Montrose Regional Health is excited to welcome Dr. Michael Tonzi, Urologist, to our community. Dr. Tonzi is joining Dr. Craig Peterson who has graciously served this region for over 20 years. Dr. Tonzi completed his undergraduate work at Notre Dame and received his medical degree at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. He then completed a Residency in Urology at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Tonzi is an avid outdoorsman and a serious rock climber who sees Montrose as the perfect place to work and also enjoy nearby access to great outdoor activities.
Dr. Tonzi and Dr. Peterson are the first urologists in our region to offer Aquablation therapy for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH causes men to get up multiple times a night to urinate, which disrupts sleep and definitely affects quality of life. Aquablation therapy is performed at Montrose Regional Health using the AquaBeam Robotic System®. This FDA-cleared surgical robot utilizes automated tissue resection for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH. Aquablation therapy combines real-time, multi-dimensional imaging, automated robotics, and heat-free waterjet ablation for targeted, controlled, and immediate removal of prostate tissue. Using this equipment helps the surgeons create a personalized treatment plan tailored to each patient’s individual anatomy. Once the team creates the map, the waterjet removes the prostate tissue and very importantly avoids critical structures to preserve sexual function and continence.
An enlarged prostate is a non-cancerous condition where the prostate has grown to be larger than normal. 1 in 2 men ages 51 to 60 have BPH, and the incidence increases every decade of life. If left untreated, BPH can cause significant health problems, including irreversible bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones, and incontinence. According to Dr. Peterson, current BPH surgical treatments often force men to tradeoff between symptom relief and side effects, limiting patients to choose between either a high degree of symptom relief with high rates of irreversible complications such as incontinence, erectile dysfunction, or ejaculatory dysfunction, or a low degree of symptom relief with low rates of irreversible complications. The Aquablation therapy is a game changer and will soon become the “gold standard” of care for men across the Unted States.
Dr. Tonzi is excited to join a great team that works well together and uses a patient specific approach to tailor options to each individual’s needs. In addition, he is impressed that this great new technology is available at Montrose Regional Health. For more information, please call 970.249.2291
Montrose Regional Health is happy to continue to introduce new physicians to our community and welcome them to our beautiful area. We are fortunate to have such high-quality providers join our team of caregivers who Care For You Like Family!
Leann Tobin, Chief Ancillary Services and Marketing Officer, Montrose Regional Health
About Montrose Regional Health (www.MontroseHealth.com)
Montrose Regional Health is a 501(c)3 nonprofit healthcare system serving Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray, Gunnison, Delta, Hinsdale and San Juan counties. The hospital is licensed for 75-beds and offers an extensive range of inpatient & outpatient health care services, including cardiology, oncology, minimally invasive surgery, laboratory, medical imaging/radiology, Mountain View Therapy, Acute Rehabilitation Unit, advanced respiratory & pulmonary services, and the family birthing center. The health system has a reputation for acquiring the latest technologies in healthcare, from robotic assisted surgical services to UVC-disinfection technology. Montrose Regional Health is the second-largest employer in Montrose County, with more than 700 employees and 100 providers who represent 23 medical specialties. With a tagline that reads Caring for you like family, the health system is known for its warm patient care.