Kick off the New Year with the premiere Society of Academic Urologists (SAU) Annual Meeting hosted at the Mandalay Bay Beach Resort in Las Vegas from January 19 to 20, 2024. The 8th Annual Winter Meeting is sure to uphold the mission statement of the SAU, “[providing] academic urologists with a forum for the discussion, review, and potential resolution of issues critical to all aspects of academic urology.”

The SAU, with more than 120 registered member institutions and representing approximately 750 academicians, offers urologists an opportunity to foster innovation and knowledge exchange with biannual meetings. We are confident the 2024 Winter Meeting is sure to uphold its reputation as one of the most beneficial and engaging collaborations amongst programs and clinicians. Covering a wide range of key topics this year, attendees are sure to be educated by a diverse group of leaders in our field with ample time to discuss openly in a more informal setting to cultivate a collaborative culture.

Highlights include professional development discussions focusing on surgical coaching; rebounding from complications; and managing the demands of the “tripartite mission” of education, research, and clinical expertise. Practice challenges expanding beyond clinical care including compensation, mentorship, transparency, and ensuring credit for our efforts will be discussed amongst colleagues across a spectrum of practices.

No topic is too big or small for this meeting including artificial intelligence and its implications, or ramifications, as it pertains to ethical publishing and mentoring. Be ready to voice your opinions after a much-anticipated debate regarding “Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT in the Resident Recruitment Process: Is It Considered Cheating?”

Ensuring the needs are met for all faculty and attendees, sessions specifically geared towards the role of the associate program director, program coordinators, and various teaching programs including private practice models will be emphasized. Aspiring and current chairpersons may celebrate or lament over the current obstacles faced including the navigation of nonclinical responsibilities like philanthropy and development while retaining and recruiting new faculty.

The recent Supreme Court ruling on race-conscious admission will undoubtedly have an impact on the future of graduate medical education and urologists will benefit from a review of the ruling and the potential implications for our specialty. Ample time will be allotted for what is sure to be a robust and collegial conversation.

The program offers many sessions focusing on challenges all programs face including increasing diversity and creating sustainable mentorship programs to enhance exposure for students and faculty underrepresented in medicine.

Finally, the relaxed environment of the meeting along with the evening reception allows colleagues from all around the country an opportunity to network, collaborate, and exchange ideas with their peers and experts in the field.

Figure. QR code for 2024 Winter Meeting registration.

If you’re interested in a small, intimate meeting where friends and colleagues gather to discuss real-world issues faced in academic medicine, be sure to register for the 8th Annual SAU Winter Meeting in Las Vegas from January 19 to 20, 2024. The SAU Winter Meeting is open to all urologists who can register at https://sauweb.org/meetings/upcoming-meetings.aspx (Figure). We look forward to seeing you there!