The annual Society of Women in Urology (SWIU) meeting at the AUA will be held Sunday, April 30, 2023, from 7:30-10 a.m. This important meeting at the AUA welcomes ALL AUA members, both men and women, to attend, and you do not need to be an SWIU member. The program will include the SWIU President’s welcome by Anne P. Cameron, MD, Professor of Urology at the University of Michigan, where you will learn about SWIU initiatives including the work done by many of our task forces and opportunities to get involved with SWIU. We will announce newly elected resident and member at large board members as well as multiple award presentations.

We are grateful that Randall Meacham, MD, Professor and Chief of Urology at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine and the AUA President-elect, will be in attendance and will deliver a lecture on Women in Science, and will be available to answer audience questions.

Annette Fenner, MBBS, PhD (Figure 1), will speak on “The Importance of Authenticity.” Dr Fenner studied at Imperial College London, where she completed her medical degree and intercalated a BSc and PhD in reproductive endocrinology. During her PhD, she worked on hypothalamic peptides in the control of reproduction, with a particular focus on the role of kisspeptins. She joined the Nature Reviews Urology team as an Associate Editor in 2010 and was promoted to Chief Editor in 2011. This journal has an impressive Journal Citation Reports Journal Impact Factor of 16.4. Annette has a particular interest in the field of sexual medicine and andrology and serves as a Trustee for the Men’s Health Forum (UK registered charity No. 1087375).

Figure 1. Annette Fenner, MBBS, PhD.

From Dr Fenner: “Authenticity is a buzzword at the moment and is accepted to mean that one is true to their own personality and values, is honest with themself and others, and takes responsibility for their own actions. However, there is more to authenticity than that, beginning with the Latin origin of the word itself…” In this talk, she will discuss the importance, challenges, and implementation of authenticity in everyday life and in the workplace, particularly for women. She will also consider the connections between authenticity and mental health and how being one’s authentic self can help us to fulfill our potential.

Todd M. Morgan, MD (Figure 2), will be lecturing on “Male Allyship in Urology: Power, Privilege, and Purpose.” Dr Morgan is the Jack Lapides, MD, Research Professor and Chief of Urologic Oncology at the University of Michigan, specializing in the evaluation and treatment of patients with genitourinary malignancies. Dr Morgan is an Associate Editor at European Urology and has been the recipient of Young Investigator Awards from the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Society for Urological Oncology, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and the Society for Basic Urology Research. He is also a long-standing advocate for women’s rights on social media @wandering_gu.

Figure 2. Todd M. Morgan, MD.

From Dr Morgan: “This talk will discuss the role of men in working toward gender equity in urology. Medicine has a long history of systemic discrimination and barriers for women, and urology is one of the worst offenders. We will delve into the ways in which men hold power and privilege in our field and how we can use this to advocate for and amplify the voices of women. This includes understanding the specific challenges and barriers that women face, such as the gender pay gap, lack of representation in leadership positions, unequal household responsibilities, and sexual harassment. We will consider ways in which male privilege can be dismantled and provide practical strategies for men to become effective allies and take action to support disruptive change. Examples include mentorship, advocacy for policies that support gender equity, and the importance of actions over words. By being purposeful in both formal and informal settings, men can play a crucial role in creating a more equitable and inclusive environment, ultimately improving the field for all of us.”

SWIU invites anyone attending AUA 2023 to come to this fantastic meeting to hear these excellent lectures, learn about SWIU, and to network with a large and diverse group of women urologists. Women in urology—bring along a male ally who would enjoy the programming.

See you all at AUA in Chicago.