LUGPA Honors Leaders and Innovators at 2025 Annual Meeting

At the 2025 LUGPA Annual Meeting, Dr. Scott Sellinger, LUGPA President, presented a series of awards recognizing outstanding contributions to independent urology.

Presidential Recognition Awards were given to Earl Waltz, former CEO of The Urology Group; Price Dunaway, former COO of Integrated Medical Professionals; and Daniel Schonwald, former Practice Administrator at Comprehensive Urologic Care.

The Trailblazer Award was presented to Neal Patel, MD, of Advanced Urology, and Harry Buchman, COO of the Center for Urologic Care of Berks County.

The Spirit of Independence Award was awarded to Richard Harris, MD, of UroPartners and a LUGPA Past President.

Steve Kaplan, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Aspargo Health and Professor of Urology at Mount Sinai, was named an Honorary LUGPA Member.

The LUGPA Forward Resident Clinical Excellence Award was presented to Laurence “Larry” Hou, MD, Chief Resident at Hackensack University Medical Center.

In a special moment of the program, Celeste Kirschner, CAE, MHSA, was also recognized with a Presidential Recognition Award for her decade of transformative leadership as LUGPA’s Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Sellinger praised her vision and dedication, noting that when she joined LUGPA in 2015 as the organization’s first CEO, she reshaped it from a management group for independent urology practices into a thriving trade association focused on advocacy, education, and member engagement.

Under Celeste’s leadership, LUGPA expanded its membership, strengthened its advocacy voice, and built a talented team dedicated to supporting independent urology. “Celeste’s vision, passion, and commitment have made all the difference,” Dr. Sellinger said. “Her leadership has positioned LUGPA for long-term success and given independent urology a stronger voice.”