Mentor Spotlight: Dr. Joan Delto
About the Mentor
Dr. Delto is a urologist at Creighton University and Catholic Health Initiatives, serving patients across Nebraska and Iowa. She earned her medical degree from the John A. Burns School of Medicine in Honolulu, Hawaii, and completed her residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida. She went on to complete a fellowship in robotics and minimally invasive urological surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, as well as a post-doctoral research fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center focused on pre-clinical trials for bladder cancer.
Currently, Dr. Delto is an Associate Professor of Urology with a secondary appointment in the Department of Clinical Research and Public Health. She specializes in robotic and laparoscopic surgery for urologic cancers, adrenal disease, and upper tract reconstruction. Alongside her clinical work, she is actively engaged in research and is dedicated to mentoring students and trainees at Creighton University and through organizations such as the Society of Women in Urology and the American Urological Association.
She is also deeply involved in leadership and advocacy. Dr. Delto serves as President of Women in Medicine and Science and is a faculty mentor for the Creighton chapters of the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) and the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA).
Interview
Q: How did you end up working in the field of urology?
A: I was originally open to many specialties and even thought about family medicine. But during my surgery rotation, I realized how much I enjoyed procedures and working with my hands. On one of my last days, I observed an open partial nephrectomy. The surgeon was welcoming, the anatomy was beautiful, and I was hooked. I shadowed him and his colleagues and discovered the wide variety of surgeries urologists perform—open, robotic, laparoscopic, and endoscopic procedures, along with prosthetics for incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Plus, the field is very technology-driven with lasers and new devices, which really excited me.
Q: What obstacles did you encounter in your urology training, and how did you overcome them?
A: The first challenge was simply getting into a residency program—it’s competitive. I was fortunate to have supportive female urologists as role models in my network, but I felt I had to work 120% harder to prove myself, especially as a woman who looked different from most of my colleagues. What helped me overcome that was showing up every day with hard work, a good attitude, and a genuine love for the field. Research, mentorship, and resilience all helped me push through.
Q: Did you do a fellowship? What was your focus?
A: Yes, I trained in Robotics and Minimally Invasive Urologic Surgery, focusing on cancers of the kidney, prostate, and bladder, as well as adrenal surgery. I’ve been fascinated by robotic surgery since medical school, when I first sat at the console—it gave me chills. I loved how patients recovered faster, had less pain, and returned to daily life more quickly. That impact on patient outcomes really drew me in.
Q: What types of cases do you see most often?
A: Urologists see a lot of stone disease, so ureteroscopy for stone removal is very common. We also do surgeries for enlarged benign prostates. Personally, I focus on oncology cases—complex kidney surgeries, adrenalectomies, radical prostatectomies, and radical cystectomies with urinary diversions—using robotic or laparoscopic approaches.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job? What is the most challenging?
A: The most rewarding part is simply the work itself. I love doing surgeries, helping people, and seeing patients recover quickly with good outcomes. Even during the grueling years of training, I always looked forward to going to work. The most challenging part has been overcoming biases and growing my practice. Other challenges, in surgery particularly, is the amount of time required in training and practice that it interferes with family planning and spending time with loved ones.
Q: Could you expand more on your experience as the only female urologist in your practice?
A: At one point, I was the only woman in the group, and I was often pigeonholed into seeing female patients with conditions like incontinence or UTIs. Early on, I wasn’t always referred the complex cancer and reconstructive cases I specialized in. Building my practice took persistence—networking, giving talks, writing, multimedia approaches to get my name out there. Over time, referrals aligned more with my expertise.
Q: Have you always wanted to be in academic medicine?
A: Growing up in a small town in Hawaii, I didn’t even know academic medicine existed. But once I was exposed to it in training, I fell in love with teaching and mentoring. Performing great surgeries is rewarding, but helping shape the next generation of surgeons is equally meaningful.
Q: What does your average week look like?
A: I spend about three days in clinic and two days in the OR, and I cover three hospitals. We also have academic conferences two mornings a week. Our group has six partners, and we rotate call weekly.
Q: What advancements do you hope to see in urology?
A: Urology is already very technology-driven, and I expect even more innovation with new robots, lasers, disposables, and surgical techniques. I also hope to see greater diversity in the field—more women, and more inclusivity overall.
Q: How do you maintain work-life balance?
A: Balance is always a challenge because I push myself hard. I make time for things I enjoy—trying new restaurants, working out, dancing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Recently, I’ve added pursuing an Executive MBA, which has stretched me even more. Coming home to read or write papers after a long day of work or surgeries can be challenging. For me, it’s about working hard, but also carving out space for rest and play. I also hope to inspire others, particularly my stepchildren, nieces, and nephews, that you can do anything you put your mind to.
Q: Why pursue an MBA?
A: I love learning, and I want to use what I gain from the MBA to improve operations, efficiency, and quality in our practice. Long term, I see it as opening doors for leadership opportunities, perhaps as my surgical volume slows down.
Q: What advice would you give your medical student self?
A: Find something you love and go for it. Believe in yourself, even when others don’t. Surround yourself with good people who will support you through challenges and celebrate your successes. And I always remember my mom’s advice: “Try your best and pray to God.”
About the Interviewer
Hannah Fleming a third-year medical student at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. She completed her undergraduate studies in Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota. She came to medical school undecided on her future specialty, and after working closely with Dr. Delto through her time as the event chair and then the vice president of Creighton’s AWS chapter, for which Dr. Delto is the faculty advisor, Hannah is passionately pursuing a career in surgery. Thanks to the mentorship of many individuals, especially Dr. Delto, Hannah plans to pursue a career in academic surgery. Hannah serves as the Midwest Great Plains Region Representative on the AWS National Medical Student Council for the 2025-2026 year. Outside of medical school, you can probably find Hannah enjoying a London fog at a local café or getting some movement in at a yoga sculpt class.