AUANews Inside Tract

In this episode of the AUANews Inside Tract Global Perspectives series, host Jose Karam, MD, speaks with French urologists Gaëlle Margue, MD, and Denis Séguier, MD, about their AUA-supported observerships at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Yale. They compare urologic care in France and the United States, exploring clinical workflows, multidisciplinary collaboration, research integration, access to resources, and patient care.

AI-powered scribes are increasingly available to urologists, but access, adoption, and satisfaction tell different stories. Using findings from the 2025 AUA Census, host Daniel Lee, MD, speaks with Kenneth Nepple, MD, and Giovanni Cacciamani, MD, about the real-world promise and limitations of AI-assisted documentation. They examine workflow integration, time savings, accuracy, clinician oversight, data governance, and privacy—plus what urologists should consider before bringing these tools into practice.

What's it really like to transition into urology from another specialty? In this episode, Brandon Sterling sits down with fellow APP Maggie O'Block to discuss their personal journeys into urology and the lessons they learned along the way. Drawing from their own experiences, Brandon and Maggie share practical tips for navigating the learning curve, building confidence in a new specialty, finding mentorship, and adapting to the unique challenges and opportunities of urologic practice. Whether you're considering a move into urology or are just getting started in the field, this candid conversation offers valuable insights, encouragement, and advice to help make your transition a successful one.

Quality Improvement and Patient Safety

In this episode, Dr. Kara Watts joins Dr. Andrew Harris, chair of AUA's Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QIPS) Committee, to discuss the implementation of an electronic medical record-based ureteral stent tracker. They explore how this intervention has decreased average stent dwell time and the frequency of retained ureteral stents. To learn more about how to implement quality improvement projects, view the AUA's Quality Improvement Project Guide.

We are pleased to announce that Dr Stephen Nakada, AUA Past President (2024-2025), has joined the AUANews editorial board as the new Associate Editor for Leadership and Business. He will be leading a new series on leadership within the AUA. The second installment features a conversation between Dr Nakada and current AUA Treasurer Dr Jennifer Miles-Thomas.

Brought to you by the AUA Residents and Fellows Committee and originally presented during the Residents Forum program at AUA2026 in Washington, DC, this panel discussion features moderator Dr. Kayla Graham and guests Dr. Adam Baumgarten, Dr. Erin Jesse Curran and Dr. Jason Lee as they discuss the decision on whether to pursue fellowship training.

In this episode of AUANews Inside Tract, host Corey Del Bianco speaks with Tejal Patel and Dr. Kate Kraft about their AUA 2026 Best Poster-winning research, "Understanding Factors Associated with Urology Retirement: Insights from the 2024 AUA Census." The conversation explores how age, gender, call burden, administrative responsibilities, family considerations, and career fulfillment influence when urologists plan to retire. They also discuss how flexible retirement pathways, physician well-being initiatives, and targeted workforce planning can help retain experienced urologists while supporting the future of patient care.

In recognition of World Humanitarian Day, Dr. Joseph Smith speaks with Dr. Gopal Badlani, recipient of the Urology Care Foundation Humanitarian of the Year Award, about a career rooted in service. Their conversation explores the lasting impact of teaching and mentorship, the importance of building local surgical capacity, the challenges of delivering care in resource-limited settings, and why humanitarian work begins with humility, sustainability, and a commitment to patients before, during, and after care.

In this episode of Igniting Discovery, host Christopher Rowland explores how the AUA Innovation Nexus Bootcamp helps early-stage urology companies accelerate the path from promising idea to real-world impact. Guests Dr. Jeff Dan, Laura Venier of Arch Biotech, and Adam Yaacov of Urologic Health share how access to mentors, investors, reimbursement experts, regulatory guidance, and clinical insight helped sharpen their pitches, identify blind spots, prioritize milestones, and build momentum beyond the two-day bootcamp.

In this episode of AUANews Inside Tract, urology PA Chris Pitchford and nurse practitioner Michelle Hellwig share their firsthand experience with the Fundamentals in Urology program. They discuss how the two-day, hands-on course helps APPs build confidence with essential urologic skills, including difficult catheterization, cystoscopy, ultrasound interpretation, and priapism management. The conversation also highlights the value of simulation-based training, peer networking, expert instruction, and early career education for APPs entering or advancing in the specialty.