AUA2022 launches AUA’s Institute for Leadership & Business

The AUA and its Annual Meeting has long been the leading provider of clinical education for urologists. In 2021, the AUA set a strategic goal to also become a leader in the development and delivery of content related to the business of urology. Therefore, the urology community can expect to see more business education from the AUA, starting with a new, full-day, pre-Meeting course at AUA2022, “The Economics of Healthcare: Understanding Physician Compensation,” on Thursday, May 12, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

The AUA is adept at keeping its finger on the pulse of what urologists need to thrive in their careers. According to the AUA, it became evident that urologists need additional help in understanding and navigating the increasingly complex business landscape of medicine. 

“AUA’s research showed real gaps in knowledge on the business side of urology,” said AUA Education Chair Jay D. Raman, MD, FACS.  “Understanding compensation models and employment contracts, contract negotiations and developing leadership skills contract negotiations—they’re all critically important in one’s career, and so it’s important that we commit to providing education in these areas.” 

The new Economics of Healthcare course, led by course directors John D. McConnell, MD, and Kenneth A. Berger, MD, JD, comes to the Annual Meeting as part of the AUA’s new Institute for Leadership & Business, which is dedicated to providing education, training and resources to support leadership development and business acumen within the urology community. The AUA has a longstanding tradition of programs that foster leadership development, most notably its esteemed Leadership Program, which produced its first graduates in 2005.

With the AUA’s new strategic goals around the business of urology, establishing a formal Institute for Leadership & Business in 2022 allows the AUA to think holistically about its leadership and business programming, and grow its offerings to meet the evolving needs of its members. According to AUA President Raju Thomas, MD, “Establishing a formal Institute solidifies leadership and business as areas of priority and focus for the AUA.”

Attendees at the AUA2022 course will take a deep dive into an array of business topics, including the general economics of health care and the various payer systems, practice and compensation models and employment agreements. The program will also include roundtable discussions aligned by practice setting for a more personalized educational experience.

“We are very excited about this course and proud of the depth and diversity of education we have planned,” said Dr. Berger. “Whether you’re in a large practice, or academic setting, or even a resident looking to get a foundational understanding of health care economics, the course will help attendees have a greater understanding of how the system works and how they can optimize their own careers and the business of their practice.” There is an additional fee associated with the course.

Beyond the Annual Meeting, the AUA has additional business education planned, including monthly episodes on a variety of business topics on its Inside Tract Podcast Channel. Current episodes include Why the Business Aspects of Urology and Healthy Financial Practices are Absolutely Mandatory for Sustained High Quality Care Delivery; Overview of Physician Compensation Models; and Alternative Compensation Models, Partnership and Private Equity. Upcoming episodes include Relative Value Unit (RVU): Introduction and Importance in Both Reimbursement and Physician Compensation; Multispecialty Groups, Academic Health Systems and Private Equity: Choosing a Practice Model that Works for You; Primer on Government Insurance; Primer on Private Health Care Insurance in the United States; and Importance of Understanding the Language of Finance. To learn more about the Institute for Leadership & Business, visit AUAnet.org/Business.

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