Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in medicine has gained significant momentum over the past several years and has underscored the acute need for expansion of DEI within the field of urology. Historically, the AUA Medical Student Education Committee hosts twice-yearly webinars geared specifically to medical students as they consider pursuing urological residency. Recognizing that today’s learners have a significant interest in diversifying the workforce and providing comprehensive care, the AUA Medical Student Education Committee hosted the “Diversity in Urology: Initiatives and Opportunities” webinar in March 2021. The purpose of this experience was not only to introduce medical students to some of the challenges and complexities of expanding diversity within urology, but to highlight the benefits of increasing diversity in urology training and practice. The webinar aimed to introduce medical students to other medical students, residents and faculty innovators in the space of DEI in urology and to connect underrepresented in medicine (URiM) students with mentors and collaborators. Additionally, the experience sought to inform medical students and medical schools of DEI opportunities, and to give students and schools resources, including the AUA medical student curriculum. Our webinar panelists emphasized the need for support and expansion of DEI efforts and efforts to engage learners early in training to ensure longitudinal engagement in DEI.

Although some DEI initiatives currently exist with new opportunities developing, this webinar focused on several novel programs that have demonstrated outcomes. Dr. Sam Washington III, Assistant Professor of Urology at University of California-San Francisco (UCSF), spoke about the development, implementation and outcomes of the UReTER (UnderRepresented Trainees Entering Residency) Mentorship program. Dr. Washington worked closely with Dr. Micha Zheng, a urology resident at UCSF, to cofound this program. This mentorship experience pairs interested URiM medical students with 1 volunteer resident or fellow mentor and focuses on guiding URiM medical students on their Society of Academic Urologists (SAU)-AUA Match journey. The program has another mentorship arm that pairs urology residents to a faculty mentor and focuses on guiding Black urology residents through their training and beyond. Dr. Shenelle Wilson, a Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgeon at Metro Atlanta Urology and Pelvic Health Center, discussed Urology Unbound, a nonprofit organization that is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting Black urologists as well as increasing diversity in the field of urology. Another panelist of this webinar, Dr. Jessica Delgado, a current urology resident at the University of Miami, is the cofounder of LatinXUro. She discussed her experience with creating an online forum centered on unifying the Latinx urology community and promoting the URiM. Her program stressed the importance of engaging the online community to bring awareness to DEI needs and initiatives.

This webinar also allowed the Medical Student Education Committee to provide medical students with information regarding scholarships for in-person urology sub-internships available to the URiM. Many urology programs across the country offer opportunities for funding, including University of Colorado, Washington University, UCSF, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Pennsylvania and many others. The moderators and panelists also encouraged medical students to attend available Urology Residency Program Virtual Open Houses that focus on diversity, many of which are recorded and discuss DEI initiatives available at their respective programs. One of the panelists, Dr. Jessica Bienstock, discussed an innovative educational program she helped create at Johns Hopkins. The Virtual Visiting Elective in Equitable Healthcare sub-internship is a 2-week elective available to any medical student interested in diversity and health care equity, regardless of specialty. Students engage in specialty-specific curricular activities in the morning and then participate in an afternoon universal curriculum that explores key aspects in the care of diverse patient populations including health disparities, global health and professional development by content experts.

It is imperative to provide improved medical student access to DEI programs, which is an ongoing effort of the AUA Medical Student Education Committee. Involving medical students in DEI opportunities not only ensures early introduction to these important initiatives, it creates engagement sooner and promotes longitudinal engagement. Initiatives such as those started by our panelists will continue to improve the pipeline for the URiM to join the wonderful field of urology and be advocates for patients who seek care from physicians of diverse backgrounds. The AUA Medical Student Education Committee thanks all of the DEI innovators and panelists who continue to innovate and educate, and seek to disseminate information to medical students to encourage early and longitudinal engagement in diversity programs.