surgical treatments of these conditions, such as penile implants for ED, placement of male urethral slings and artificial urinary sphincters for urinary incontinence, and UroLift and prostatectomy procedures, such as the Greenlight laser method for BPH.

Dr. Natale is board-certified by the American Board of Urology.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

2005 – 2009: Urology Residency
University of Florida, Department of Urology (Gainesville, FL)

2004 – 2005: General Surgery Internship
University of Florida, Department of Surgery (Gainesville, FL)

2000 – 2004: Doctor of Medicine
University of Louisville, School of Medicine (Louisville, KY)

1994 – 1999: Bachelors of Arts cum laude
Major: Biology; Minor: Health Care Administration
University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA),

LICENSURE / CERTIFICATION

October 2019: American Board of Urology
Recertification exam

Mar 2011: American Board of Urology
Oral Boards Certification

July 2009: American Board of Urology
Qualifying Examination (top 20th Percentile in the US)

May 2009: DEA License (unrestricted)

Mar 2009: North Carolina Medical License (unrestricted)

January 2008: USMLE Step 3

ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS

Carolina Urology Partners (CUP)
August 2020 – December 2025: President and Chair of the Board of Directors

March 2018 – August 2020: Chief Executive Officer

June 2017 – March 2018: Chief Medical Officer

January 2015 – March 2018: Secretary

Atrium Health – Cabarrus (AH-C)
January 2016 – December 2017: Chair, Department of Surgery

January 2014 – December 2015: Vice-chair, Department of Surgery

January 2014- December 2025: Chief, Division of Urology

August 2014 – March 2018: Member, Medical Staff Quality Assessment and Improvement Committee ACH

February 2014 – March 2018: Member, Peer Review Committee Atrium Health

January 2012 – January 2023: Member, OR Governance Committee

January 2010 – December 2014: Member, Infection Control Committee

Other
January 2025 – present: Member, Surgical Committee, Sexual Medicine Society of N. America

May 2022 – December 2025: Chair, Department of Surgery Novant – Raleigh Medical Center

April 2020 – present: North Carolina Alternative, Board of Directors, Southeastern Section of the American Urology Association

January 2010 – December 2013: Member, Quality Assurance Committee Gateway Surgery Center (Durham NC)

July 2008 – June 2009: Administrative Chief Resident, University of Florida Department of Urology

August 2001 – March 2002: University of Louisville Student Government Supreme Court – Associate Justice

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

March 2024 – Present: Designated a Center of Excellence in Prosthetic Implant Surgery by Boston Scientific Corporation (one of 50 centers recognized in the US)

April 2008: Resident teaching award, University of Florida

August 2003: University of Louisville Department of Surgery, Seniors Honors Surgery Clerkship, “High Pass”

August 2002: University of Louisville Department of Surgery, Surgery Clerkship, “High Pass”

November 2001: William G. Caldwell Alumni Scholarship, University of Louisville

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

• Fellow, American College of Surgeons
• Member, Society of Urologic Prosthetic Surgeons
• Member, Society of International Urologists
• Member, International Society of Sexual Medicine
• Member, Sexual Medicine Society of North America
• Member, American Urology Association
• Member, North Carolina Medical Society

ABSTRACTS AND PUBLICATIONS

October 2023: Henry, G., Stuart, A., Chung, P., Diaz, N., Lentz, A., Natale, R., Perito, P. (2023, November 18). Predictors of Success with Early Antibiotic Therapy for Penile Implant Infection: Patients from a Prospective Randomized Study Comparing DNA Sequencing versus Traditional Cultures [Abstract #131]. SMSNA 2023 Convention, San Diego, CA, United States.

April 2022: “One-Year Results for the Robust III Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Optilume® Drug-coated Balloon for Anterior Urethral Stricture.” Journal of Urology, Vol 207, April 2022, pp 866-875.

April 2019: “Three-year Active Surveillance Outcomes in a Contemporary Community Urology Cohort in the United States.” Urology, vol. 130, Apr. 2019, pp. 72-77., doi:10.1016/j.urology.2019.04.017.

July 2008: “Prune Belly (Triad) Syndrome.” 5-Minute Urology Consult, 2nd ed., 2008, pp. 1219-1225.

May 2008: “Handheld Intra-operative Doppler Flow to Localize the Presence of Sperm During Testis Biopsy in Azoospermic Men.” Engineering and Urology Society, abstract accepted and presented at AUA 2008 Poster Session.