The Caribbean Urological Association (CURA) was founded in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago. CURA continues to foster camaraderie and facilitate academic exchanges within the Caribbean. It includes urologists and urology residents-in-training, primarily from within the English-speaking Caribbean who share a common cultural and geopolitical history. CURA has grown steadily, aided by the support of global organizations such as the AUA, Société Internationale d’Urologie, and BJU International.

Regional urologists have benefited from numerous workshops over the years in pediatric and adult reconstructive urology, as well as training initiatives for research and authorship. In these cases, the AUA provided proctors to visit our centers locally. These endeavors have benefited numerous patients, residents in training, and urological surgeons, bringing first-world urology to our shores. This sustained collaboration model has provided the foundation to advance urological care by allowing continuous follow-up and reassessment in order to improve our standards of care. The AUA has also supported these residency training programs in the region, facilitating the donation of surgical equipment and providing sponsorship for 2 residents to attend the annual Fundamentals in Urology Course.

Many outside of the Caribbean are unaware that postgraduate training in urology is possible in the region. In fact, the majority of urologists in the English-speaking Caribbean were trained in the Caribbean. The University of the West Indies is the premier institution for both undergraduate and postgraduate training in the region. Currently postgraduate training in urology is undertaken in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The program is 6 years long, with the first 2 years spent in general surgical training. To date, these programs have produced a total of 34 graduates. One of the first graduates from Jamaica, Dr. William Aiken, has now been appointed Professor of Urology at the University of the West Indies. Several graduates from both programs have gone on to complete fellowship training in endourology, urologic oncology, and reconstructive urology. It is our hope that more graduates will pursue fellowship training, thereby increasing the pool of subspeciality skills within the region.

The AUA has also been supportive of research and continuing medical education in the Caribbean. Every year, the AUA provides a speaker to CURA’s annual conference who delivers an impactful “AUA Special Guest Lecture.” Additionally, for many years CURA held a presence at the AUA Annual Meeting, hosting a joint international society meeting with PAUSA (the Pan African Urological Surgeon Association). Several AUA members currently serve on the CURA international relations committee, including Professors Arthur Burnett, Kurt McCammon, Grannum Sant, and Michael Coburn.

At the last AUA meeting in New Orleans, the Executive Boards of the AUA and CURA met, reaffirming our commitment to work together to carry out CURA’s mission—advancing urology in the Caribbean. A range of initiatives were discussed, including joint outreach projects with the Urology Care Foundation as well as support for the creation of a Journal of the Caribbean Urological Association to provide a platform for urological research in the Caribbean. We also hope to have a regular schedule of elective U.S. medical students with the primary goal being a rich and immersive clinical and research experience in the Caribbean. Prior to the pandemic, in Trinidad and Tobago we hosted 1 student each from Vanderbilt University and Eastern Virginia Medical School, and we hope to reinstitute and regularize this program.

The 23rd Annual Meeting of CURA will be held in Barbados from November 4 to 6, 2022. Dr. Angelo Gousse joins us this year as the AUA designated speaker, and we look forward to our first in-person meeting since the beginning of the pandemic. We invite all AUA members to attend. CURA salutes the AUA, and we look forward to the continued exchange of information and ideas to advance urology in the Caribbean and contribute to the global urology community.