National Conferences Like AUA 2023 Offer Valuable Experiences for Urologic Trainees

The first “official” American Urological Association (AUA) meeting was held in 1903 in New York City at the home of the AUA’s first and then president, Ramon Guiteras, MD.¹ More than 120 years later, the AUA 2023 Annual Meeting was held April 28-May 1 in Chicago, Illinois. Urologists from around the globe converged at McCormick Place to learn about the latest in cutting-edge urologic research and evolutions in technology.

One might assume that the majority of the conference is focused on topics pertaining to practicing urologists, but the event is also a crucial opportunity for trainees. AUA 2023 offered a vast array of educational opportunities, exposure to the latest research concepts and outcomes, and the chance to attend trainee-specific sessions such as the AUA Residents Bowl to enhance professional development.

Networking is an important part of any occupation and is often undervalued in the medical field. In medicine, effective networking can support a variety of career-based activities that facilitate professional growth and development,² including access to training programs, fellowships, unadvertised employment opportunities, and even opportunities for research collaboration across institutions or disciplines. Many training-specific concerns such as the impact of COVID-19 on urologic case volumes³ can be researched and tackled on a systemic level if trainees from several institutions work together to address the concerns and create solutions.

Research is an important part of any clinician’s life—whether you are a consumer of the latest literature or actively participating in administering clinical trials, the continued evolution of literature ensures that patients are receiving the most effective treatments possible. The AUA Annual Meeting is often the launching point of some of the most impactful and groundbreaking research in the field of urology. Abstracts and plenary sessions contain a plethora of data that can help augment clinical practice, and the process of learning about these discoveries at an early point in one’s career is priceless. Examples from this year’s meeting include updated outcomes data on Aquablation versus traditional transurethral resection of the prostate and safety and outcomes data from implantation of the ZSI-375 artificial urinary sphincter.^4,5

In addition to learning about the research conducted by urologists in practice, trainees also have the opportunity to submit and present their own research in a variety of forums, including moderated poster sessions, video sessions, and podium presentations. For medical students, such opportunities facilitate exposure to faculty from institutions across the United States, connections that can be helpful throughout the residency application process. For residents, presenting their research facilitates building an academic portfolio and can demonstrate specific talents (eg, video editing or data analysis) to potential future mentors, research colleagues, and employers. Many of the large health systems across the United States attend the AUA Annual Meeting, allowing resident physicians to inquire about potential employment opportunities at these institutions.

Another critical aspect of an in-person conference such as AUA 2023 is the Science & Technology Hall, which is one of my favorite components of the national conference every year. It is a large exhibition of products related to urologic care from manufacturers from around the world. Urology residents can visit the hall to explore and learn about the latest medications and urologic instrumentation, which they may not necessarily be exposed to in their own local practices. For example, I had the pleasure of learning about the Wolf RIWO D-URS (disposable) ureteroscope.⁶ I was able to try a demonstration and was impressed by the novel, rigid but flexible design of the ureteroscope that would facilitate the management of both ureteral and renal calculi in a theoretically more ergonomic scope profile. Had I not attended the conference, I would not have been introduced to this device and its potential uses in my own future urology practice.

Video sessions are another important avenue for urology residents. Video abstracts from around the world are submitted into various categories of urologic subspecialties annually for review. The live forum format allows presenters to display their novel techniques to the wider urologic public. This forum enables the sharing of technical knowledge that can often be difficult to transmit in written format and facilitates discussion and feedback from a range of audience members, from experienced surgeons to resident physicians. This year, many of my favorite video demonstrations came from authors in the United States who are continuing to push the use of single-port robotic surgery forward and who are demonstrating ways to make minimally invasive surgery less invasive. I was particularly interested in the experience of the University of Illinois, Chicago faculty performing single-port partial nephrectomy, which they demonstrated in a video abstract.⁷

Finally, in addition to educational and career-expanding opportunities, the AUA Annual Meeting offers several valuable courses that can be of high value to resident physicians and attending physicians alike. Courses cover topics such as practice management, from learning the basics of billing and coding to more advanced material from the AUA Institute for Leadership & Business. There are also instructional courses on performing procedures like transperineal rectal hydrogel placement and techniques for renal access.⁸

Attending the AUA Annual Meeting is an invaluable experience for resident physicians and medical students. By offering a multitude of networking opportunities to facilitate professional development and a variety of sessions and courses on the latest urologic research findings, trainees who attend can expand their professional repertoire and knowledge. Attending the event in person can also facilitate the construction of long-lasting connections with members of industry, professional mentors, and colleagues.

Akhil Abraham Saji, MD is a urology resident at New York Medical College / Westchester Medical Center. His interests include urology education and machine learning applications in urologic care. He is a founding and current member of the EMPIRE Urology New York AUA section team.

References

1. AUA history. American Urological Association. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.auanet.org/about-us/aua-overview/history-of-the-aua
2. Sharza J. Why networking is important for medical students. Op-Med. November 29, 2021. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://opmed.doximity.com/articles/why-networking-is-important-for-medical-students
3. Fero KE, Weinberger JM, Lerman S, Bergman J. Perceived impact of urologic surgery training program modifications due to COVID-19 in the United States. Urology. 2020;143:62-67. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2020.05.051
4. Ricapito A, Bettocchi C, Falagario U, Cormio L, Carrieri G. MP71-03 ZSI-375 artificial urinary sphincter: efficacy, safety and long-term outcomes. J Urol. 2023;209(Supplement 4):e1014. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000003339.03
5. Oumedjbeur K, Ibrahim A, Matta I, et al. MP13-07 Aquablation Therapy® vs transurethral resection of the prostate: 5-year outcomes of the WATER randomized clinical trial for medium-sized prostates. J Urol. 2023;209(Supplement 4):e175. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000003233.07
6. RIWO D-URS. Re-thinking ureteroscopy—the best of both worlds. Richard Wolf. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.richard-wolf.com/en-us/disciplines/urology/translate-to-english-usa-riwo-d-urs
7. Chen G, Crivellaro S. V05-12 Anterior retroperitoneal approach to the single port partial nephrectomy. J Urol. 2023;209(Supplement 4):e428. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000003263.12
8. Hands-on skills training. AUA 2023. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.auanet.org/AUA2023/register/hands-on-skills-training