Introduction

I am a second-year urology resident at Niigata University in Japan. I was selected for the AUA/Japanese Urological Association Resident Program and attended the AUA Annual Meeting 2024 in San Antonio, Texas, from May 3 to 6. This was my first trip to the United States and my first attendance at the AUA, which provided an invaluable opportunity to observe and interact with the international urology community.

Meeting Experience

The meeting sessions started as early as 7:00 AM, and each room was filled with lively discussions. In the largest meeting room, plenary sessions were held throughout the day. Discussions on new treatment methods and lectures on new guidelines were held at intervals of 10 to 30 minutes. The educational content provided valuable insight into new treatments and surgical techniques.

The Resident Pavilion was one of the most crowded in the Science & Technology Hall from the first day of the conference, largely due to the Resident Bowl. The competition featured a wide range of questions, covering topics from the selection of antibiotics and the mechanisms of new drugs to more specialized subjects like the wavelength of thulium lasers and the history of San Antonio. The teams were all highly skilled, and some matches were so competitive that they required overtime to determine a winner. It was felt that holding a similar competition in Japan would be a valuable and stimulating experience.

In the Japanese Urological Association international session, the differences in clinical approaches between the United States and Japan were highlighted. In the United States, innovative diagnostics and therapies, such as prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/CT for castration-resistant prostate cancer, are widely available and utilized. In contrast, these technologies are not yet covered by insurance in Japan, limiting their accessibility. The broader availability of such advanced diagnostics and therapies in Japan is highly anticipated.

Even advanced and effective diagnostic and treatment methods may not be accessible due to financial constraints. Japan’s health care system is characterized by universal health coverage, which ensures that all citizens have access to medical services and significantly reduces the financial burden on patients. This system creates an environment where patients can more easily access the medical care they need. However, it is important to be aware of the problem of overmedicalization. It is crucial to determine what medical care is truly necessary for each patient, as exemplified by the practice of active surveillance.

At the President’s Reception held on the evening of May 5, I had the opportunity to converse with doctors from various international exchange programs. The event featured Tex-Mex cuisine unique to Texas, allowing us to enjoy food and drinks while communicating with many doctors.

Conclusion

My first attendance at the AUA Annual Meeting 2024 was a profound experience that not only provided exposure to the latest advances in urology, but also a comparative perspective on health care practices between the United States and Japan. I will work diligently in my daily medical practice, surgeries, and research so that I can participate in future AUA Annual Meetings as a presenter and engage in discussions with various individuals. I look forward to seeing all readers at future AUA Annual Meetings.