The Urology Care Foundation™ (UCF) Research Scholar Award is a benchmark of excellence in urological research. With its distinguished history of supporting junior investigators into successful research careers, it is a true honor to receive the 2023 AUA Southeastern Section Award. Alongside a group of 12 exceptional researchers recognized by the AUA, this recognition serves as a source of inspiration—motivating us to contribute meaningfully to our field.

As I started my fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, I had several goals in mind. Perhaps the most important was to apply for the AUA’s UCF Research Scholar Award. I knew how important this prestigious award would be in my transition from a trainee to a junior faculty member, aiming to build my research program. Receiving this award is very affirming for me in that it suggests that the reviewers see the potential of my research project and my potential to grow as investigator.

One of the biggest advantages of the mentored UCF Research Scholar Award is that it underscores the importance of having dedicated and thoughtful mentors who are willing to put in the effort to support their mentees in developing their own research. As I went through the process of applying for the award, I realized that the people we collaborate with and learn from are as fundamentally important as the project itself. Both my mentor, Dr Daniel Barocas, and I are incredibly enthusiastic about this award, especially given the unique nature of my proposal that builds on his foundational work.

My proposal aims to understand the factors associated with resource utilization following current-day treatment strategies for prostate cancer, with the goal of identifying opportunities to improve the quality of care for prostate cancer patients. To do so, we compiled a novel dataset that contains patient-reported, chart-abstracted, and claims data on a well-characterized group of patients. Specifically, we linked Medicare claims data to the prospective, population-based CEASAR (Comparative Effectiveness Analyses of Surgery and Radiation) study, in which Dr Barocas serves as the principal investigator. This unique dataset will allow me to assess the association between unique variables, such as baseline disease-specific function, collected from patient-reported questionnaires, and resource utilization following prostate cancer treatments, such as secondary procedures.

We are grateful to the AUA and UCF for supporting this health services–based project, where we seek to think outside the box and answer questions that will provide further insights into prostate cancer care. We expect the outcomes of this project to yield several original studies, and we aim to submit our work for publication in AUA official journals, including The Journal of Urology^®, Urology Practice^®, and JU Open Plus.

In academic medicine, there is no instant gratification, and the road to success is often long and challenging. This award serves as a beacon of light on my research journey. It fuels my commitment to pursue my own research endeavors and reassures me that I am on the correct path to contribute meaningfully to patient care. I look forward to executing my proposal and contributing to the mission of the AUA.