Attention: Restrictions on use of AUA, AUAER, and UCF content in third party applications, including artificial intelligence technologies, such as large language models and generative AI.
You are prohibited from using or uploading content you accessed through this website into external applications, bots, software, or websites, including those using artificial intelligence technologies and infrastructure, including deep learning, machine learning and large language models and generative AI.

FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 2024: Year in Review

By: Michael T. Sheppard, CPA, CAE, CEO, American Urological Association | Posted on: 03 Dec 2024

As 2024 comes to an end, I’ve spent some time looking back on the past year’s accomplishments. I am in constant awe of the dedication and commitment of our volunteers and staff. We hosted a successful Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas; recommitted to advocating for and fostering a diverse and inclusive global urologic community; and increased our support of researchers and investigators, to name a few.

As you know, the AUA is a global organization representing all segments of the urology field, from medical students and practicing urologists to allied health care professionals and research scientists. Our members are central to our mission. In 2024, the AUA welcomed more than 3,200 new members, bringing our footprint to over 26,000 members.

One major initiative we undertook in 2024 that will directly benefit those members is the implementation of a new Association Management System. In July, we made the transition to our new system after years of discovery, planning, and testing. This marked a major investment in AUA’s digital infrastructure and will provide the framework for AUA and the Urology Care Foundation™ to optimize our operations and better serve our members and customers.

Annual Meeting

image

Figure 1. Attendees of the FUTURE in Urology program talk at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

We held our 2024 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, in late April with over 13,000 people from around the globe. As has become the norm, we offered numerous virtual options (live streaming and downloadable video content) to complement our in-person offerings. We held a successful mentoring event with the FUTURE in Urology (Future Urology Talent from Under-Represented Entities) program designed to encourage preclinical and third-year medical students from all demographic backgrounds who are dedicated to increasing representation and more equitable health care to consider a career in urology (Figure 1). Additionally, I heard from numerous attendees about the impressive research being presented and the lasting connections made. AUA2024 was yet another example of why our Annual Meeting is the best urologic educational, research, policy, and networking experience in the world.

We will be in Las Vegas for the 2025 Annual Meeting with slightly different meeting days—we’re starting on Saturday, April 26, and wrapping up on Tuesday, April 29. Mark your calendars!

Innovation Nexus

image

Figure 2. The second annual Innovation Nexus Conference was held the day before the 2024 Annual Meeting. 

The day before the Annual Meeting, we held our second annual Innovation Nexus Conference, which had over 300 attendees (Figure 2). The event featured presentations on groundbreaking innovations from startups in urology, emerging concept presentations, and industry leaders facilitating reverse pitch sessions as well as multiple networking opportunities. It was an exhilarating day, bringing people together to advance urologic discovery and foster innovation, technological expertise, and discovery. Check out AUANexus.org for information about the 2025 Innovation Nexus Conference. I hope to see you there!

Annual Urology Advocacy Summit

In February, we held the 2024 Annual Urology Advocacy Summit, which had a record attendance of over 300 attendees, including patient advocates, medical students, residents, and fellows.

AUA Summit attendees held over 150 meaningful conversations with members of Congress and staff. These conversations focused on advocating for expanding the urology workforce, increasing access to care for underserved communities, and reforming the Medicare physician payment system.

We also hosted a FUTURE in Urology program at the Summit for the first time, with mentors and mentees coming together for the day.

image

Figure 3. Donna Brazile was the keynote speaker at the 2024 Annual Urology Advocacy Summit. 

Donna Brazile, political strategist, commentator, and former interim Chair of the Democratic National Committee, served as our keynote speaker, highlighting the importance of advocacy, restoring civility in American politics, public education about democracy, and advancing all people in an equitable society (Figure 3).

Save the date for the 2025 Annual Urology Advocacy Summit: March 3-5.

Clinical Practice Guidelines

AUA’s Clinical Practice Guidelines are consistently rated our number 1 member benefit and are some of our most accessed content on AUAnet. This year, we released 2 new guidelines (Salvage Therapy for Prostate Cancer and Diagnosis and Treatment of Overactive Bladder) and 4 amendments to existing guidelines (Diagnosis and Treatment of Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer, Diagnosis and Treatment of Non-Metastatic Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer, Incontinence After Prostate Treatment, and Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility in Men). You can find our guidelines on our website at AUAnet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines.

AUA Quality Registry

2024 was the 10-year anniversary of the AUA Quality (AQUA) Registry. For a decade, the AQUA Registry has been providing participants with national benchmarking on the performance of urologic care providers and practices regarding the diagnosis and treatment of urologic diseases, quality measures meaningful to urologists, and automated tools for quality improvement and easy reporting.

We currently have more than 2300 providers enrolled in the AQUA Registry in 41 states, and more than 12 million patients are represented in the data results. AQUA participants can report on 19 urology-specific quality measures to participate in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System.

Many of these accomplishments would not be possible without the support of our members and volunteers. It is a privilege to work alongside so many of you in service to an organization that makes a difference in the lives of patients every single day. Thank you for your dedication in 2024. Onward to 2025!

advertisement

advertisement