Figure. Marne Louters and Irasema Paster at AUA2023.

In the United States, 11.6% of practicing urologists are women, and even fewer are women of color.¹ Women pursuing a career in urology are often questioned on their choice of specialty: “Why don’t you consider OBGYN instead?” “Isn’t urology a male-dominant field?” “Urology is demanding, don’t you want children?” “You want to look at penises your entire life?” These questions stem from the interviewer’s personal curiosity, often from men, and can detract from the strength, knowledge, and resilience of the women in urology. For women applying to urology, these inquiries may create a sense of apprehension and self-doubt, which can be a barrier to confident networking within the field.

Urology applicants without home programs often rely on networking to find mentorship. As a previously unmatched applicant who graduated from a medical school without a home program and a current first-year resident, I had the opportunity to speak about osteopathic (DO) representation within urology at the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons meeting held in the Jackson Park conference room and received an overwhelmingly positive response. Afterward, I was able to meet with DO medical students to discuss strategies for a successful urology match, which included access to mentorship. For this student population, finding mentorship is often difficult and entails cold calls and emails, and for the brave of heart, attending large conferences alone such as the AUA Annual Meeting. At this meeting, I met aspiring urologist and DO 2024 applicant, Irasema Paster (see Figure). As a female Latina without a home program, she made the decision to attend the AUA Annual Meeting by herself to network. I was immediately impressed by her courage and professionalism. She was admittedly nervous, but as she described her first experience at the Annual Meeting she began to shine and become increasingly energetic. She expressed how encouraging it was to see women and people of color sitting on panels, invited to speak on their urological expertise rather than educate colleagues about Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts. I knew Irasema’s future was bright, so I invited her to join me in attendance at the Society of Women in Urology (SWIU) meeting the following day. It would be our first SWIU experience.

We arrived early, grabbing breakfast, and finding a table near the front of the room. I was able to catch up with Dr Giulia Lane from the University of Michigan and hear about her full-time practice conducting research and providing patient care. We met Dr Susan MacDonald, who authored an article in the April AUANews highlighting factors that contribute to the gender gap in academic promotion including lack of representation for panels and awards.² I also learned that Dr MacDonald is an active mentor to medical students pursuing urology. As the room continued to fill, Dr Anne Cameron took the podium and gained the attention of the crowd through her professional yet humorous demeanor. Throughout the meeting, we were reminded of the tight line we walk as women in a male-dominated field: Be direct but not “bossy.” Be kind but not weak. Dr Annette Fenner delivered a presentation that spoke to these shared experiences. She stressed authenticity and reminded the attendees: Why fit a mold of a leader you are not, when you can be the mold? Dr Todd Morgan took the stage to share actionable ways to be an ally for women in urology, one of which was declining participation in “manels.” He was vulnerable, sharing ways in which he has benefited from his male privilege and giving credit to his wife for her support throughout his career. He was clear in his pursuit to break down the exclusionary culture of surgery, and his presentation concluded with a standing ovation. It was at that point in time, surrounded by the percussive sound of claps, that Dr Cameron pointed out that for the first time in the history of SWIU meetings there was “standing room only!” Irasema and I looked at one another, then slowly turned to look behind us. We were surrounded by the strong women of urology and our male allies. Irasema’s eyes widened and I had shivers, a feeling that neither one of us could truly describe but was positively powerful. Later, the Elisabeth Pickett Research Award was granted to Dr Ilaha Isali, who studies interventions for urethral stricture disease. She shared her journey and the significant obstacles she had to overcome up to this point and thanked the room for the support and nomination. For Irasema, a fellow woman of color and aspiring urologist, Dr Isali’s journey validated her own experience. For me, the Jackson Park conference room was a place of strength and positive change, a place where improvements in DO and female representation in urology were discussed and supported.

The reason we, as women, choose urology is the same as our male counterparts. We all strive to provide longitudinal medical and surgical care for our patients. We seek advancements in technology and research to improve patient care. The future is female. We are urology.