In 2018, the American Urological Association (AUA) announced a modernized structure to better align its international growth with its global footprint. To further develop wide-reaching collaborations and opportunities, three new Assistant Secretary positions, each with a distinct global geographic region of responsibility, was approved by the AUA Board of Directors to support this expanded structure.
Dr. Angela B. Smith, MD, MS, FACS, Associate Professor and Director of Urologic Oncology at the University of North Carolina, was appointed to oversee the AUA’s partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean. Dr. Smith plays a critical role in supporting the AUA Secretary, Dr. John Denstedt, in shaping and executing the Association’s international strategy, programming and activities.
Through leveraging the AUA’s global reach and influence, Dr. Smith assists in implementing the AUA’s International Education Plan and identifying new opportunities with national and multi-national urological societies. Additionally, Dr. Smith works to maintain relationships with key urologists and other strategic partners across the globe, participates in the AUA’s Annual Meeting and serves as a section editor for the AUA publication, AUANews.
With one year of service completed, Dr. Smith has forged relationships and traveled around the globe representing the AUA. While she did not speak Spanish when assuming the position, she has quickly taken to the language by finding pockets of time throughout the day to listen and learn. She has enjoyed working with her Latin American and Caribbean partners to orchestrate AUA-supported initiatives promoting urology education opportunities in her region.
Some of these initiatives include educational courses in endourology and prostate cancer, resident educational courses, establishment of interest groups such as women in urology, and translation of AUA guidelines and patient materials into Spanish (with collaboration from the Confederacion Americana de Urología [CAU]) and Portuguese (with collaboration from the Sociedade Brasileira de Urologia [SBU]).
“I am honored to represent our AUA partners in Latin America and the Caribbean, who have welcomed me as family. The collaborations and new initiatives within Latin America are truly exciting, and I look forward to future opportunities on behalf of the AUA.”
Angela B. Smith, MD, MS, FACS
Director of Urologic Oncology
Associate Professor of Urology
Congrats to @DrJohnDenstedt and @angiesmith_uro on receiving awards recognizing @AmerUrological commitment to collaborations with @CAU_URO pic.twitter.com/UxwbimlOkh
— Ellen Molino (@EllenMolino) October 2, 2019
About The AUA
About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has more than 21,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.