2023 AUA Annual Meeting Recap
Battlefield Urology
Battlefield Urology, curated by Dr. Mark Edney (retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, AUA Public Policy Chair) was the well-attended 2023 Annual Meeting history exhibit in Chicago. Dr. Edney is shown by an early Standard robot loaned to the Didusch Center by Intuitive. The booth included 9 presentations by prominent urologists including Arthur Burnett, MD, who spoke on "Successful Penile Transplantation in a Military Veteran." The Battlefield Urology exhibit has now been posted online on the Didusch website.
View the Exhibit
AUA Forum on the History of Urology
AUA Forum on the History of Urology included 13 Posters and 20 Podium presentations and hosted 144 attendees. Highlights included the History Forum Debate on "Triage in War – When Economics and Resources are Limited: Allies vs Enemies, Military vs Civilians" (won by debater Timothy Donahue, MD) and the History Forum Bicknell Lecture given by Dr. Steven Hudak on "Battlefield Genitourinary Injury: Past, Present, and Future."
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The 2023 William P. Didusch Art and History Award
The award goes to AUA Historian Ron Rabinowitz for revitalizing interest in urologic history through exceptional leadership and mentorship as AUA Historian.
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Residents' Corner
Assuring Excellence: The Inventions, Life, and Leadership of Edgar Garrison Ballenger
Read the fascinating story of Edgar Ballenger, early 20th century innovator in urology, thought leader and decorated war hero, whose indelible mark on his colleagues and trainees has been forever honored by the annual Southeastern section Ballenger Lecture. This article, kindly shared with the Didusch Newsletter by the International Journal of Urologic History, was co-authored by Dr. Sam Donnenfeld of the AUA History Committee.
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Things in a Place They Should Not Be!
We came across Dr. Jonathan Goddard’s great piece in Urology Times which begins: "I think we all have stories of objects inserted into the urethra and bladder, which we have been obliged to remove. I had naively assumed this was a rather modern practice (you’d think I would have learned not to make that mistake by now)."
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AUA Historian-Elect
The AUA has chosen its next Historian: Dr. John Phillips, Program Director at Westchester Medical Center and New York Medical College and department Executive Vice Chair. Currently working with AUA’s current Historian, Ron Rabinowitz, Dr. Phillips will take over the reins of the History Committee following the 2024 AUA Annual Meeting.
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Festschrift for AUA Historian Ron Rabinowitz
At the end of September, the Department of Urology at the University of Rochester Medical Center held a Festschrift honoring Dr. Ron Rabinowitz for his outstanding career in Pediatric Urology. But he is NOT retiring! Dr. Rabinowitz was, however, happy to enjoy this honor while still able to defend himself.
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A Call to Our Readers
Could anyone donate an 11th and/or 12th edition Campbell’s Urology?
Researchers occasionally examine the history of a particular urologic condition; the Campbell-Walsh volumes provide a great resource in showing how urology changes over time. We will pay shipping! Contact tstevens@auanet.org if you can help!
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Postscripts
Jack L Sales, MD, FRCSC (1930 – 2023)
Dr. Sales was passionate about supporting rural community hospitals; he taught percutaneous nephrolithotripsy and ureteroscopy and helped St Joseph’s become the kidney stone center for London and District. As Secretary, then President of the Northeastern Section of the American Urological Association, Dr. Sales secured funds for research and education programs, and eventually scholarships, earning the NS-AUA’s distinguished Service Award and being made an honorary member of the AUA. He served on the AUA History Committee, as the AUA Northeastern Section historian.
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Postscripts
Arnold M. Belker, MD (1934-2023)
On August 26, 2023, Arnold M. Belker, MD, 89, passed away. Dr. Belker was one of the first urologists in the country to perform microsurgical procedures and served as organizer or faculty member for numerous microsurgical laboratory courses sponsored by the American Urological Association (AUA) and other organizations.
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Postscripts
Richard J. Ablin, MD (1940-2023)
In 1970, in collaboration with investigators at the Millard Fillmore Hospital Research Institute in Buffalo, Ablin discovered prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland that is often elevated in the presence of prostate cancer. That groundbreaking discovery, for which he was nominated for the Lasker Award, led to the creation of the PSA test.
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