By Bari Faye Dean
Hadley Narins, M.D., never set out to become a specialist in female urology, but as she progressed through her medical training, she saw a significant gap in care. “Nearly 50 percent of the patients coming in were women, yet so few urologists were specializing in female pelvic health,” the board-certified, fellowship trained urologist said. When she was a medical student, she didn’t see any women residents in urology, making the field feel male-dominated. But instead of being deterred, she found an opportunity to make a difference.
Although she initially considered a focus on general urology and cancer, her experiences in training opened her eyes to the pressing need for female pelvic health specialists. “Few men want to focus on female urology,” she explains. “Most gravitate toward prostate and kidney cancer.”
Dr. Narins earned her medical degree from Thomas Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, then completed a General Surgery internship and Urology Residency at SUNY Buffalo, finishing in 2017.
Practicing since 2018 at Associated Medical Professionals of New York, Dr. Narins specializes in treating women suffering from voiding dysfunction and pelvic organ prolapse and reconstructive surgery with minimally invasive techniques, including robotic sacrocolpopexy.
Transforming Lives, One Surgery at a Time
Urologic surgeries for women might not be lifesaving—but they are life-changing. “The most rewarding part of my job is meeting with a patient post operatively and seeing how happy they are,” Dr. Narins said. “Many experience almost immediate relief.”
Her practice serves a vast region, extending from the Canadian border to the rural areas of Central New York. “There is a huge need for specialists like me in Syracuse,” she said. “We all need to clone ourselves two or three times to meet the demand, especially as the Baby Boomer generation ages.”
While many of her patients are women who have had children, some experience significant pelvic floor disorders despite never giving birth. In addition to primary surgeries, she performs revision surgeries for patients who have experienced recurrence or complications following prior treatments. She conducts robotic surgeries at Crouse Hospital, where she played a key role in developing the Female Urology and Pelvic Reconstruction program. Routinely, she performs many procedures at Intrepid Lane Ambulatory Surgery Center, the facility owned by her practice.
A Patient-Centered Approach
Dr. Narins prioritizes building relationships with her patients. “I want to take care of them clinically, but I also want to know who they are as people,” she said. “What’s important to them? What is their family life like? I genuinely care about my patients and want them to feel heard and valued.”
Her team includes a physician assistant, nurse practitioner and dedicated nurse, ensuring patients receive comprehensive, evidencebased care. “We stay up to date with the latest literature and make sure our patients not only get the best clinical outcome but also feel supported throughout their journey.”
Life Beyond the Operating Room
Outside of work, Dr. Narins leads a full life with her husband and three children, ages 8, 5 and 2. Married in 2016, she credits her husband —a stay-at-home dad—with keeping their household running smoothly. “He does all the cooking,” she said, laughing.
Gardening is her sanctuary. “Work is work. I get a lot of gratification from it, but it’s stressful. When I’m in my garden, I’m physically working hard, but my mind is in a calm, contemplative state,” she said, noting she even starts her mornings in the garden before heading to surgery.
Her family grows tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, eggplant, okra, Swiss chard, and squash, with the children eagerly picking their favorites to eat raw. “They can identify so many different flowers,” Dr. Narins said. “When the weather is nice, I come home from work, change out of my scrubs, and we stay outside until the mosquitoes come out.”
Many of her patients are gardeners, too, allowing her to foster an unexpected but meaningful connection. “It’s a common passion. When I talk to my patients, I see them as people, not just cases. And I think that makes a difference.”