{"id":12771,"date":"2026-06-03T10:39:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T14:39:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/urology\/?p=12771"},"modified":"2026-06-03T10:48:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T14:48:05","slug":"unc-urology-shines-at-aua-2026-highlights-from-this-years-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/urology\/unc-urology-shines-at-aua-2026-highlights-from-this-years-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"UNC Urology Shines at AUA 2026 — Highlights from this Year’s Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dr. Nielsen & Dr. Arora were among Chairs recognized this year; 2nd Row, 1st & 4th from left.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The UNC Department of Urology played a significant role again this year, at the 2026 American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting, contributing their expertise, time and talents across a wide range of scientific and educational sessions.<\/p>\n

The AUA Annual Meeting is one of the specialty\u2019s premier gatherings, bringing together clinicians, researchers, and educators from across the country to share insights and discuss key factors that are shaping the future of urologic care.<\/p>\n

As in previous years, UNC Urology was prominently represented throughout the program, with more than a dozen team members presenting research, teaching courses, and moderating or participating in panel discussions. Their contributions spanned key areas of the field\u2014from surgical innovation to cancer care, health services research, and workforce education\u2014reflecting the depth and breadth of the department\u2019s academic mission.<\/p>\n

Providing Insights, and Joining the Discussion<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Dr. Kathryn Gessner presented new findings at the Early Career Investigators Showcase<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

UNC faculty played an especially visible role in shaping educational programming, leading courses and discussions designed to advance clinical decision-making and refine surgical techniques.<\/p>\n

These sessions created opportunities for experts from across the country to engage with emerging evidence and practical strategies that inform everyday patient care.<\/p>\n

In parallel with their on-site contributions to the robust agenda scheduled for the AUA meeting, UNC Urology faculty also served as national thought leaders through a series of interviews with Urology Times<\/em>, further amplifying the department\u2019s voice in key clinical conversations surrounding the meeting and affecting the field in general.<\/p>\n

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UNC Urology APPs with AUA mascot “Flo.”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Helping to Shape the Dialog Regarding Best Practices in Urology<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leading that visibility was UNC Urology Department Chair Matthew Nielsen, MD, MS, FACS<\/strong>, who was featured in a pre-meeting preview highlighting major themes attendees could expect at AUA 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Additional UNC Urology faculty were also featured in Urology Times<\/em> coverage examining emerging research, clinical debates, and trends across the specialty. Some examples of these stories include:<\/p>\n