I have had the good fortune of working with Dr Denstedt in a number of capacities over the years, first as one of his students and then as a colleague. Throughout our interactions, the one lesson I repeatedly learned from him was “keeping the big picture in view” no matter how simple or complex the project or task. His ability to boil down a complex problem into manageable steps while keeping the intended outcome in sight is a trait I have always admired. No matter the pitfalls or barriers that appeared, Dr Denstedt has repeatedly demonstrated an uncanny ability to move projects forward to successful completion. His term as Secretary of the AUA straddled the pandemic and 2 derailed annual in-person meetings. Despite the short timelines and innumerable challenges, Dr Denstedt led the AUA meeting team in a heroic effort to salvage educational offerings for members with a new virtual learning platform and organized an amazing in-person meeting in New Orleans despite the ongoing obstacles related to the pandemic.

It has been said that good leaders don’t just observe, they act, invent as they go along, learn from past mistakes, and adapt to changing conditions. Dr Denstedt epitomizes this mindset, and the AUA and its membership have been the beneficiaries of his stalwart leadership as Secretary. His many contributions to the AUA, and the urological community globally will be remembered for years to come and will be a lasting legacy.