Dr Spiess was born and raised in Montreal, Canada where he completed his urological training at McGill University. He subsequently completed his urologic oncologic training at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Dr Spiess has published over 80 peer reviewed scientific papers in urologic oncology in addition to being a nationally and internationally recognized expert in the management of genitourinary malignancies. He has dedicated much of his research efforts to optimizing the surgical management of locally advanced and locally recurrent prostate cancer. He currently sits on the NCCN Panel for bladder and penile cancer in addition to being the video section editor of the International Brazilian Journal of Urology.