Dr. Gail Reede Jones Awarded First-Ever LUGPA Spirit of Independence Award

At the 2022 Annual Meeting, LUGPA announced the first-ever Spirit of Independence Award, which was presented to Gail Reede Jones, MD, by Jonathan Henderson, MD, in recognition of Dr. Jones’s dedication and service to her patients and independent urology since starting her solo practice in 1987.

In her acceptance speech, she emphasized the importance of community and collaboration among independent urologists, noting how being a part of LUGPA has given her great opportunities to exchange new ideas, gain valuable knowledge and form connections. As one of the first Black female urologists, Dr. Jones says she found incredible colleagues and mentors who encouraged and supported her throughout her career.

Dr. Jones said, “It is critical to understand that being an independent physician does not mean practicing without the aid of members of the greater urologic and medical community. In fact, it forces you to be very collaborative, sharing and practicing in a way that collectively enhances the whole practice and uses the resources you have to do what is best for patients.”

Dr. Jones currently practices at Arkansas Urology in Little Rock, Arkansas, a practice which has brought independent urologists in Little Rock together. She earned her medical degree from Meharry Medical College and completed her urological surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

“Being an independent urologist may seem challenging or daunting, but there are incredible people and opportunities down the line. I encourage the next generation of physicians to be daring and have faith that you can do what you are trained to do.”