A Broad Presence on the National Stage: UNC Urology at AUA 2026

Jump to Full List of UNC Urology AUA 2026 Speakers

Each spring, the American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting brings together thousands of clinicians, researchers, educators, and trainees from across the country to share emerging science and practical innovations shaping the future of urologic care. The meeting serves as one of the specialty’s most important national forums – where new research is introduced, clinical techniques are refined, and educational initiatives are launched.

From May 14^th – 18^th, at the 2026 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, more than a dozen faculty, advanced practice providers, and trainees from UNC Urology will be featured throughout the scientific and educational program. Their participation spans a wide range of topics – from surgical innovation and guideline development to health services research, cancer care, and workforce education – reflecting the breadth of academic activity taking place across the department.

Faculty Contributions Across the Scientific and Educational Program

Throughout the meeting, UNC Urology clinicians and investigators will contribute to sessions designed to advance both the science and practice of urology.

Several faculty members will participate in educational courses and panel discussions focused on refining clinical decision-making and surgical technique. Dr. Marc Bjurlin will present in the AUA Robotics Theater and co-lead a multidisciplinary course exploring the integration of molecular imaging into urologic oncology practice. Dr. Matthew Coward will contribute to a session reviewing updates to the AUA’s vasectomy guidelines, while Dr. Culley Carson will participate in a debate examining treatment approaches for low testosterone. These sessions provide opportunities for practicing clinicians to engage with evolving evidence and practical strategies that inform day-to-day patient care.

Other faculty will address complex disease management and multidisciplinary treatment planning in urologic oncology. Mary Dunn, MSN, NP-C, will serve as faculty in sessions focused on advanced prostate cancer treatment and systemic therapy, highlighting the growing role of coordinated care and guideline-driven management in patients with complex disease. Dr. Renea Sturm will participate in a panel discussion examining how new discoveries move from research settings into clinical practice – an increasingly important process as innovation accelerates across the field.

Research presentations will also feature prominently. Dr. David Friedlander will present findings on the use of electronic health record data to predict outcomes following emergency department visits for renal colic – work that reflects ongoing efforts to use clinical data to support more informed decision-making. Dr. Kathryn Hacker Gessner has been selected to present her research at the AUA’s Early-Career Investigators Showcase, a competitive program highlighting emerging physician-scientists advancing the specialty. Her work was featured in a separate announcement published ahead of the meeting.

Resident scholarship will also be represented. Dr. Krupa Nathan, a resident in the UNC Urology training program, will present a surgical video demonstrating a single-port approach to nephroureterectomy following radical cystectomy – an example of the technical innovation and academic engagement taking place within the department’s graduate medical education programs.

Leadership in Education and Workforce Development

Education remains a central focus of the AUA Annual Meeting, and UNC Urology faculty will play visible roles in shaping national training initiatives.

Dr. Davis Viprakasit will serve as Course Co-Director for a new hands-on training program designed to support procedural education for advanced practice providers, with Heather Schultz, NP, and Dr. Minh Nguyen Pham participating as faculty instructors. The course reflects the increasing importance of structured, simulation-based training and team-based care models across modern urologic practice. Their involvement in this national initiative is highlighted in a companion story describing the launch of the program at AUA 2026.

Dr. Mary Beth Westerman will also contribute to educational programming focused on career development for early-career urologists, reinforcing the importance of mentorship and professional growth within the specialty. These sessions provide opportunities for trainees and early-career physicians to gain practical guidance on navigating academic and clinical careers.

A Visible Presence Across the Meeting

Several faculty members will participate in multiple sessions throughout the meeting, reflecting sustained engagement across different domains of clinical practice and education. Among them, Dr. Westerman will appear across a range of programming focused on bladder cancer management, hematuria evaluation, surgical technique, and professional development – spanning both clinical and educational topics within the scientific program.

Additional contributions include presentations by Dr. Hans Arora on team-based surgical care and health policy research, further underscoring the department’s engagement in discussions that extend beyond clinical technique to include systems-level improvement and collaboration.

Taken together, these sessions illustrate the range of perspectives represented by UNC Urology clinicians and investigators – from surgical innovation and cancer care to health services research and workforce development.

A Department-Wide Presence

As colleagues gather in Washington this spring, attendees moving from session to session will encounter a consistent presence from UNC Urology faculty and trainees, contributing to conversations that shape how urologic care is delivered, studied, and taught.

Their participation across the 2026 AUA Annual Meeting reflects the ongoing work taking place within the department – work that spans clinical care, research, and education and connects UNC Urology to the broader national community of physicians and scientists advancing the field.