What a privilege to receive a Presidential Citation! I was surprised and honored by Andy Meacham’s phone call telling me that I had been chosen for this award based on my contributions to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Urology Review Committee (RC), the American Board of Urology (ABU), and the AUA Board of Directors (BOD). There are a number of committees and/or positions in organized urology where one can feel that their involvement has made a difference. When I became the urology residency program director at Dartmouth and worked to increase our residency complement, I was intrigued by the work of the ACGME RC, and it became a goal to one day serve on the Urology RC. When I was asked if my name could be put forward from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as a potential RC member, I quickly accepted and was very excited when I was chosen. During my tenure on the RC (2013-2019), we approved the first group of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, now Urogynecology and Pelvic Surgery (URPS), fellowships in both urology and gynecology. Having served on the board of the Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction for many years, I was very familiar with the history of the combined fellowships. Mike Coburn and I reviewed programs and attended the Obstetrics and Gynecology RC in 2013 to assist with the approval of programs, and I remember thinking that it was a wonderful example of 2 specialties working collaboratively. After years of talking about combined fellowships, it was exciting to be at the table as the first fellowships were approved. Although there may not always be excellent collaboration between the specialties, most would agree that the requirements for the combined fellowships mandated by the ACGME have done much in terms of standardization and educational rigor. As a whole, our urology fellowships in URPS have benefited from accreditation.

The RC during this same time welcomed their first DO member, Larry Belkoff, as we began the approval process for DO programs, which is important for both unification of the educational standards and, ultimately, certification of urologists. Serving on the RC, one quickly realizes how many quality training programs and dedicated, innovative educators there are in urology.

I joined the AUA BOD while still on the RC and became one of a number of people, including President Meacham, who served on both the RC and the AUA BOD at the same time. Our ability to share our knowledge and experience with the accreditation process with the other board members was very helpful, particularly for those who were less involved in resident education. Throughout my career I have been involved in various aspects of the AUA’s educational programs, but I had much to learn about research and health policy as well as leadership and the business of urology. The experience of serving on the AUA BOD was not only educational but also provided opportunities to get to know other urologists from across North America, people whom I would not normally meet. The connections that I established with people and the friends that Richard and I made are one of the highlights of my time on the Board.

When the pandemic started shortly after my last in-person board meeting in February 2020, the Board comradery was not quite the same via Zoom, but the AUA as an organization in many respects carried on business as usual. I am honored that I had the opportunity to be the first woman on the AUA BOD. I did not seek the position to be the first; I did it as a logical next step after having served as a state representative, the secretary, and then president of the New England Section. I was ecstatic that Damara Kaplan from the South Central Section followed me on the Board, and I was delighted when Jennifer Miles-Thomas was recently named treasurer-elect. As we strive to become more diverse, equal, and inclusive, we need to continue to attract and select more women to serve in leadership positions.

Once I finished on the AUA BOD, I was fortunate to be selected as a trustee of the ABU from the ACS. It is an exciting time to serve on the ABU. We have changed the oral board process so that diplomats now are tested in half a day at a testing center in Raleigh, and we have introduced objective structured clinical exams. Continuing certification has been completely revamped to eliminate a high-stakes exam and to make the process more of a continuum. Policies around family leave during residency and re-entry are now more flexible. We continue to learn from and collaborate with other specialties. As I write this article and think about the connections between the AUA BOD, the RC, and the ABU, I am attending a meeting where Kathleen Kobashi and I are representing the ABU as invited guests at the URPS division meeting at ABOG.

My experience with the 3 organizations, the RC, the ABU, and the AUA BOD, is emblematic of what one can do to get involved and hold leadership positions in organized urology. My advice to residents and urologists who would like to be involved is: (1) get involved in your AUA Section; (2) get involved in your subspecialty society; (3) remember that other organizations such as the ACS have educational and leadership opportunities; (4) don’t hesitate to move outside of your areas of interest and expertise; (5) be grateful for the support provided from your chairs, cofaculty, and family; and (6) relish the opportunities!