Meet Sij Hemal, MD

Dr. Hemal is a urologic oncology surgeon with Keck Medicine of USC who specializes in performing robotic procedures to treat cancers of the prostate, kidney and adrenal gland, as well as benign upper and lower urinary tract conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia.

He treats patients at Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Cancer Hospital and USC Arcadia Hospital. Here’s what you won’t find on his resume. 

Achieving pro athlete status would have been his dream career. 

“I didn’t always know I wanted to pursue a career in medicine. When I was growing up, I aspired to become a fast bowler for the Indian national cricket team.” 

He stays active outside of the operating room. 

“When I’m not working, I enjoy traveling, working out, playing tennis, hiking and running. I enjoy spending time with my family and my dog Lucy. I also like watching soccer games and learning about history and culture.” 

He’s an enthusiastic student of the world. 

“I would never switch jobs now because I love what I do! But if there was such an opportunity to trade careers with anyone in the world, I’d swap with someone from National Geographic. I’d enjoy a role related to wildlife and animals, especially if it involves exploring different countries and learning about history and cultures.” 

More travel tops his to-do list. 

“Cape Town, South Africa, is my favorite destination so far, and I’m excited to do even more traveling.

My personal bucket list includes seeing the beautiful wildlife on a Kenyan safari and scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. I’d also like to travel to see a World Cup game in person.” 

Provide some adrenaline at the movies. 

“I prefer action movies. My favorites include the ‘Mission: Impossible’ and ‘Bourne’ franchises.” 

He looks up to his parents. 

“My parents are my most influential role models. My mother and father moved to the United States and really taught me the value of resilience and hard work.  

They also instilled in me the conviction that you should always put in 100% hard work and dedication to whatever you’re doing, no matter what the outcome may be. The best piece of advice I ever received from them was to make the best out of every moment while being detached from the outcome.” 

He became a doctor to make a difference in people’s lives. 

“I enjoy working with my hands and performing surgery to cure patients with diseases such as prostate and kidney cancer and those with enlarged prostates. It feels very rewarding and gives me a purpose in my life that I can make a difference for my patients and the ordeals they have to endure. 

I’m truly passionate about my specialty, and I’m inspired to deliver the very best care that I can every day for my patients.” 

Achieving a successful outcome drives him each day.  

“The most rewarding part of my job is being able to tell a patient that they are cancer-free and that their surgery and recovery was smooth and successful.” 

He values a collaborative approach. 

“I strongly believe in the shared decision-making process. I empower my patients and their family members to be very involved and proactive in their care as well as in the medical decisions that are best suited to their goals of care. Furthermore, I believe in a strong team-centered approach where every member of my team — whether it’s a nurse, the anesthesiologist or a trainee — is inspired and ready to give their best in taking care of the patient in and out of the operating room.”  

Robotic surgery has been a game changer. 

“The most impactful advancement in my field has been the development of robotic surgery, which allows us to perform very precise and delicate surgery in a minimally invasive fashion using three-dimensional vision and magnification. The superior visual clarity allows the surgeon to perform very delicate dissections, taking care to ensure negative margins in the fight against cancer. Of course, this allows us to achieve the best possible oncologic and functional outcomes surgically.” 

He’s passionate about education. 

“I chose to practice at an academic medical center in part because of the opportunity to teach residents, fellows, medical students and other trainees. It’s an exciting way for me to give back to future generations of physicians.” 

What sets Keck Medicine apart? 

“Keck Medicine is an eminent institution worldwide. Our department has always been at the forefront internationally in developing and pioneering new techniques and innovations. We have the single-port robotic surgical system at our center, which makes robotic surgery even more minimally invasive, conferring less pain and promoting faster recovery for our patients. 

My current practice and research is focused on how single-incision robotic surgery impacts outcomes for patients undergoing prostate removal for cancer and benign diseases of the prostate. With this advanced technology, we can perform surgeries in ways that reduce postoperative pain and expedite recovery for patients while maintaining the highest standards of care, without compromising cancer and functional outcomes.” 

Topics