Dr. Blake Ferguson grew up in a small town in West Texas, quite a change from his future headed to a residency in urology at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center. What attracted him to urology were the specialty’s variety in surgery and the relationships that surgeons share with their patients.

Blake Ferguson, M.D.

What this award means: As a first-generation college student, I have had moments of impostor syndrome without a family to empathize with on my path to becoming a physician. To be honored with this award recognizes the incredibly intense work I have put into building my future as a urologist. I am immensely grateful that my dedication to the future of urology has been appreciated.

Mentor comment: Blake lives up to the high expectation of the McConnell Award as he has demonstrated intellectual curiosity in his research endeavors and compassion toward his patients in his clinical rotations. We predict a great future for him in his urological career. – Claus G. Roehrborn, M.D., Chair and Professor of Urology

Background and family: I am originally from Canyon, Texas, a small town in rural West Texas. I am the first in my family to attend college, so it is a great honor to be graduating this year.

What led to your career path: Deciding to pursue urology was a late decision for me. I always knew I wanted a procedural field; however, I thought general surgery was where I would end up. Luckily, I took an exploratory elective in urology that showcased the incredible variety of the surgical specialty and the intimate relationships the surgeons share with their patients. It was because of these patients and the highly advanced surgeries that are performed that I decided to pursue urology.

College: I graduated with a B.S. in biochemistry from Texas Tech University. I was a tutor for freshman biology, a lab assistant for a biochemistry basic science research lab, a volunteer Graduate Record Examination tutor, and an officer for our chapter of the American Chemical Society. The greatest honor I received was graduating at the top of the College of Arts and Sciences and carrying the flag at graduation.

UTSW activities: I served on the board of the PRIDE organization to build a home for LGBTQ+ students at UTSW. I also created the elective, Basic Spanish for Healthcare Providers, where in conjunction with the Latino Medical Student Association, we taught 30 UTSW students to conduct a history of present illness (HPI) in Spanish. I volunteered as a vaccine administrator when the COVID-19 vaccine first became available and volunteered to mentor high school students through the Health Professions Recruitment and Exposure Program.

Surprising fact: I am teaching myself Spanish through books, podcasts, and apps. I spent a month in Mexico City immersing myself in the language and the culture to better my proficiency. I am currently reading The Alchemist in Spanish.

Ultimate career goal: In addition to providing the best possible care for my patients, my goal is to foster an environment of learning, inclusion, and collaboration on my teams. I think everyone should pursue urology, and I want every trainee rotating on our team to see how rewarding, exciting, and welcoming a future as a urologist can be.

Future plans: In the next year I will be beginning my urology training at Baylor Scott & White in Temple, Texas. I hope to later pursue a fellowship in urologic oncology.

About the award: The award honors Dr. McConnell, a former UTSW faculty member who led Urology from a Division into a Department. He is now Executive Director of Wake Forest Healthcare Ventures in North Carolina, which develops and commercializes health care products and services.