A pile of rocks ceases to be a rock pile when somebody contemplates it with the idea of a cathedral in mind.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

In 2024, the AUA Core Curriculum (AUACC) celebrates its 14th year. In 2023, the 136 sections that make up the AUACC were accessed 207,269 times by 6807 unique users. Over half of users self-identified as residents, underscoring the essential role of the Core as a resident learning tool. The fact that a substantial number of Core users were nonresidents highlights how the Core may be utilized by urologic professionals at all levels of training.

Many urologists of prior generations relied on “Campbell’s clubs.” These sessions were most often based on in-depth reviews of specific chapters from the grand tome of urologic knowledge. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology remains a valuable reference resource. However, the challenges of publishing such a definitive text mean many years elapse between completion of a chapter and availability to learners. The 3- (and more recently 4-) volume set of weighty textbooks also does not readily lend itself to portability and accessibility, leading trainees of earlier eras to turn to pocket guides. These pocket guides were valuable but relied heavily on the efforts of small groups or even individual urologists and were/are hence subject to the potential biases of 1 or at most several contributors. Contemporary learners also tend to prefer more concise learning materials, ideally in an online format.

The AUACC is hence an essential and unique learning tool well suited to the modern world and the modern urology learner. The AUACC stays relevant thanks to annual updates and covers nearly the entire breadth of urologic practice. Importantly, the Core is a distillation of the expertise of numerous contributors, representing not just a single expert’s opinion but a compendium of peer-reviewed evidence tempered by the collective experience and wisdom of experts in all of the subdisciplines of urology.

Dr Robert Flanigan oversaw the initial development of the Core Curriculum during his tenure as Secretary of the AUA. Dr Flanigan also served as the inaugural AUACC Chair in 2010 and directed the task force that created, in outline format, what information a urology learner should know.

In 2012, Dr John Mulhall succeeded Dr Flanigan as AUACC Chair and oversaw recruitment and direction of the team that developed the Core Curriculum from an outline into a series of online modules that concisely distilled the most up-to-date information and recommendations for the full breadth of urology. This initial publication of the AUACC as an online tool for learning was in 2014.

Dr Yair Lotan served as the third Chair of the AUACC, starting in 2015. Dr Victor Nitti started as AUA Chair of Education this same year and was a strong proponent of the AUACC as an essential learning tool. Dr Lotan oversaw alignment of the Core with the American Board of Urology’s lifelong learning categories as well as addition of a special section on Urologic Consults and Emergencies. Dr Lotan also pioneered the inclusion of presentation slides as an element of the Core Curriculum, for use by residents in learning and didactic sessions. Under Dr Lotan’s leadership the structure of the Core Curriculum committee changed, allowing for a smooth and ongoing transition of leadership and content direction.

Dr Phillip Spiess served as the fourth Chair of the AUACC, starting in 2019. Important innovations during his leadership tenure included development of summary sections for each chapter, integration of learning materials (eg, AUA Updates and Guidelines, surgical videos) into chapter content, and further coordination of Core content with the American Board of Urology Exam Committee.

Dr Alan Shindel is currently serving as fifth Chair of the AUACC, starting his term in 2023. A principal concern of Dr Shindel’s has been updating references from modules that have now been in existence for over 10 years. Additional important steps have included acknowledging AUACC contributors with formal letters of recognition, careful consideration of issues of representation and external validity of cited evidence, and coordination of Core materials with the new AUA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.

The AUACC would be nothing without the collective efforts of many hundreds of experts who have created, reviewed, and edited the Core Curriculum modules. As of 2023, the AUACC had over 200 authors, 43 section editors, and a leadership team consisting of 14 senior editors and senior consultants who make up the Core Curriculum Editorial Committee. These numbers are just a portion of the experts who have served the AUACC (and by extension urology learners) over the past 14 years. The value of the contributions these experts have made to the education of current and future urologists cannot be overstated.

While persons in the Chair roles are easy to recognize, the efforts of an able team of AUA staff have been essential in making the AUACC as successful as it has been. Particular recognition for long-term service to the AUACC is owed to Jody Donaldson, Patrick Kerley, Isaac Sperry, Katie Fulbright, Katie Kincaid, and Shelby Englert.

We look forward to continually enhancing the AUACC and involving rising stars in our field to participate in this important educational endeavor of the AUA.