The Urology Care Foundation (UCF) is currently recruiting AUA members to join its Board of Directors for the open positions of Secretary and Member at Large. Applications will be accepted through September 30, 2023.

The Board is comprised of both AUA members and community (lay) members who represent a dynamic, diverse, and dedicated group of professionals. The Foundation’s vision has expanded and is worldwide in scope with each of the Foundation’s 3 pillars—research, patient education, and humanitarianism—positioning the UCF to gain global recognition.

Secretary

The Secretary provides leadership and guidance for the Foundation by participating in board activities and, importantly, leading the fundraising activities of the Foundation in collaboration with UCF development staff. The Secretary represents the Foundation and supports the promotional and branding efforts of the UCF within the urology community and among the public. The Secretary builds relationships, participates in pursuing philanthropic support for the Foundation, and sets an example for other board members’ networking and fundraising efforts.

Member at Large

The Members at Large provide leadership and actively advocate for the Foundation’s priorities and philanthropic efforts. They help establish and review strategies and organizational goals, and work closely with fundraising staff to raise funds and foster relationships with donors.

Board of Directors

The UCF funds research for medical students, residents, early career researchers, scientists, and surgeon-scientists on the cusp of becoming independently funded—all with the goal of ultimately improving patient care. Board members strengthen the urology research community by identifying individual donors to support programs, utilizing their personal relationships with past scholars to pay it forward, and by attending research honors events.

The UCF’s patient education focus is a fundamental element of the Foundation’s goal of improving health care worldwide. Education helps eliminate disparities in information, allowing patients to be better informed and able to participate more meaningfully in their health care choices. The Board works closely with the Public Education Council to identify a strategic direction and garner support for this work.

The leadership provided by the Board allowed for the formulation of our humanitarian initiatives. Humanitarian programs focus on the needs of the underserved and addressing disparities within special populations, geographical areas, or regions. The Board also supported the introduction of the new Health Equity Fellowship. This program is designed to train early career urologists who are passionate about humanitarian work within the United States so that they may be effective in engaging with diverse communities, especially those most marginalized.

The Foundation is also embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives into all of our education, research, and development programs. Councils and committees are diversifying, patient education materials are being tailored to meet the needs of underrepresented patients, and new research programs are being established to support underserved participants. A Diversity and Inclusion subject matter expert and Special Advisor helps the Board identify new programmatic opportunities and allows Board members to work outside of their normal networks to build a stronger, more inclusive organization. Board members who themselves have diverse backgrounds and experience are serving in key liaison roles with AUA’s DEI efforts, enhancing relationships with other organizations to map out new programs, such as the FUTURE in Urology program introduced at AUA2023 in Chicago. Board members are often sought after or otherwise volunteer to represent the Foundation at meetings and to forge new relationships in the urology community.

Research, education, and humanitarian initiatives all require philanthropic support. The Board is actively engaged in identifying potential donors to allow the UCF to fulfill its mission.

If you consider yourself a creative leader and can help drive our philanthropic efforts, please consider applying to join the UCF Board in the role of Secretary or Member at Large. Find more information, including the full job descriptions, on the UCF website at UrologyHealth.org/Board-Positions. I hope you’ll join us.