Figure 1. Drs Steven A. Kaplan (left) and Vannita Simma-Chiang (right), Prostate Cancer Research Gala, March 7, 2023, Rainbow Room, Rockefeller Center, New York, New York.

Figure 2. Chicago/Welcome Reception, April 29, 2023. Left to right: Drs Stephen Nakada, Mitchell Humphreys, Vannita Simma-Chiang, and Hassan Razvi.

Figure 3. Swag from the AUA Leadership Program.

Figure 4. T-shirt with “Team Peters.”

Figure 5. Dr Vannita Simma-Chiang, selfie with Leadership Program Class sign at the AUA, Chicago, Illinois.

One day when I was cleaning, I stumbled upon the essay that I wrote to get into college. My 17-year-old self had written how I had dreamed of leaving the Bronx. As with any teenager, I wanted to leave home. What “home” looked like for me was a modest walk-up apartment with windows facing some other brick walls, with kids playing in the street and hanging out on the concrete sidewalk. Like the beginning of many urban stories we read about or see in the movies, there was a strong pull and desire to leave, and I made a promise to myself to get out.

I had a vision for my life that there was something better out there for me and my family, and I wanted to go find it.

Fast-forward to where I am now: I have arguably gotten myself out. Leaving my humble beginnings, I studied and trained at some outstanding institutions (Go Bruno and Go Trojans!) to join the ranks of one of the most competitive specialties—urology. When I was asked to write about my thoughts upon receiving the honor to participate in the AUA Leadership Program, it reminded me of that feeling I had when I received my college acceptance letter to Brown. It was a door that opened to me which would lead to even more possibilities.

I had a vision for my specialty that there was something better out there for my colleagues and my patients, and I wanted to go and find it.

And this time, instead of embarking on the journey to find something better by myself, I was not alone, nor will I be alone. I have had the benefit of being mentored and sponsored by Dr Ash Tewari and Dr Steven A. Kaplan who share my vision of a different and better urology (Figure 1). I, with the 27 other members of my 2023-2024 Leadership Class, and with our alums/mentors by our side, are going to change things. Over the next 12 months, our team will spend dedicated time working on impactful projects that will undoubtedly make our specialty better, stronger, and smarter.

In my first meetings with Craig, Minhaj, Ryan, and Gwen (aka “Team Peters”), we were literally bursting with ideas for our Capstone project. Our 60-minute Zoom was not enough. Not sure if any time period could contain what we wanted to discuss—great ideas, urology jokes and banter (“when I was a resident” stories), common friends and colleagues. We could have talked all night at the Welcome Reception on April 29 (Figures 2-5), but the conference center had to literally kick us out.

Even though we are from different parts of the country and in different time zones, we are excited to continue the work that many others before us have done. This Leadership Program is one of many avenues that a urologist can take on their journey of volunteer service to our specialty.

There is a community of leaders that want to keep the future of urology the best and brightest it can be. The possibilities are here and I hope that all of you who are reading this have joined, are joining, or will join the journey at some point in your career. Our Leadership Class is excited to start our journey into finding these new possibilities in partnership with you and with the AUA.