The Urology Group here in Memphis is home to a powerful combination of medical legacy and modern innovation through the work of father and son partners, Drs. Vance and Rusty Shappley.
More than three decades ago, Dr. Vance Shappley, a native Memphian who studied at the University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee College of Medicine before serving as a urologist in the U.S. Air Force, became the first physician in the region to implant an early form of neurostimulation therapy for patients suffering from urge urinary incontinence, a symptom of overactive bladder. At the time, the technology, called the InterStim™ device, was new, and skepticism ran high.
“Back then, many patients had only medications or invasive procedures as options,” Vance recalls. “There was uncertainty, but I had built a reputation in the community and felt strongly that patients deserved alternatives when nothing else worked.”
Fast forward to today, and his son, Dr. Rusty Shappley, is carrying that same pioneering spirit forward. After studying at Duke University for his undergraduate degree and Columbia University for medical school, and completing urology training at Harvard, Rusty returned home to Memphis, where he now practices alongside his father at The Urology Group. Recently, he became the first physician in Tennessee to implant the Altaviva™ device, a next-generation neurostimulation therapy used to treat urinary incontinence.
For Rusty, neuromodulation felt like a calling. “I grew up in the doctors’ lounge,” he laughs. “I knew I wanted to be a surgeon, and this field lets you help patients who have already tried medications and behavioral therapy without success. It’s especially rewarding when nothing else has worked,” Rusty says.
Earlier neurostimulation devices required multi-step procedures and implanted batteries roughly the size of several stacked silver dollars. The Altaviva system represents a dramatic leap forward, requiring only a small, gum-sized device placed near the tibial nerve in the lower leg under local anesthesia, often in less than ten minutes.
“The simplicity is what excites me,” Rusty explains. “It’s less intimidating, easier to implant, and patients can return to their active lives quickly.”
One of the most compelling advantages of the Altaviva device is how well it fits the lifestyle of younger, fit, and highly active patients. While other forms of neurostimulation therapies are still an effective option for many, they require surgical implantation and recovery time, whereas Altaviva is placed in a quick procedure using only local anesthesia. There is no need for general anesthesia, no hospital stay, and minimal downtime, allowing patients to walk out of the clinic the same day and return to normal activity quickly. For runners, outdoor workers, and busy professionals, this advanced bladder therapy offers symptom relief without major disruptions to daily life.
Father and son now work side by side in the clinic several mornings a week, often collaborating on complex cases. Their generational perspectives blend seamlessly: Vance brings decades of clinical wisdom, while Rusty introduces the newest technology and techniques. Looking ahead, both physicians believe neurostimulation will continue to expand, especially as the region’s population ages. In a state where more than one-third of residents are over 50, improving quality of life is no small mission.
“This is about dignity and freedom,” Vance and Rusty agree. “Helping someone sleep through the night, go to work, or live without fear of accidents can make a huge difference in their daily life.”
Learn more about The Urology Group or schedule a consultation by visiting their website, Memphisurology.com.
By Lucy Modzelewski
