LUGPA 2024 Annual Meeting Recap

The LUGPA 2024 Annual Meeting Again Breaks Attendance Records!

Milestones in Motion: The Unprecedented Momentum of LUGPA 2024 Annual Meeting


	See more photos from Thursday here.

The LUGPA 2024 Annual Meeting made a triumphant return to the Windy City this year, setting records for attendance and exhibitors. More than 1160 urology professionals flocked to Chicago to be part of Charting the Course: Leading Change in Independent Urology Group Practices, and more than 90 companies exhibited informative booths in this year’s exhibit hall.

Over the course of three days, the Annual Meeting provided LUGPA members with timely information, resources and access to noted experts to help them leverage current and upcoming treatment, technology, policy and practice milestones. These keynote addresses, sessions, workshops and working groups all focused on sustaining and accelerating momentum in the independent practice of urology.

For a limited time, ALL THE PHOTOS from the Annual Meeting can be found here.
For participants who attended the CME program you will be getting an email link to the claim your CME credits and certificate in the week after the meeting.
Videos and slides from the meeting are housed on a password-protected page for LUGPA group practice members.
Follow #LUGPA2024 on social media to see photos and other highlights.
DIGITAL PROGRAM BOOKLETS
- Main Agenda
- Main Program Booklet
- CME Agenda - Earn up to 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
- CME Program Booklet
- Practice Administrators Agenda
- Practice Admin Program booklet

Below is a recap of LUGPA 2024.

Day 1: November 14

LUGPA 2024 kicked off with informative working groups for Radiation Oncology, Research Directors and Coordinators, Lab Directors and Managers and Advanced Practice Providers, as well as a workshop for Practice Administrators.

Our compelling CME Program explored Emerging Technologies to Advance Urologic Care in 2025. Experts discussed leveraging and integrating cutting-edge technologies to treat OAB, prostate cancer and kidney stones; the use of focal therapy; updates in robotic surgery; what urologists need to know today to effectively treat bladder and kidney cancer in 2025; incorporating new approaches for evaluating, diagnosing and treating BPH; and integrating new technologies into everyday practice management. For participants who attended the CME program you will be getting an email link to the claim your CME credits and certificate in the week after the meeting.

The day concluded with the first daily networking reception in the Grand Ballroom.


	See more photos from Friday here.

Day 2: November 15

Conference Chair, Dr. Jeffrey Spier, kicked off the second day of LUGPA’s Annual Meeting with inspiring words around the future of LUGPA and independent urology: “We have an incredible future. It is bright and there are great things on the horizon.”

Current LUGPA President, Dr. Evan R. Goldfischer, touched on the state of the industry and the value of in-person meetings and patient appointments, noting a similarity to attendees’ presence at LUGPA 2024: “The kinship of the soul is why you travel to Chicago for this meeting.” He and LUGPA Forward Chair, Dr. Kari Bailey, recognized several outstanding members who have made exceptional contributions to the field of urology:

Trailblazer Award:
- Dr. Dean Laganosky, Solaris MidLantic Urology
Presidential Recognition Award:
- Terry FitzPatrick, former CEO of Oregon Urology Institute
- Dr. Geoffrey Sklar, Chief Medical Officer of United Urology Group
Honorary Member:
- Dr. Phillip J. Koo, Chief of Diagnostic Imaging at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Advocate of the Year:
- Nathan Diller, MBA, MHSA, FACHE, CMPE, COO of Brandywine Urology Consultants
Resident Awardee:
- Dr. Jared Johnson, University of Minnesota

Drs. Mara Holton and Josh Langston updated us on LUGPA’s 2024 accomplishments in the areas of Political Affairs and Health Policy, and the critical need for membership involvement, concluding with “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” Read more and see the slides here.

Two great keynotes were also delivered on Day 2. Dr. Brian Miller addressed healthcare consolidation and the future of independent practice, encouraging attendees to stand up for what they need, pointing out that bakers can own bakeries, lawyers can own law firms, but physicians can’t own hospitals. “My challenge to you is act now and fight back.” Also, MLB Legend Dave Winfield shared wisdom on how he continues to win and stay positive, even in the face of adversity, saying “You learn from your experiences – not only the good but the rough.”

At the Annual Business meeting, LUGPA’s membership reelected its Board of Directors and welcomed new members to the Board.

Finally, the afternoon concluded with four breakout sessions. In Leadership Excellence: Empowering Medical Directors in Urology, Drs. Geoffrey Sklar and Michael Szostak urged urology professionals to “ask the hard questions and leave ego aside.” Drs. Mara Holton and Kari Bailey, along with Katie Desiderio, MBA, PhD, explored generational workforce issues and prioritizing workplace health and communication in Women’s Urologic Health Alliance Program: Adapting to the Modern Workforce. In Real Estate Mastery: Unlocking Your Urology Practice's Full Potential Dr. Michael Fabrizio, Whitt Holder, Clinton Parker and Chip Conk offered insights and recommendations in managing real estate for practices. Lastly, Drs. Jonathan Henderson, Jay Shah and Phillip Pierorazio addressed the difference between resilience and wellness, and offered strategies to help build resilience in a session, Building Your Resilience Program.


	See more photos from Saturday here.

Day 3: November 16

LUGPA 2024 closed on a high note as Chair Dr. Jeffrey Spier thanked everyone for attending and urged members to get involved with LUGPA’s committees. Then, moderator Dr. David Albala invited Jason Bandermann, Drs. Blake Anderson, Jesus Herrera, Badar Mian, Gregory McMahon and Sean McAdams to share their compelling research insights from their participation in the Executive Leadership Program.

Next up on the agenda was the LUGPA Forward Session, Sustaining Excellence: Leadership and Succession Planning for Urology's Next Generation, where Dr. Albala led a discussion between Dr. Kari Bailey; Katie P. Desiderio, MBA, PhD; Alan Winker, MHSA, FACMPE; and Erika Ferrozzo, MHA on sustaining excellence in practices, leadership and succession for urology’s next generation. Afterwards, Terry FitzPatrick and Dr. Kevin Birusingh outlined the tremendous support LUGPA offers their local practices during the Hometown session.

We then heard from incoming LUGPA President, Dr. Scott Sellinger, who spoke eloquently in his Presidential Address about his passion for his new position, his commitment to enhancing the LUGPA member experience and his expectations of LUGPA members. His focus on ensuring that the LUGPA Board embraces the power of communications to listen first, ensure respect, build consensus, provide transparency, respond timely and serve as a foundation for success was very well-received. “My commitment to this organization is to keep offering value in these programs for our members.”

Finally, Kevin McCarthy, 55th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, participated in a Fireside Chat with Dr. Mara Holton, Dr. Josh Langston and John McManus, sharing his perspective on current events, the future of health policy and the challenges faced by independent urology practices, noting “How you practice today is not how you thought you’d practice when you were going to medical school.” He advised LUGPA members to actively engage to help direct health policy reform.

Annual Meeting App

The LUGPA Annual Meeting mobile app is still active! Use the app to find all the exhibitors from the meeting and fill out our evaluation survey.

Thank you to our meeting sponsors!