The upcoming American Urological Association annual meeting has much to look forward to in Chicago. Members of the Young Urologists’ (YUs’) Committee (YUC) have crafted an agenda for the Young Urology Forum (being held on Saturday, April 29, 2023, from 10 am-12 pm) which will provide insight YUs can put to immediate use in their day-to-day practices. More specifically, a key topic that continues to envelop much of social media and routine conversation within our specialty is optimization of practice environment and mitigation of burnout. Accordingly, “Cultivating Longevity in Practice” has been conceived by this year’s YUC as the theme of the 2023 Young Urology Forum.

This topic matter is designed to help YUs navigate the challenges of building successful and sustainable careers in our field. The Young Urology Forum will have a wide array of speakers offering insights into building resiliency in practice, providing a multitude of perspectives. How can I stay engaged and motivated in my work over the long term? How can I build and maintain strong relationships with my peers? How can I prevent musculoskeletal injuries and other physical strain while performing surgery? What can I do to stay engaged in my professional development throughout my career? All of these questions will drive this year’s Young Urology Forum. The agenda includes 5 distinguished speakers, all inspirational experts on this subject matter. Dr Eila Skinner (@ecskinner53), Dr Gina Badalato (@GMBadalato), Dr Christopher Anderson (@CBAnderson2014), Dr David Canes (@CanesDavid), and Dr Amy Park (@DrAmyPark) will speak on their experiences optimizing and cultivating longevity in practice.

An inaugural event also planned by the YUC for this year’s AUA meeting is the “Meet the Leaders” program. An idea originally conceived by the YUC several years ago but put on hold due to the pandemic, this event is a unique opportunity for our YU members to gain valuable insights on career advancement within the AUA from recognized leaders of the organization. During this interactive session, YUs will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in a roundtable format with candid conversation with some of the most respected and influential leaders in our field. These leaders will share their career experiences crafting pathways toward engagement within the AUA. In addition to gaining valuable insights, this is also a great opportunity for YUs to make meaningful connections and network with their peers and mentors. In short, the “Meet the Leaders” event is a chance to build lasting relationships with recognized leaders in our specialty and pave the way for future professional growth. Please note that this program will require sign-up in advance to participate. We encourage interested YU members to be on the lookout for this and secure time at this exciting event.

In addition, a third event planned and organized by the YUC for YUs at AUA2023 is the Speed Mentoring program. This program has quickly become a longstanding annual tradition at the AUA meeting. Residents and fellows sign up as “mentees” and discuss a wide range of topics with pre-selected YU mentors in short, “speedy” 10-minute conversations. Mentees then rotate to have similar short-burst conversations with additional mentors who are subject matter experts in the topic areas of interest. No issue is off limits in this no-holds-barred conversation; for example, previously, mentees have discussed fellowship/job advice, career choice, employment contract issues, and career goals.

We hope this has given you a sense of the valuable opportunities and experiences that await YUs at AUA2023. From the Young Urology Forum’s “Cultivating Longevity in Practice,” to “Meet the Leaders” and “Speed Mentoring,” the YU program has been tailored so there is something for all YUs to engage with and benefit from. We look forward to seeing you at this year’s meeting and hope that you will take advantage of all that it has to offer. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the AUA leadership and staff for their hard work and dedication in planning these events. Without their tireless effort and support, the YU program would not be possible.