Fall 2012 Newsletter

This past year has gone by fast, but I have very much enjoyed spending it as President of the Mid-Atlantic Section. It was an honor to work with the leadership and, specifically, with Dr. Edouard Trabulsi to organize our 70th Annual Meeting, which marks our first return to Philadelphia in 18 years. I hope many of our members will plan to be there October 11-14, as we have an excellent educational program planned and have the advantage of the meeting in the historic City of Brotherly Love. I would like to thank all our meeting participants, speakers, presenters, and industry partners – their contributions to the upcoming meeting are greatly appreciated.

There is a lot of education and legislative activity at not only the Section level, but the national AUA level as well. I encourage everyone to get involved and to talk to the MAAUA leadership on-site in Philadelphia to express your interests, concerns and ask questions.

I look forward to seeing many of you in Philadelphia.

F. Michael Rommel, M.D.

I hope everyone is gearing up for an exciting and informative meeting here in my hometown of Philadelphia. We have an exciting scientific and social program, and the sites are great in Philly in October. The Urology Association of Pennsylvania has also put together a great program, which will be held during the Mid-Atlantic Sectional meeting. I would like to personally thank all of the authors, moderators and industry sponsors who help make the meeting great.

We will be having the Resident Jeopardy competition at the Annual Meeting as well, and hope to have all residency programs involved. The participants will then have the potential to represent our Section at the Residents Bowl held during the AUA Annual Meeting. I hope that the residents will use this as an opportunity to become and stay active in our region as well as the national AUA, and consider joining the Section Residents Committee.

The Mid-Atlantic Section, having 3 osteopathic residencies and numerous DO practitioners in the region, has been at the forefront of a national AUA initiative to move the two disciplines closer together in urology. I encourage all osteopathic urologists to join and participate in the AUA, and hope that you will share this message with your osteopathic partners and colleagues.

Lastly, I would like to thank you all for the opportunity to serve as Secretary of the Mid-Atlantic region. I look forward to seeing everyone in Philadelphia in October.

Edouard J. Trabulsi, MD, FACS

 The Section continues to do well financially and collected positive receipts from our Joint Meeting with the New England Section last year at Walt Disney World (total assets as of July 31st were \$870,495 which consisted of \$113,333 in the checking account and \$757,711 in the investments portfolio while taking into account \$550 for prepaid dues). Reviews from that meeting were overwhelmingly positive and we anticipate future Joint Meetings. Liabilities as of July 31st totaled \$950 for operational payments being made to the Section’s 501(c)3 entity. Total receipts as of the end of July were \$82,220 and total expenses were \$38,046. These figures combined with a gain in the investments resulted in an operating surplus of \$80,271 as of July 31st.

 Our Section continues to be committed to resident education and supports inclusion of residents in all Section activities. We continue to provide funding to residency programs so that residents can attend our Annual Sectional Meeting. Further, the Section has been committed to funding the AUA Research Scholar program – an allocation of \$120,000 has been provided to support this endeavor. We have also established the Mid-Atlantic Section Schellhammer Lectureship Fund through generous donations from the Section’s partners and MAS members – we appreciate the many contributions to this important fund.

I want to thank the membership, the Board of Directors, Officers and Mid-Atlantic Section staff for the opportunity to serve as your Treasurer for the last four years. I have learned so much about the inner workings of the Section and truly appreciated the opportunity to know and work with all of you. I look forward to a productive upcoming Section meeting in Philadelphia.

Respectfully submitted,
Stanley Zaslau, MD

 All members of the Section should have received the letter from the AUA President and Treasurer, Drs. Pessis and Memo, outlining the increase in annual membership dues and registration fee for the Annual Meeting. These changes, approved unanimously by the entire Board, were not made without significant study, review and discussion. We feel that the AUA is still an exceptional value in comparison to other specialty groups. In addition, a reserve policy has been approved, a new Finance Committee established and debt restructuring has just taken place – all efforts to ensure that the AUA has what is necessary to maintain its fiscal responsibility while at the same time providing the education, research and advocacy programs we, as members, have come to expect.

In response to the USPSTF recommendations on PSA, the AUA held a press conference with the AACU and LUGPA and provided responses, letters, videos and a PowerPoint slide kit on the website. The AUA drafted federal legislation entitled the “USPSTF Transparency and Accountability Act of 2012” that was introduced on June 21st as a bipartisan bill by Representatives Blackburn (R) and Barrows (D). Representative Christianson (D), a key member of the Congressional Black Caucus, is also a co-sponsor and actively supporting this legislation. The legislation will amend current law adding Task Force representation from specialists and key stakeholders, remove the focus on cost effectiveness, require greater transparency in the Task Force decision making process and hold the Secretary and Director of AHRQ accountable for the Task Force decisions. Reform of the USPSTF is a key objective of the AUA 2012 legislative agenda.

The AUA Foundation has and will continue to undergo significant change. Research has been moved from the AUAF to the AUA, the AUAF is in the process of undergoing a name change to “Urology Care Foundation” and a new Board of Directors is in the process of being established to lead this philanthropic and educational effort of the new Foundation. These changes were thought necessary to continue to grow and support research, one of our missions, and to enable further growth through development and philanthropy.

It is a pleasure to serve as your Section representative to the Board of Directors. I can assure you that the Board works diligently to protect our mission and to serve you, the members.

Respectfully yours,
John H. Lynch, MD

Urologic Care in Kenya

Mid-Atlantic Section Member, Dr. Mary Frances James, traveled to Nairobi, Kenya in March 2012 on a MAAUA sponsored IVUMed grant.

AUA Resident Bowl Photo Highlights

The Mid-Atlantic Section Team may not have taken home the trophy at the inaugural AUA Residents Bowl this past spring, but there was still a great deal of friendly competition and fun had by all. Photo highlights from the Residents Bowl are available on the AUA Facebook Page. 

2012 Program Chair, Dr. Edouard Trabulsi, has organized a robust educational program for Philadelphia. Timely and balanced topics have been incorporated, as well as subjects felt to be important by the membership. Highlights of the program include:

  • Thursday, October 11th
    • 2 abstracts sessions and 2 moderated posters sessions
    • Point/Counterpoint session on PSA Screening Controversy
    • Young Urologists/Urology Residents Jeopardy Bowl
  • Friday, October 12th
    • 2 abstract sessions including the Resident Prize Essay Competition
    • Paul F. Schellhammer Lecture in Urologic Oncology by Dr. Harry W. Herr
    • Special Topic Lectures on vaginal mesh controversy, robotic simulation and training, prostate MRI for urologists
    • Howard Pollack X-Ray Conference
  • Saturday, October 13th
    • AUA Practice Guidelines’ Update
    • Hugh Hampton Young Lecture given by Dr. Jack W. McAninch of San Francisco General Hospital
    • Pediatric Urology AUA Boards Primer
    • Special Topic Lecture on targeted therapy for kidney cancer
    • Urological Association of Pennsylvania programming on treatment of OAB, PTNS, Interstim & Coding
  • Sunday, October 14th
    • 2 abstract sessions
    • UROPAC/Health Policy panel discussion
    • Coding session

And don’t forget about social events! This year meeting attendees and their spouses/guests will participate in a Welcome Reception on Thursday afternoon, a Theme Reception on Friday evening, and the traditional President’s Reception & Dinner on Friday night.

Note that meeting badges MUST be worn by all attending any MAAUA social functions. If you or your guests are not yet registered, be sure to do so at urologymanagement.org/maaua/meeting/registration.cfm.

Annual Meeting Registration

Register for the MAAUA 70th Annual Meeting at urologymanagement.org/maaua/meeting/registration.cfm before you arrive on-site in Philadelphia to avoid a registration fee increase.

Don’t forget about social events! This year meeting attendees and their spouses/guests will participate in a Welcome Reception on Thursday afternoon, a “Taste of Philadelphia” Theme Reception on Friday evening, and the traditional President’s Reception & Dinner on Friday night.

Note that meeting badges MUST be worn by all attending any MAAUA social functions. If you or your guests are not yet registered, be sure to do so at urologymanagement.org/maaua/meeting/registration.cfm.

For information on “things to do” while you are in Philadelphia, visit the Loews Hotels Philadelphia Guide. 

The 2012 Paul Schellhammer Lecture will be given by Dr. Harry W. Herr of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Dr. Herr’s talk will be “Optimal Therapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer-History, Evidence and the Robot”.

71st Annual Meeting SAVE THE DATE

MAAUA 71st Annual Meeting
October 24-27, 2013
The Greenbrier
White Sulphur Springs,
West Virginia

Subscribe to the American Urological Association’s Practice Managers’ Network (PMN) to access vital resources to help your practice succeed in the ever-changing healthcare world.

Subscribe to the American Urological Association’s Practice Managers’ Network (PMN) to access vital resources to help your practice succeed in the ever-changing healthcare world. The PMN offers a multitude of services, including:

  • Utilization of AUA Coding Hotline and AUA Coding Today to maximize your reimbursement and get your coding, billing and collection questions answered
  • Access to the Manager’s Q&A e-mail listserv to exchange ideas and network with fellow urologists and practice managers
  • Free subscriptions to the AUA Health Policy Brief electronic newsletter and Practice Management E-News
  • Discounted rates on selected AUA-sponsored seminars and educational courses

Click on the following link to subscribe and learn more about our services. Practice Managers’ Network