Dr. Sheldon Marks is a microsurgical specialist and diplomat of the American Board of Urology. He knew as far back as high school that he loved microscopic manipulation when, for fun, he wrote the Gettysburg address on the back of a postage stamp using a high-powered magnifying glass. He has been performing microsurgical vasectomy reversals since 1983, while at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and began specializing in microsurgical vasectomy reversals in 1991.

Prior to his entering medical school, Dr. Marks earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physiological Psychology from Occidental College in Los Angeles, California. In 1982, he received his M.D. from the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson before moving on to his general surgery training at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. While at Mayo, Dr. Marks completed a rotation in gynecologic surgery and infertility microsurgery, assisting with tubal reversals. Dr. Marks was a resident and then Chief resident in urology at Tufts University School of Medicine/New England Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. While in Boston, he was able to participate in a number of vasectomy reversal procedures. Dr. Marks has enjoyed a private practice in Tucson, Arizona since 1987.

Dr. Marks began to focus his private practice early in his career on vasectomy reversals when he realized how much he enjoyed microsurgery and that he was getting excellent success rates for his patients. In the past few years alone, Dr. Marks has performed more than 1,000 successful microsurgical vasectomy reversals, which has improved his reputation even more by word-of-mouth. He regularly repairs failed vasectomy reversal procedures from other surgeons (re-do vasectomy reversals), as well as the even more challenging "re-do, re-do" and even "re-do, re-do, re-do" reversals. Dr. Marks has successful reversals as far out as 42 years from vasectomy!

He is a member of a number of national and international fertility and urologic societies, including the elite Society of Reproductive Surgeons*, the American Society of Andrology, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction, the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, the American Urologic Association, Western Section of the American Urologic Association, Societé dUrologie Internationale and the European Urology Association.

*Acceptance into the Society of Reproductive Surgeons requires an invitation, letters of recommendation and a review and approval of an 18-month log of fertility related cases and their outcomes.

In addition to being an accomplished and well-respected microsurgeon, Dr. Marks has earned an international reputation as an author and lecturer, with articles on vasectomy and reversal as well as a number of other urologic and general topics and is currently developing a series of health books for patients. Currently, Dr. Marks is featured as the foremost authority on vasectomy reversal with WebMD, the world-renowned online medical resource for health and wellness. He is personally and professionally committed to patient empowerment through knowledge and education. Dr. Marks notes, "It is only through an educated and informed decision that patients can make the best choices for themselves. There is nothing more frustrating than to see someone from a failed vasectomy reversal elsewhere because they assumed that just because the doctor said he would do the reversal, he had the microsurgical skills and expertise to do one successfully."

Dr. Marks emphasizes that there is more to a vasectomy reversal than simply sewing the two ends together. He believes the importance of focusing on each patient's unique physical, emotional and spiritual needs to achieve the best success possible, in combination with the highest level of surgical expertise.

In addition to caring for patients, writing and lecturing, Dr. Marks has served his community as President of the Pima County Medical Society, President of the Arizona Urologic Society (two terms), President of the Southern Arizona Urologic Society, member of the United Way Campaign Board of Directors, President of the Tucson Unit of the American Cancer Society (two terms), as well as a guest lecturer at local schools, ranging from grade schools to high schools and even home schools.