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Urologist and Urologic Oncologist | Robotic Urologic Surgery
Dr. Reuven Ben-David is a senior urologist at Ichilov, where much of his work is devoted to patients with tumors of the urinary system. Prostate, kidney and bladder cancers make up a large part of his practice, alongside tumors of the ureter and testis.
Surgery is his main clinical field. Some operations can be performed robotically or through small incisions, others still require an open approach. For Dr. Ben-David, the choice starts with the disease itself — where the tumor is, how far it has spread, what the scans and biopsy show, and what can reasonably be achieved for that particular patient.
He also teaches at Tel Aviv University and is involved in clinical research in urologic oncology.
About Dr. Reuven Ben-David
Dr. Ben-David completed his urology residency at Ichilov and later spent two years in New York for advanced training in urologic oncology at Mount Sinai. Between 2023 and 2025, his fellowship there focused heavily on complex cancer surgery and robotic procedures.
Today, his work ranges from kidney-sparing surgery and radical prostatectomy to major bladder surgery with urinary reconstruction. He also sees patients before treatment when the situation is less clear — for example, when there is a choice between several surgical options or when a patient wants another opinion before a major operation.
Research remains part of his work as well. One area he has studied extensively is ctDNA, tiny fragments of tumor DNA found in the bloodstream. His studies look at whether this information can add something useful to what doctors already learn from pathology, imaging and routine follow-up.
Private Consultation
Patients usually come to Dr. Ben-David after a urologic tumor has been found or when an examination has raised suspicion of cancer. Others come before a planned operation because they want to understand whether surgery is really necessary and what alternatives exist.
A consultation begins with the material already available — scans, biopsy or pathology reports, previous medical summaries and relevant test results. These are reviewed together before discussing the next step.
For a private consultation with Dr. Reuven Ben-David at Tel Aviv Medical Clinic (TAMC):
📞 Phone: +972-73-374-6844
📧 Email: [email protected]
💬 WhatsApp: +972-52-337-3108
Main Clinical Areas
Dr. Ben-David’s practice includes:
- Prostate tumors and prostate cancer surgery
- Kidney tumors and kidney-sparing surgery
- Bladder tumors and bladder cancer
- Tumors of the ureter and upper urinary tract
- Testicular cancer
- Complex urologic cancer surgery
- Radical and partial kidney surgery
- Prostate removal for cancer
- Bladder removal with urinary reconstruction
- Neobladder and ileal conduit reconstruction
- Lymph node surgery for urologic cancers
- TURBT and other endoscopic procedures for bladder tumors
- MRI-targeted prostate biopsy
- Second opinions before urologic cancer surgery
Robotic Surgery
Robotic surgery is used in many of the complex procedures Dr. Ben-David performs, but not as a default choice for every patient. The surgical route is selected according to the tumor, its location and extent, previous operations, and the patient’s anatomy.
For kidney tumors, this may mean removing only the affected part of the kidney or, when necessary, the entire kidney. In selected cases, Dr. Ben-David operates through the retroperitoneal space, approaching the kidney directly from the back rather than through the abdominal cavity. This route can be particularly useful for tumors located on the posterior side of the kidney.
His experience also includes robotic prostatectomy, major bladder surgery with urinary reconstruction, and lymph node surgery for selected patients with testicular cancer.
When the bladder must be removed, reconstruction is planned before surgery. Depending on the individual situation, this may involve creating a neobladder from intestinal tissue or using an ileal conduit with a stoma.
In prostate surgery, preserving the nerves involved in sexual function is considered whenever the cancer allows it. Dr. Ben-David also has experience with the Hood Technique, which aims to preserve specific anatomical structures around the prostate. Cancer control, however, remains the first consideration when deciding how much tissue can safely be preserved.
In 2023, he completed dedicated training in Chicago on Medtronic’s Hugo robotic surgical system.
Research and Personalized Urologic Oncology
A significant part of Dr. Ben-David’s research deals with ctDNA, fragments of genetic material released by tumor cells into the bloodstream.
His studies have looked at patients with bladder, kidney and testicular cancers, asking whether these blood-based markers can provide useful information about residual disease, the likelihood of recurrence, or changes that occur during follow-up.
This remains an evolving field. ctDNA results are interpreted alongside established tools such as pathology and imaging rather than as a substitute for them.
Beyond molecular markers, his academic work covers robotic cancer surgery, personalized treatment strategies and tumors of the upper urinary tract. He also takes part in multicenter research through the ROBUUST collaborative group.
Professional Experience
Dr. Ben-David completed his urology residency at Ichilov between 2016 and 2022 under Prof. Ofer Yossepowitch and later served as Chief Resident.
In 2023, he moved to New York for a two-year fellowship in urologic oncology at Mount Sinai. The program, conducted through the Society of Urologic Oncology, provided advanced experience in complex cancer surgery and robotic techniques.
He returned to Ichilov in 2025 and joined the Department of Urology as a senior physician.
Education and Advanced Training
Dr. Ben-David received his medical degree from Semmelweis University in Budapest in 2014, graduating Summa Cum Laude. His thesis explored targeted molecular therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.
After medical school, he completed his internship at Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson) in 2015, followed by residency training in urology at Ichilov.
His subsequent advanced training includes the two-year urologic oncology fellowship in New York and dedicated instruction in robotic surgery on the Hugo system in Chicago.
Teaching and Academic Work
Teaching has accompanied Dr. Ben-David throughout much of his medical career. While studying at Semmelweis University, he taught anatomy and later microbiology. During his years at Ichilov, he became involved in teaching medical students and interns and, more recently, urology residents.
Since 2026, he has held the academic rank of Clinical Senior Lecturer at Tel Aviv University.
Scientific Publications
Dr. Ben-David has contributed to more than 70 scientific publications(PubMed) in urology and urologic oncology. His work has appeared in journals such as European Urology Oncology, JCO Precision Oncology, The Journal of Urology, BJU International, Urologic Oncology, World Journal of Urology, and European Urology Focus.
He has also presented over 80 research works at professional meetings and medical congresses.
Awards and Recognition
Several of Dr. Ben-David’s research projects have received professional recognition.
- 2023 — Best Poster Award in New York for research related to ctDNA and radical cystectomy.
- 2024 — Rising Star Award in robotics at the AUA Annual Meeting.
- 2025 — Third Prize at the EAU Congress in Madrid for research examining ctDNA before radical cystectomy.
Scientific Peer Review
Dr. Ben-David reviews scientific manuscripts submitted to medical journals, among them BJU International, Urologic Oncology, World Journal of Urology, European Urology Open Science, The Journal of Urology, and Bladder.
Medical Societies
His professional affiliations include the Israeli Urological Association and several international organizations: the European Association of Urology (EAU), American Urological Association (AUA), Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO), and Société Internationale d’Urologie (SIU).
Languages
- Hebrew
- English.
Private Consultation and Second Opinion
A second opinion can be useful when a urologic cancer has been diagnosed and there is uncertainty about the next step. Patients may also seek another assessment before a planned operation to better understand why a particular procedure was recommended and whether another surgical approach should be considered.
Dr. Ben-David sees patients with prostate, kidney, bladder, ureteral and testicular tumors at his private practice at Tel Aviv Medical Clinic (TAMC). International patients may also contact the clinic regarding a specialist consultation.
📞 Phone: +972-73-374-6844
📧 Email: [email protected]
💬 WhatsApp: +972-52-337-3108
Frequently Asked Questions
1. A kidney tumor was found on my scan. Does that mean the whole kidney has to be removed?
Not necessarily. When I review a case like this, one of the first things I look at is whether we can safely preserve part of the kidney.
For some tumors, partial nephrectomy is a good option. For others, removing the entire kidney may be safer from an oncologic standpoint. Size matters, but it is not the only consideration. The exact position of the tumor, nearby blood vessels, the urinary collecting system and the condition of the other kidney all influence the decision.
2. Is robotic surgery better for a kidney tumor?
I would not describe robotic surgery as automatically “better.” It is a tool that can be very useful in the right situation.
During kidney-sparing surgery, for example, it gives us a detailed view and precise control while separating the tumor from the remaining kidney and reconstructing the operated area. But if another surgical route offers a safer or more appropriate operation, that is what I would recommend.
3. What does a retroperitoneal approach to kidney surgery mean?
It means reaching the kidney from the back, without first entering the abdominal cavity.
For a tumor sitting toward the posterior part of the kidney, that route can sometimes be quite direct. In another patient, however, the conventional abdominal route may make more sense. I decide between them after looking carefully at the scans, anatomy and previous surgical history.
4. I have prostate cancer. Do I need an operation?
Not simply because prostate cancer was found.
Some prostate cancers can be monitored safely for a period of time. Others require treatment, and surgery is only one of the possibilities. Radiation therapy may be appropriate in other situations.
Before talking about an operation, I want to understand the actual risk of the disease. That usually means reviewing the PSA, biopsy and MRI, with additional staging such as PSMA imaging when it is relevant. Age, general health and the patient’s own priorities also matter.
5. Can the nerves responsible for erections be preserved during prostate cancer surgery?
Sometimes they can. The nerves run very close to the prostate, so whether they can be spared depends largely on where the cancer is and how far it extends.
I discuss this before surgery because sexual function is an important concern for many patients. At the same time, I would not preserve tissue if doing so could compromise the cancer operation. The MRI, biopsy and other findings help us judge what is realistically possible.
6. If my bladder has to be removed, what happens afterward?
Removing the bladder means we also have to create another way for urine to leave the body. There are different ways to do this.
For some patients, we can construct a neobladder from a segment of intestine. Another option is an ileal conduit, which drains urine through a stoma on the abdomen.
This is a conversation I prefer to have well before surgery. The choice is influenced by the cancer, kidney function, previous medical history and the patient’s ability to manage the reconstruction afterward. There is no single solution that suits everyone.
7. When is it worth getting a second opinion from a urologic oncologist?
I think a second opinion is particularly useful when the decision in front of you is a major one.
For example, you may have been advised to remove a kidney, prostate or bladder and want to know whether that is the only reasonable option. Sometimes the question is whether part of the kidney can be saved; in another case, it may be whether a robotic procedure is suitable.
A second opinion does not necessarily mean the original recommendation was wrong. Often, it simply gives the patient a clearer understanding of the choices before making a decision that can have long-term consequences.
8. When does surgery make sense for prostate cancer, and when does it not?
There is no answer based on the diagnosis alone.
With localized prostate cancer, surgery may be one reasonable option, depending on the characteristics of the tumor and the patient’s situation. At the low-risk end, active surveillance may be preferable to immediate treatment. When the disease is already widely metastatic, systemic treatment generally becomes much more important than removing the prostate.
When I assess a patient, I put the PSA, biopsy, MRI and any necessary staging studies together rather than looking at one result in isolation. The real question is not whether an operation can be done, but whether it is likely to help that patient.
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