The 57th Annual Conference of the Urological Society of India (USI), or USICON 2024, was held from February 1 to February 4, 2024, at Samrat Ashok Convention Centre, Patna. The conference was organized by Bihar Urological Society and the Department of Urology, Indira Ghandi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna. About 1500 delegates participated in the conference, which involved 500 postgraduate students and 250 foreign delegates from Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Germany, Greece, Nepal, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, the UK, and the US.

About 150 trade delegates from equipment manufacturers and pharmaceutical representatives actively participated in the conference with their latest state-of-the-art technological innovations. The conference went on for 4 days with 6 parallel halls. All the halls were running to capacity. The conference started on February 1 with a tribute to the late Dr G. G. Laxman Prabhu, the sitting secretary of USI, and the late Dr Dilip Kumar Pal, the past-president of East Zone (host body).

The first day of the conference hosted meetings of various international bodies. The South Asian Urological Association had planned an interesting discussion on urethral and ureteric strictures. Nepal Urology Association put up captivating deliberations on endourology. The program for AUA included discussions on pediatric urology, female urinary incontinence, and men’s health and an inspiring guest lecture about development of robotic prostatectomy by Dr Mani Menon from the Vattikuti Foundation. The Arab Association of Urology joint session deliberated on robotic surgeries. The International Society of Sexual Medicine with its South Asian and Indian counterpart discussed various regenerative and restorative therapies in sexual medicine. The Bangladesh association meeting featured various topics of common interest. In addition, the scientific program for the first day included a program by the Young Urologists Association, Women in Urology wing of USI, Robotic Urology Forum, masterclass on interstitial cystitis, masterclass on pregnancy and urology, and various free paper sessions. One of the attractions of this conference was Gurukul, wherein students and consultants interacted with senior professors and guest faculties on common topics on all 4 days. The Gurukul included 10 training stations with simulators of common urological operations, including robotic urology and microsurgery. The hands-on sessions on these stations benefited all. The trade exhibition was inaugurated on the morning of February 1 by USI president Dr Sanjay Kulkarni, secretary Dr Prashant Mulawkar, and treasurer Dr Pankaj Maheshwari in the presence of other council members.

The conference was formally inaugurated by the Honorable Rajendra Vishwananth Arlekar, governor of Bihar. Honorary membership of USI was awarded to Dr Mani Menon, US; Dr Andreas Gross, Germany; Professor Anthony Mundy, UK; Dr Guido Barbagli, Italy; and Dr Vipul R. Patel, US. The inaugural function was followed by a laser show on the heritage of Bihar.

The highlights of day 2 included the Professor H. S. Bhatt Symposium convened by Dr Raghunath SK; the Professor Himadri Sankar Oration delivered by Dr Ravindra Sabnis; an AUA lecture delivered by Dr Jaspreet Sandhu; a European Association of Urology lecture by Dr Arnulf Stenzl; Société Internationale d’Urologie lecture by Dr Stavos Gravas; Nepal Association of Urological Surgeons lecture by Mahesh Bahadur Adhikari; Sri Lanka Association of Urological Surgeons lecture by Dr Neville D Perera; guest lectures by Dr Andreas Gross, Professor Gerald Brock, and Professor Mahendra Bhandari; and keynote address by Dr Anil Bradoo. In the evening, Indian Journal of Urology and the Indian School of Urology conducted a faculty meeting, which was followed by dinner. The third day featured a special session on Indian innovations, titled “Avishkar and Chamatkar,” wherein Indian innovators presented their pathbreaking innovations and improvisations. Day 3 also featured a British Association of Urological Surgeons lecture by Dr Jo Cresswell, ­Urological Association of Asia lecture by Dr Anil Shrestha, Indian American Urological Association lecture by Dr Anurag Das, and guest lecture by Dr Ghulam Nabi, as well as a keynote address by Dr Jyotsna Kulkarni. The section meetings by urolithiasis, andrology, female and functional urology, urologic oncology, pediatric urology, and kidney transplant were held on days 2 and 3. These were quite well attended.

On the sidelines of the conference, yoga and sports activities like an interzonal cricket match, table tennis, chess, a marathon, and cycling events were organized on different dates. On February 3, the delegates enjoyed a cultural evening and gala dinner with a variety of cuisines. A large number of delegates and their spouses took time out to visit the Bihar Museum, Rajgir, Nalanda, and Bodh Gaya.

The conference ended on February 4 in the afternoon, with a valedictory function wherein the new team, headed by Dr Lalit Shah and Dr Uttam Mete, took over charge of the society from the outgoing team. The efforts of the organizing committee, headed by Dr Ajay Kumar, Dr Ranbir Prasad Singh, and organizing secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar Tiwari, were appreciated by one and all. Especially appreciated were the venue, food, audiovisual arrangements, and elements of personal touch. The conference concluded with a call to attend the next USI conference at Chennai.