Another election has come and gone and the New Year is upon us. A brand new Congress walks the halls of the Capitol and the opportunity is ripe for new relationships. Strong relationships on Capitol Hill are key for advancing our legislative priorities for the specialty of urology, and these relationships do not form overnight. While AUA staff expends a great deal of energy meeting with lawmakers and their staff to educate them about urology’s priorities and concerns, it is up to us—as constituents, voters, and physicians—to tell our legislators our stories. Our personal experiences in residency, clinic, or with our patients are what add stakes to our legislative priorities. The solutions to issues that impact urologists and our patients leave the pages of bill text and come to life when we meet and talk with our lawmakers. There continues to be much interest in Congress about U.S. health care delivery and the challenges facing us all as urologists.

Fortunately, each year the AUA organizes the Annual Urology Advocacy Summit (AUA Summit) to directly connect us with our lawmakers. The sixth AUA Summit is February 27 to March 1, 2023 in Washington, DC, and will include educational sessions on our key legislative issues, networking events, and—most importantly—a full day of Capitol Hill meetings. In state delegations, we have an opportunity to meet with lawmakers and their staff to deliver a unified message, enhanced with our own personal stories, urging their action on several pieces of legislation that impact urology and our patients. After the Monday educational sessions, we approach our Tuesday Hill meetings prepped with the knowledge we need to educate our legislators on the bills pertinent to urology. We come to these meetings with power in our experience and our expertise on behalf of our practices and our patients.

You may be wondering what types of issues we talk about in our Hill meetings, or may feel nervous about speaking with legislators and their staff. We want you to know that the AUA Summit Planning Advisory Committee works tirelessly to craft an agenda that is relevant to all urological professionals, addresses your needs and concerns, and leaves you prepared and invigorated for your Hill meetings and to continue your advocacy even after you leave DC. We spend weeks holding calls with all the AUA Sections and key urological specialty societies to identify policy issues that resonate with everyone. We aim to craft our training sessions with all levels of advocates in mind, whether it’s your first AUA Summit or your sixth.

Finally, we hope that you will also encourage your residents and fellows to attend the AUA Summit this year. The future of urology and urological advocacy depends on them to feel connected with us all and the legislative process. Register and stay up to date as we continue to develop the agenda at www.AUASummit.org. See you in DC!