He is a clinically active urologist with a specialized practice in prostate cancer. His globally recognized prostate cancer research focuses on at-risk populations, diagnosis, treatment outcomes, and the molecular biology of lethal prostate cancer.

Dr. Schaeffer is Chair of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Prostate Cancer Guidelines Committee, member of the National Cancer Institute Genitourinary Cancers Steering Committee, and board member for the Society of Urologic Oncology Clinical Trials Consortium. He also sits on the Journal of Urology editorial board, is an associate editor for Urology Case Reports, and a reviewer for numerous academic journals. In 2009 Dr. Schaeffer was the recipient of the American Urological Association/Astellas Rising Star in Urology Award; he was awarded the American Society for Clinical Oncology Clinical Cancer Advance of the year in 2013.