“Once you stop learning, you start dying.” Albert Einstein

I would like to take this opportunity to invite everyone to the 96th Annual North Central Section (NCS) meeting of the American Urological Association to be held in Chicago, Illinois, August 28–31 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Hotel. This is my 20th year being a part of the NCS and I am extremely excited about this year’s meeting. The theme this year is “Teaching and Learning: All in the Name of Education.” Being involved in teaching and education during my entire career of 30 years, I am genuinely excited to preside over this meeting with a star-studded group of invited speakers. Robert Sweet, MD from the University of Minnesota is world renowned for his role in expanding, defining and creating educational models in artificial intelligence and simulation. Duke Herrell, MD from Vanderbilt University has spearheaded and co-created a technological center that arguably is second to none. He and his basic science partners helped create the Vanderbilt Institute for Surgery and Engineering, where they are developing bench-to-bedside technology that will reshape how we operate. Lastly, Kathleen Kobashi, MD, who is the Chair of Urology at Houston Methodist Hospital, is well known for her academic efforts looking at generational gaps, ethnic diversity and how we learn in the academic setting. These 3 exceptional speakers are joined by many in-section experts we have assembled to promote the art of teaching at all levels while keeping an open mind to learn what has yet to be mastered.

Our NCS Secretary, Elizabeth Takacs, MD, and the Board of Directors have spent endless hours bringing back popular programs such as 2 pre-meeting endourology courses requiring pre-registration, open mic and power hour. There are numerous panel discussions and opportunities for interactive sessions, including balloon debates and 1 session of 4 different controversial topics with winners decided by audience polling. The AUA Course of Choice is a “Guidelines Approach to the Management of Urinary Tract Infections.” For our younger urologists, there is an hour-long speed mentoring session, followed by the NCS Happy Hour and capped off with the Young Urologists Mixer. A new feature will promote 1 state society in our section, and they will spearhead the session from start to finish. The inaugural year will feature the Michigan Urological Society with John Stoffel, MD moderating a balloon debate on “Managing Chronic Urinary Retention.” We will also have talks on personal finance, wellness and burnout for residents, coding and billing, and transition to practice. As in the past, we will be having the advanced practice provider session, and the health policy meetings play a significant role in the overall agenda. The ever-popular video session and the Resident Bowl, along with Bizarre and Interesting cases, will be on the program again. A timeless pride of the Section is the quality of our residents who attend the programs and present their work at the NCS. As usual, we will have many poster and podium sessions on all aspects of urology, with many of these presented by the young future stars of urology.

On the social front, the opening night will once again experience the NCS Welcome Reception held in the exhibit hall, featuring local foods and beverages, with an opportunity to engage with our industry sponsors. Monday night, we will host the NCS Happy Hour and Young Urologists Mixer. The final evening, guests will be encouraged to attend the closing reception with great food, entertainment and the chance to finish the meeting with new and old friends.

We all know what the city of Chicago has to offer. In late summer, these offerings are magnified and coupled with the weather can be a source of entertainment and enjoyable activities for you and your family. My wife, Brandi, and I cordially invite you and your family to join us for what is expected to be the most up-to-date program for learning, a wonderful environment for comradery, and a fantastic venue to network and relax. In the immortal words of my father, “Let each become all that he or she is capable of being through education.” We look forward to seeing you in August!