According to current AUA Census, only 2% of practicing urologists identify as Black and approximately 4% identify as LatinX, and less than 1% Native American. These numbers have not changed over a decade, even though the U.S. population continues to shift, with an estimated 25% of the Medicare population estimated to come from these minority groups by the year 2040. To respond to this workforce need, AUA DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) taskforce members designed a program called PROSPECT to engage, expose, and mentor underrepresented in medicine (URiM) medical students in urology throughout the entirety of medical school.

Within the North Central Section (NCS), Drs Linda McIntire and Hadley Wood initiated a pilot program with the goal of reaching URiM medical students early in medical school, before they might otherwise have a chance to explore urology as a career pathway. The NCS PROSPECT pilot program is a voluntary collaboration between the departments of urology at University of Michigan, Henry Ford Health, Ohio State University, and Cleveland Clinic, with limited administrative support and endorsement of the NCS. The program consists of 2 parts. The first is an 8-week on-site clinical research experience at 1 of the 4 institutions for URiM students between their first and second year of medical school. The second part is a 14-week virtual didactic program over a similar period that introduces them to the art of scientific investigation and general topics in urology. Only 4 applicants will be selected for the on-site research program, but all applicants will be invited to participate in the virtual portion of the program. The participating departments deliver all the content for the virtual didactic program, as well as on-site mentorship and a stipend for 1 student at their respective site. NCS will provide administrative support for the application and selection process as well as invite the students to attend to the annual Section Meeting in the fall, where they will have an opportunity to present their research and meet program leaders from within the NCS.

The application period closed in January 2023 with selection announced in February 2023, and the program will begin virtually in early May 2023. It is the hope of the founding programs and leaders that this pilot year will demonstrate proof of concept and a framework for expansion of the program nationally in subsequent years.