University Urology, PC · Knoxville, Tennessee
Ryan B. Pickens, MD
Endourology & Minimally Invasive Surgery / General Urology
East Tennessee’s only Aquablation surgeon. High-volume kidney stone and advanced BPH specialist with fellowship training from Vanderbilt.
“I enjoy providing high quality care to patients who live in this region who may not know they can receive it.”— Ryan B. Pickens, MD
About Dr. Pickens
Avid golfer, traveler, family man, and lover of a great joke.
Dr. Ryan Pickens was born and raised in Murray, Kentucky. He received his medical degree from the University of Louisville College of Medicine in Louisville, KY. He completed his internship in general surgery and his urology residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.
After residency, Dr. Pickens completed a two-year fellowship in Endourology and Minimally Invasive Surgery at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. He returned to Knoxville to join University Urology, where he has built one of the highest-volume endourology practices in the region.
Dr. Pickens is the only surgeon in East Tennessee performing Aquablation — a robotic, ultrasound-guided waterjet procedure for benign prostatic hyperplasia — and is among the highest-volume PCNL surgeons in the state.
Clinical Focus
Subspecialty Focus
Fellowship-Trained Endourologist & East Tennessee’s Only Aquablation Surgeon
Dr. Pickens’ two-year fellowship at Vanderbilt focused on advanced endoscopic techniques and minimally invasive surgery — giving him a depth of expertise in kidney stone management and surgical BPH treatment that is not widely available in the region.
Kidney Stone Management
One of the highest-volume stone surgeons in East Tennessee. Dr. Pickens performs ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy for ureteral and renal stones, and PCNL / mini-PCNL for large, complex, or staghorn stone disease. Comprehensive stone metabolic evaluation available for recurrent stone formers.
Aquablation for BPH
Dr. Pickens is the only surgeon in East Tennessee performing Aquablation — a robotic, real-time ultrasound-guided waterjet resection of the prostate. Designed for prostates 30–150cc, Aquablation delivers consistent, anatomy-guided tissue removal with favorable outcomes for urinary flow and sexual function preservation.
Advanced BPH & Large Prostate
In addition to Aquablation, Dr. Pickens performs robotic simple prostatectomy for very large glands and other advanced endoscopic BPH procedures. He sees patients across the practice’s East Tennessee locations for both initial BPH consultation and procedural management.
Minimally Invasive & Robotic Surgery
Laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery for kidney cancer, ureteral reconstruction, and pyeloplasty. Dr. Pickens’ endourology fellowship included extensive training in minimally invasive techniques that reduce recovery time and hospital stay for complex urologic conditions.
Important Note for Aquablation Patients
Recent insurance requirements dictate who we can offer Aquablation to. A diagnosis of prostate cancer will typically exclude coverage. Insurers require prostate imaging confirming gland size between 30–150cc, documented failure of prostate medications for more than 3 months, and a uroflow test if a Foley catheter is in place. If you have had a prior workup, please bring that information to your surgical consultation.
Related Services
Conditions & Procedures Dr. Pickens Treats
Explore the dedicated service pages for the areas Dr. Pickens specializes in.
Schedule With Dr. Pickens
Call us, text, or message through Klara. Dr. Pickens sees patients at UTMC, Northshore, and Halls.