Deadline to Apply for Resident Award Approaches 

LUGPA Forward, a special interest group of young physicians at LUGPA, invites you to apply for the Resident Clinical Innovation Award.

Launched in March of 2020, the Resident Clinical Innovation Award was developed to recognize and celebrate urology residents' innovative clinical work that promotes - and has the potential to enhance - quality clinical outcomes.

Suggested topics include:

• New or innovative technology or devices
• Process and/or operational improvement using innovative approaches
• Implementation of effective approaches to diagnose, treat or prevent disease using innovative techniques
• Transformative programs or projects in care delivery and health promotion

There is a cash award of $1000 and travel support to attend the LUGPA Annual Meeting in Chicago, Nov. 11- 13. The recipient(s) will be recognized at LUGPA's Annual Meeting with a plaque.

The applicant must be actively enrolled in an ACGME-approved urology residency program in the United States or in an approved fellowship.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: July 23, 2021 

Learn more here.  

LUGPA Forward presents
Managing Finances as an Early Career Urologist

During the first five to seven years as a urologist of an independent practice, there is extreme variability with managing finances including taxes, investments and arrangements associated with partnerships.

Early career urologists often struggle with managing all the changes and unknowns related to financial issues.

Join us Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at 4:30 PM CDT as Tim Richardson, MD of Wichita Urology Group and Chair, LUGPA Forward Committee, leads a discussion and answers questions about important finance issues that urologists of independent practices should be aware of early in their career.  

Read more and register today.   

PRACTITIONER SPOTLIGHT: 
Benjamin Lowentritt, MD  

	Dr. Lowentritt

In this video interview, Dr. Lowentritt talks about his early years, his decision to enter independent urology practice and clears up some misconceptions about working in independent practice.  He describes the impactful research projects and innovations he and his group have been a part of recently.  He also explains how he approaches stress, time management and family life.  

Dr. Benjamin Lowentritt serves as Vice President of Physician Services and Director of Prostate Cancer Services for United Urology Group.  He also serves as the Medical Director of the Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Care Program at Chesapeake Urology, a member of United Urology Group’s practices.

In these roles, Dr. Lowentritt is responsible for working with member practices to build and optimize services for prostate cancer patients. The goal is for each member group to have a comprehensive, state-of-the-art program that helps patients through a difficult diagnosis.  He also leads efforts on value-based care initiatives and physician group outreach for United Urology Group.

He has been at the forefront of robotic urology procedures and was the first surgeon in Maryland to perform robot assisted surgery for bladder cancer. He has authored articles on a variety of urologic topics.

Dr. Lowentritt received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Baylor College of Medicine, completed his medical residency at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a fellowship in Robotic, Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Urology at Tulane University. He has served as Past-President of the Mid-Atlantic Section of the American Urological Association (2019-20) and the Baltimore City Medical Society (2013-14). He also serves on the Boards of Directors for MedChi, the Maryland State Medical and on the Medical Advisor Board for Zero – the End of Prostate Cancer. He has been recognized as a Top Doctor in multiple publications.

Watch LUGPA's full interview with Dr. Lowentritt here.  

Ask The Experts, LUGPA Q&A

	Tim Richardson, MD

Tim Richardson, MD
Urologist, Wichita Urology
Wichita Kansas

Biography

Dr. Richardson is a native of south central Kansas. He attended medical school at The University of Kansas from 1998-2002. He completed his urological surgery residency at The University of Nebraska Medical Center, 2002-2008. He is a partner at Wichita Urology, board-certified by the ABU and is a member of the AUA, AACU and SUO-CTC. He currently serves as Chair of LUGPA Forward and is on the LUGPA Membership committee. Within Wichita Urology, Dr. Richardson is the Advanced Prostate Cancer champion, is co-director of clinical trials, and director of the Xofigo infusion program. Dr. Richardson has served as a consultant, speaker and participated in numerous advisory boards regarding prostate cancer. Outside of work, he enjoys golf, running, skiing and other outdoor activities.

ANGELA: As a manager I worry about not developing younger physicians into leadership because someday they won’t be the young physician..[what can I do]”

TIM RICHARDSON MD: Thanks for your question Angela.  As you expect, there is no easy way to develop a leader in any industry.  In my experience it is a slow evolution, but one that centers around one basic principle, inclusion.  By that, I mean include the young physician in everything that is vital or important to the practice i.e., board meetings, management decisions, key strategic meetings and retreats etc.  Over time, they will experience how the leaders process information, formulate strategic decisions, and deliver those back to the group.  They will also see how the leaders interact with other stake holders in the group and employees, which will help them hone their communication and motivational skills.  If they experience these processes and interactions over time, it should help make a smooth transition when it becomes their turn to take on a more leadership role within the practice.

For Residents wishing to be on the fast track to a leadership role, don’t be afraid to ask questions and attend those board meetings and strategy meetings ready to contribute ideas and observations.

Get your pressing questions answered by Dr. Richardson in the next issue of Inroads!

Residents are urged to send questions to Dr. Richardson pertaining to variety of subjects. Send your questions to [email protected] with the subject “Resident Newsletter, Ask the Experts Q&A” and answers will be published in the September 2021 Issue of Inroads.

OPINION

To Address Diverse Issues and Reflect a Diverse Patient Base, More Female Urologists Are Required

by Jennifer Miles-Thomas, MD 

Only a small percentage of urologists are female but that is changing because our world, culture and patient expectations are changing. In today’s world, urologists need to be able to care for various genders and address their patients’ unique needs.

As a resident in the early 2000s, there were less than 5% of board-certified female urologists in the United States. I would frequently attend meetings where I was the only woman present. However, as I finished residency and began my career it was clear to myself, my partners, and patients that female urologists are of significant value to any practice.

Currently 11% of urologists in the United States are female. This means change is coming, but not fast enough.  If around 50% of the population identify as female, then why shouldn’t we as urologists be able to meet all of our patients’ needs and preferences? A diverse physician roster will prove to be essential in a future where patients assume a broad spectrum of gender identities. Urology is a multifarious subspecialty able to cater to the interest of many.

As more women are finishing residency and fellowship, and becoming board-certified faculty as well as private practice partners, we are now more visible for the next generation. As a result, after being able to explore specialties in medical school, new residents will have more exposure to female role models and will see themselves thriving in our subspecialty.

The rising number of female urologists allow medical students, residents, patients and partners to see and appreciate the value of having a diverse practice. As patients see the choices they have in care, they will be able to choose an expert from any gender.

In addition to having sensitivity and awareness of issues non-male patients are facing, women who are urologists are excellent oncologists, reconstructive surgeons, female urologists, general urologists, pediatric urologists and endourologists. Instead of limiting our practice’s ability to treat patients of all genders, our doctors provide our patients excellent care and options. I hope that in the next decade the percentage of female urologists will double and that we will be at the forefront of research and innovations in treatment.

Jennifer Miles-Thomas, MD
President, Urology of Virginia
Virginia Beach, VA

	Dr. Miles-Thomas

Dr. Miles-Thomas earned her medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois in 2001 after completing her undergraduate degree in Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University. She served her general surgery internship in the Department of Surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, where she also completed her urology residency and fellowships in Female Urology and Endourology at The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute. Dr. Miles-Thomas is a Diplomate of the American Board of Urology and is also board certified in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. She is currently the President of Urology of Virginia and the Medical Director of the Pelvic Health program at Chesapeake Regional Healthcare. Dr. Miles-Thomas provides specialized care in female reconstructive surgery, pelvic prolapse, incontinence, complicated urinary disorders, and disorders of the urinary system due to neurologic disease.

She is a member of the American Urological Association (AUA), Mid-Atlantic Section of the AUA, Large Urology Group Practice Association (LUGPA), Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction, American Urogynecologic Society, and the Society of Women in Urology.

Dr. Miles-Thomas has published several textbook chapters regarding voiding dysfunction. She has presented her research at numerous national and international medical conferences. She is also currently the Principal Investigator for many Overactive Bladder Trials at Urology of Virginia.

Health Policy Roundup  

As the leading voice of independent urology group practices in the US, LUGPA educates policymakers on the benefits of integrated urologic care. LUGPA's Health Policy and Political Affairs committees drive grassroots efforts by developing thoughtful analysis and engaging public officials through comment letters on major legislative and regulatory proposals. Here's a recap of some of LUGPA's recent activities.  

• New Poll Numbers Indicate Growing Concerns Among Americans About the Impact of Healthcare Consolidation

• Joint Policy Statement on Most Favored Nation and Foreign Reference Pricing

• Drug pricing too important to be left to narrow regulatory agencies

• Medicare Sequester Moratorium Extended

Do you want to get published?
Contribute to Reviews in Urology  

Reviews in Urology is LUGPA’s quarterly journal presenting the latest advances in urology.  

Do you want to get published? Contribute to RIU!

Review Articles or Original Research

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See Who is Hiring in LUGPA's Career Center

LUGPA's Career Center website is a place where urology residents can post their resumes, apply for jobs and get job alerts.

The site also features: 

Career Coaching - Coming from a variety of professional backgrounds, LUGPA's Career Center offers certified coaches that have the experience, training, and expertise needed to help you achieve your career goals.

Resume Writing - LUGPA's Career Center offers experts who are ready to critique your existing resume or help you craft a document that gets you noticed.

Reference Checking - Get your references checked, confidentially and professionally so you can be confident your past employers are helping, not hurting, your candidacy.


Visit the Career Center now: careers.lugpa.org.