The American Urological Association is a professional association in the United States for urology professionals.

Non Profit

American Urological Association

Edward M. Messing, MD, FACS is a Professor of Urology and Oncology at the University of Rochester. Prior to this, he was the Winfield W. Scott Professor and Chairman of the Department of Urology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry from 1995–2018, and the Deputy Director of the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester from 1996-1998.

Dr. Messing received his degree from New York University in 1972, completed his surgery training at NYU-Bellevue Hospital in New York 1972-1974, and his Urology Residency at Stanford University 1974-1978. After 2 years on the faculty at Tulane University, he completed a fellowship in Urologic Oncology at UCLA in 1982. He was on the faculty of the Division of Urology at the University of Wisconsin from 1982-1995, serving as Director of their Urologic Oncology Program for the last 10 years of that period.

Dr. Messing is a renowned expert on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancers of the bladder, prostate, and kidney. He has conducted the largest screening study for bladder cancer in a general population and carries on extensive research in the basic biology of these cancers. He has been the principal investigator on numerous clinical studies for the detection, prevention, and treatment of them several of which have changed the standard of care for patients with these diseases.

Edward M. Messing

Since May 2018, Ms. Hartford has served as AUA’s Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance. She oversees the organization’s financial operations, including financial planning and analysis, internal controls and reporting, managing insurance policies, overseeing regulatory issues, and directing the management of investments and operating cash. She is the primary liaison with the AUA Treasurer and the Finance Committee (which includes the Compensation and Audit Subcommittees). Prior to this, Ms. Hartford served as the Director of Finance where she oversaw the financial reporting, tax, and audit functions.

Ms. Hartford began her career in public accounting with KPMG and held other finance and consulting positions in the healthcare field throughout her 34 years of experience. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Accounting from the University of Baltimore and a Master of Science degree in Accounting Forensic Studies from Stevenson University. She has professional memberships with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the AICPA NFP Section, and the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants.

Barbara Hartford

Janet Skorepa joined the AUA in 2003 and currently serves as Executive Vice President of Education & Meetings. Ms. Skorepa oversees the strategic direction of the AUA’s Office of Education, Conventions & Meetings, and International Programs departments. She provides strategic and operational oversight for the AUA’s Annual Meeting, which attracts more than 16,000 attendees. She is responsible for site selection, hotel and convention center negotiations, contractual arrangements with suppliers, and overall implementation of all annual meeting activities including registration, logistics, social and scientific programs. Ms. Skorepa also oversees AUA’s Office of Education and International Programs’ initiatives, including but not limited to CME live programs, eLearning, and enduring materials. She oversees the administrative management services for Urology Management Services (UMS)’ client, the Endourological Society, and executes its annual international congress.

Prior to joining the AUA, Ms. Skorepa worked for GES Exposition Services for 13 years as Director of Sales of the San Francisco Bay Area’s $52M operation, Senior Sales Manager, and Account Manager in Washington, DC area. She has an extensive background in event management, planning and operations, account management, and sales. Ms. Skorepa received her Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University. She is currently an active member of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), the Medical Meeting Director's Roundtable (MMDR), the Chicago Customer Advisory Board and the New Orleans Customer Advisory Council.

Janet Skorepa

Diane Bieri is Vice President and General Counsel for the AUA and its related entities. In this role, she provides guidance to the CEO, board members, and staff on a broad spectrum of legal, governance, and health policy matters. She heads the organization's Committee & Society Affairs department, supports the association's Board of Directors, Bylaws Committee, and Judicial & Ethics Committee and works closely with the AUA Quality (AQUA) Registry to help ensure the Registry’s legal compliance.

Prior to joining the AUA, Ms. Bieri was a partner at a multinational law firm based in Washington, D.C., representing clients on a variety of litigation, antitrust, and FDA compliance matters. Ms. Bieri also served previously as General Counsel of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) representing the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and biotech companies. She is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center (J.D.) and the University of Pittsburgh (B.A. in Journalism and Political Science).

Diane Bieri

Patricia Banks leads the development of innovative strategies to fully engage and inform the AUA’s global membership and the patients they serve. Since joining the AUA in 2010, she has spearheaded the growth and expansion of the AUA’s marketing, communications, publications, industry relations, and member services teams. As the Association’s Chief Marketing Officer, she draws on more than 20 years of diverse experience in the marketing, communications, industry relations, and publishing sectors to ensure the AUA’s public outreach, publications, and member services are the best in class.

Ms. Banks holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Barry University and a Master’s degree in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics & Political Science. She is a Certified Professional Coach from iPEC (Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching) and holds a certificate in Leadership Coaching for Organizational Performance from George Mason University.

Patricia Banks

Sharon Stover is the Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer for the AUA. In this role, she is a member of the Executive Team responsible for executing the strategic objectives of the organization. She leads a team of Human Resources professionals whose goal is to create a positive employee experience to increase employee engagement by partnering with leadership to foster a strong company culture driven by AUA’s Guiding Principles and creating and leading workforce management strategies to support the organization’s strategic goals and objectives.

Before joining the AUA in 2018, Ms. Stover spent eleven years as the President and CEO of LifeLogics, Inc., a nonprofit software development company that provides solutions to the organ and tissue recovery community. Prior to LifeLogics, she was the Director of Human Resources for The Living Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit Organ Procurement Organization. Ms. Stover holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland University College. She holds an SHRM-Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification in Human Resources from the Society for Human Resource Management and a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the HR Certification Institute. She is a member of the Chesapeake Human Resources Association and the Society for Human Resource Management. She serves as a volunteer mentor for Everwise and LinkedIn, and as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Harford County, Maryland.

Sharon Stover

Arthur E. Tarantino, MD is a Senior urologist in the Hartford Healthcare Medical Group, Tallwood Urologic and Kidney Institute, Hartford Hospital. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery, University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He continues to serve on multiple committees at Hartford Hospital and was Vice President and then President of the Medical Staff from 2001-2005.

Dr. Tarantino received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his medical degree from Georgetown University. He completed his preliminary surgical training at the University of Rochester-Strong Memorial Hospital, and his urologic training at the Lahey Clinic in 1988.

Dr. Tarantino is a past president of the Connecticut State Urology Society and AUA Northeastern Section. He has served on several AUA Committees including the past Chair of the State Advocacy Committee. He has been a member of the AUA since 1990.

A native of Washington, D.C., Dr. Tarantino has had a lifelong interest in Health Policy and Advocacy. He has served on several AUA Committees including the past Chair of the State Advocacy Committee. He has been a member of the AUA since 1990.

Arthur Tarantino

Hassan Razvi, MD, FRCSC is a Professor in the Division of Urology, Department of Surgery at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. He most recently served as Chairman of the Division of Urology at Western from 2005-to 2019. He is also an Associate Scientist in the Clinical Research Division of the Lawson Health Research Institute.

Dr. Razvi’s clinical and research interests include the metabolic and surgical aspects of urinary stone disease and surgical device development. Dr. Razvi established a translational investigative team at Western to study the mechanisms of urinary stone disease formation employing the Drosophila fly model with the intent to devise novel prevention strategies. He has authored or co-authored 18 book chapters and published over 170 peer-review articles. He has held research grant support from the Canadian Kidney Foundation, the Canadian Urological Association Scholarship Foundation, the US National Institutes of Health, and the US Department of Defense. He has been involved in several important and impactful Endourology-focused initiatives including two Société Internationale d'Urologie- International Consultation on Urologic Disease stone disease panels in 2008 and 2014 and the 2016 AUA-Endourology Society Surgical Management of Stones Guideline.

Dr. Razvi is a past president of the AUA Northeastern Section and is president-elect of the Canadian Urological Association. He has been a member of the AUA since 1998.

Hassan Razvi

Eric J. Zeidman, MD is an Assistant Professor in Urology and Neurology as well as a Consultant for the Department of Urology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Phoenix, Arizona. He graduated from the United States Military Academy and earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan. He completed his residency in urology at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center for the [United States Army](/org/united-states-army) in Washington, DC and fellowship training at the University of California, Genitourinary Reconstruction, Female Urology, Urodynamics program in Los Angeles, California. His research interests include neurourology, voiding dysfunction, female urology, incontinence (male) and continence restoration. Dr. Zeidman has written over 34 articles and book chapters on male and female urologic dysfunction.

Dr. Zeidman has served the AUA’s Western Section as Chair of the Western Section Bylaws Committee as well as President and Treasurer of the AUA Western Section. He has served on AUA Committees as a member of the AUA Public Policy Council, Nominating Committee and Investment Committee. Dr. Zeidman has been a member of the [American Urological Association](/org/american-urological-association) since 1987.

Eric J. Zeidman

Kurt McCammon, MD joins the Board as the Mid-Atlantic Section Representative. Dr. McCammon is a past president of the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons and the current Chair of the IVUmed Board. He is the Devine Chair in Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery and Chairman and Professor of the Department of Urology at Eastern Virginia Medical School, where he also serves as the Urology Residency Program Director and Fellowship Director of the adult and pediatric genitourinary reconstructive surgery program.

Kurt A. McCammon

Dr. Farquhar brings to her position more than 30 years of experience in nursing and healthcare administration, quality measurement, process improvement and research. Prior to the AUA, she spent eight years with the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC), where she served as Vice President of Quality, Research and Measurement. Prior to her tenure at [URAC](/org/urac), she was Vice President of Performance Measurement at the National Quality Forum and was responsible for strategic oversight of the consensus development process.  

Dr. Farquhar has authored more than 20 articles on quality indicators and performance measurement and has participated on numerous expert panels to discuss similar topics. She received her PhD in Public Administration, Public Policy and Public Affairs from Virginia Tech University and holds a Master of Science in Nursing from [George Mason University](/org/george-mason-university). Additionally, she is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, an Advanced Project Management Professional and holds a certificate in Population Health.

Marybeth Farquhar

Martin K. Dineen, MD works for the Advanced Urology Institute in Daytona Beach, Florida and received his medical degree from Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Medicine in 1980 and completed his residency training in urology at LSU in 1985. He completed fellowship training in urologic oncology at Roswell Park Memorial Institute in Buffalo, New York.

Dr. Dineen has been active both regionally and nationally. He is a past-President of the American Association of Clinical Urologists, Florida Urological Society and AUA’s Southeastern Section. He served for 17 years on the AUA Public Policy Council and for 15 years on the AUA Coding & Reimbursement Committee. In 2016, he was awarded the AUA Distinguished Service Award for over two decades of outstanding leadership in Health Policy as well as humanitarian service in Haiti to eliminate the scourge of urogenital elephantiasis. He has been a member of the AUA since 1990.

Martin K. Dineen

Raju Thomas, MD is the Chair of the Department of Urology at [Tulane University](/org/tulane-university) Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Professor of Urology and the Residency Program Director for the Department. Dr. Thomas obtained his medical degree from the University of Bombay, India in 1975 and graduated in 1982 from the Urology residency program at Tulane. He completed a fellowship program at the Tulane Primate Center co-sponsored by the [American Urological Association](/org/american-urological-association) and the [National Kidney Foundation](/org/national-kidney-foundation).

Dr. Thomas has the distinction of introducing urologic laparoscopy in 1991 and was the first surgeon to perform robotic surgery in the entire Gulf South in 2002. He also rescued and rebuilt the Department of Urology at [Tulane University](/org/tulane-university) following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Dr. Thomas’ career highlights include the Presidency of the AUA Southeastern Section and being the recipient of the AUA Distinguished Service Award in 2016. He has been a member of the AUA since 1986.

Raju Thomas

Mr. Sheppard is a business professional with over 25 years of corporate leadership experience. As the Chief Executive Officer of the AUA, he is responsible for AUA's four corporate entities including the Urology Care Foundation, AUA’s official foundation for urologic patient education and research. In over 23 years with the AUA, Mr. Sheppard has held several executive level positions and has served as AUA's CEO since 2005. Prior to joining the AUA, Mr. Sheppard served in senior level business positions at USF&G Realty Advisors, Inc. as a real estate portfolio controller, and C.W. Amos and Company, LLC as a senior independent public auditor. In addition, Mr. Sheppard is a retiree of the U.S. Naval Reserves Service. He has numerous professional affiliations, including memberships with the American Society of Association Executives, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Greater Washington Society of Association Executives and Institute of Management Accountants Association. Mr. Sheppard received his MBA from Loyola College's Sellinger School. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Association Executive. Mr. Sheppard is the recipient of several awards, including many military honors. He has written a number of published articles and participates on several committees for medical-related organizations, including a past Treasurer and Board member of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies.

Michael Sheppard

Dana Hamer

Dr. Reza Ghavamian joins the Board as the New York Section Representative. Dr. Ghavamian is a past president of the New York Section, and is a graduate of the AUA's Leadership Program. He is the Eastern Regional Director of Urology for [Northwell Health](/org/northwell-health-inc) in New York, a Professor of Urology at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Chairman of Urology at Northwell's Huntington Hospital.

Reza Ghavamian

Thomas F. Stringer, MD joins the AUA Board as Treasurer-elect this year, having previously served as the Board's Southeastern Section Representative. He is a past president of both the Southeastern Section and the Florida Urological Society and will assume the position of AUA Treasurer in 2021. Dr. Stringer is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Urology at the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) (UF) in Gainesville and also serves as Associate Chairman of Philanthropy and Alumni Affairs.

Thomas F. Stringer

James Ulchaker, MD joins the Board as the North Central Section Representative. Dr. Ulchaker is a past president of the North Central Section, the Ohio Urological Society and the Cleveland Urological Society. Dr. Ulchaker also served as the 2011 AUA Gallagher Health Policy Scholar. He is the Vice-Chairman of the Department of Urology at the [Cleveland Clinic](/org/cleveland-clinic).

James C. Ulchaker

John Denstedt, MD graduated from medical school in 1982 at The University of Western Ontario in London, Canada. He completed his residency in Urology at Western between 1983 and 1987 followed by a fellowship in Endourology at Washington University in St. Louis. He returned to London and joined the Division of Urology in the Department of Surgery at Western in 1990.

In July 2002 he assumed the role of City-Wide Chair and Chief of the Department of Surgery at [Western University](/org/western-university) and served in this role for 14 years. Dr. Denstedt is a Past Chair of the Canadian Association of Surgical Chairs. He completed a 10-year term as Treasurer of the Endourological Society in 2018.

While maintaining an active clinical practice, Dr. Denstedt is an internationally renowned scholar in urology with career accomplishments encompassing over 250 published papers and book chapters, more than 400 guest professorships in countries throughout the world and numerous honors and awards including being the ﬁrst Canadian to have won the Gold Cystoscope Award from the AUA in 1998. In 2019, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Endourological Society. Dr. Denstedt has served on the Editorial Board of eight major journals in Urology and is the immediate past Executive Editor of the Journal of Endourology. He has been a member of the AUA since 1991.

John D. Denstedt

Heather Corkin

Randall B. Meacham, MD is Professor and Chief of the Division of Urology and Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from [Baylor College of Medicine](/org/baylor-college-of-medicine) where he went on to complete his urology residency, as well as a fellowship in male reproductive medicine and surgery. He joined the faculty at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 1990 and has been Chief of the Division of Urology since 2001. Dr. Meacham's primary area of clinical and academic activity is the evaluation and treatment of male infertility, with a focus on microsurgical reconstruction. He is a nationally recognized specialist in urologic microsurgery and maintains a large referral practice in the management of male reproductive disorders.

Randall B. Meacham

Damara Kaplan, MD, PhD is an attending physician in the urology division of the New Mexico Cancer Center. After earning her PhD in Pharmaceutical Science with an emphasis in renal toxicology, Dr. Kaplan attended the University of New Mexico Medical School. She completed her urology residency in 2001 at the University of New Mexico. Upon graduation, she started a solo practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She then became one of the founding members of Albuquerque Urology Associates, the largest independent urology practice in New Mexico.

Damara Kaplan

David F. Penson, MD is the Hamilton and Howd Chair in Urologic Oncology, Director of the Center for Surgical Quality and Outcomes Research and Professor and Chair, Department of Urology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He obtained his MD from [Boston University](/org/boston-university) and completed his urology residency at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. He then was awarded a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar fellowship at [Yale University](/org/yale-university) and also obtained an MPH at Yale. He currently maintains a clinical practice in urologic oncology at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. 

David F. Penson

Raj Manocha has joined the organization as Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), reporting directly to Chief Executive Officer, Michael T. Sheppard, CPA, CAE.

Mr. Manocha is responsible for developing and driving the Association’s global technology roadmap and agenda, including the introduction of new programs relating to infrastructure and security, online and digital strategy, business analysis and project management, as well as information systems and application development.

Mr. Manocha, who brings more than 20 years of technical expertise and innovation most recently served as Director of Applications for the Maryland Department of Human Services where he developed, deployed and implemented the public-facing Total Human-services Integrated Network (MD THINK), a first-in-the-nation cloud-based platform that enables multiple state agencies to deliver integrated health and human services programs to the state’s most vulnerable residents. Prior to working for the State of Maryland, Mr. Manocha led the global technical services, delivery, and operations, at Iron Bow Technologies and for Ciber at the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

Raj Manocha

Kathleen Shanley joined the AUA in 2012. She serves as the Executive Vice President of Public Policy & Advocacy with almost 30 years of executive-level association experience. Prior to the AUA, she spent 16 years at the American Medical Directors Association and 6 years at the American Institute for Ultrasound in Medicine. Dr. Shanley’s primary focus is on strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, government relations, and policy analysis. She has managed societies’ House of Delegates, AMA RUC and CPT strategy, public relations, publications, and state and component relations.

She previously served as both a consultant and a Deputy Director at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), where she was awarded the CMS Administrator’s Award for exceptional performance in implementing the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes. She is an International Coach Federation credentialed associate coach and a certified association executive.

Kathleen Shanley

American Urological Association's Board of Directors includes Reza Ghavamian and 13 others.

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