Pearls & Perspectives: Understanding the Long-Term Health Effects of Military Exposures, With Shane Kronstedt, MD

In this episode of Pearls & Perspectives, host Amy Pearlman, MD, is joined by Larry Lipshultz, MD, and Baylor College of Medicine urology resident Shane M. Kronstedt, MD, to discuss how military service, research, and advocacy intersect in the pursuit of better reproductive health care for veterans. Drawing on his unique career path—from Navy SEAL combat medic to urology resident—Kronstedt reflects on the experiences that inspired him to pursue medicine and ultimately focus on improving care for fellow service members.

The conversation centers on Kronstedt's ongoing research into the long-term health effects of military service, including analyses of the Department of Defense Trauma Registry and studies examining environmental exposures such as burn pits. The panel discusses emerging evidence linking these exposures to increased risks of genitourinary malignancies and explores new research evaluating their potential impact on male fertility, hypogonadism, and adverse reproductive outcomes. Pearlman and Lipshultz emphasize the importance of rigorous clinical research as a foundation for advocacy, highlighting how prior work contributed to expanded VA coverage for bladder and urothelial cancers associated with toxic exposures.

Beyond the science, the discussion underscores the real-world burden faced by veterans and their families, including the emotional and financial challenges of infertility treatment. Kronstedt shares his hope that ongoing research will ultimately support broader recognition of infertility as it relates to service, paving the way for improved access to fertility care through the VA.