The story of Dr. Nicole Massie's life reads much like a Frank Capra 1930s movie. It's the classic American success story, complete with immigrant parents who, although sometimes working multiple jobs, put family above all. The daughter follows their example, fulfilling their fondest dreams. She pursues her calling in meaningful medical work, meets a young man with similar interests and winds up marrying and establishing her own young family while helping to heal others. No, there's no Busby Berkeley choreography involved. But yes, it is a true story with what promises to be a happily-ever-after ending. Massie and her husband, Dr. Stanford Massie, met while both were in residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Stanford was from San Francisco. Nicole came to Birmingham from the University of Virginia, where she attended both college and medical school. Stanford finished his residency and launched into academic internal medicine at UAB. By the time Nicole completed her residency requirements, Birmingham had become home to both and an inviting place to start a family. So Massie began her practice with the Urology Centers of Alabama. Although Massie is the only woman on the Urology Centers of Alabama team, her contribution has been welcomed in a field traditionally dominated by male patients. She sees both men and women, but this self-described nurturer tends to specialize in women's incontinence and vaginal reconstructive surgeries. "I was just inspired to go in that direction," said Massie, remembering the example of her residency mentor. Massie has developed a keen interest in all aspects of female health related to urogynecological functions and sees herself as a sort of catalyst, bringing attention and interest to the field. "It's just my passion to pursue female health," Massie said. Problems like female sexual dysfunction and incontinence are less "hush-hush" now that treatment of erectile dysfunction is so well-known. With women staying physically and sexually active later in life, Massie hopes more attention will be given to relieving problems they experience. Women are realizing that the problems that handicapped their mothers and grandmothers are "not a normal part of aging," Massie said. They are no longer willing to passively cope. The proliferation and acceptance of cosmetic surgery is also creating a more open climate for other surgeries to improve quality of life. Improved, less invasive urology surgeries, with overnight or outpatient hospital stays, are also prompting more women to seek help. Massie is optimistic that further innovations lie ahead. Her group is working to develop robotic surgery for vaginal prolapse that will mimic techniques used in prostrate surgery. Professional lectures on women's health are raising awareness among physician groups that there are specialists like Massie who have the time and expertise to address sexual problems. She hopes that her colleagues will ask women patients what's bothering them. Massie hopes to see a sexual dysfunction clinic opening soon to address these issues, simultaneously providing help for other physicians seeking referral or consultation. "If they don't have time to treat it, they can know there is somebody out there who enjoys treating it," Massie said. Massie credits her interest in women's health partly on happenstance and partly on her family role. She said in the beginning of her practice, women urology patients tended to be referred to her and she found herself especially interested in their concerns. It helps that she has the sixth sense she credits to motherhood. "You have a little bit more patience, or more understanding as a woman, or as a mother," Massie said. Those skills are honed with two boys and a girl, all under the age of seven. She said parenting, like medicine, is a learning process in which one makes mistakes, consults with others who may know more, and applies what one learns to the next situation. She tries to give her children the same happy childhood she enjoyed, with a secure family environment based on time spent together. "We try to have dinner together every night. And I cook Indian food on Sundays." Massie's parents immigrated from India in the 1970s. She became a citizen in 1977. Mom sends her the special spices that make her dishes exceptional, and Massie frequents the few Indian stores in the city. In addition to passing on cultural traditions, Massie and her husband also strive to pass on traditional values of hard work and family reliance. And just like in a "Wonderful Life" Capra movie, the future bodes bright — for both the Massie family and their grateful patients.