Dear colleagues,

I hope the summer has started off well for everyone. 2015 was a good year for UAB Urology, starting with exceptional lectures from our own and visiting faculty at the Gulf Coast Urology Seminar in Sandestin, Florida. Dr. J. Patrick Selph, after finishing his fellowship in genitourinary cancer survivorship, joined the faculty in July. In October, Dr. Joseph was the first urologist in the history of the award to win the Wallace Alexander Clyde Distinguished Service Award for Excellence in Pediatrics from the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. And, last but not least, we recently matched three accomplished medical students from Baylor, Kansas, and UAB to join our program this summer. We also look forward to adding two new faculty in July -- Dr. Pankaj Dangle to our pediatric urology faculty, and Dr. Kyle Wood will be starting as an assistant professor and Urology Care Foundation grant recipient.

We are writing to ask for your help and participation in a survey of urology programs in the U.S. conducted by Doximity. U.S. News is using Doximity.com to conduct its survey of Urology programs (and other medical programs) with regards to: 1) Best Hospitals (Urology) (this is the conventional ranking they have done for many years); and, 2) Best Urology Training Programs (a new ranking performed in the late fall). Part of the Hospital rankings (number 1 above) includes a reputation score, and Doximity sends out solicited emails for your opinion on our program. If you sign up for Doximity, you may receive an invitation asking you to rate our program, and we would certainly appreciate your support.

While the survey will not come out again until winter, it is most helpful if you are already signed up for Doximity when the invitations are sent out. When the survey is sent out, you can participate in this important survey by downloading the Doximity app for your computer or phone (https://www.doximity.com) and then submitting your nomination.

Last year, UAB Urology was ranked one of the top 10 urology residency programs in the South. This recognition affirms our department’s culture and dedication to education. We are fortunate to be able to recruit outstanding residents and we are grateful for this recognition from our peer physicians in the Doximity network.

We would appreciate your consideration of signing up on Doximity.com, and, if given the opportunity, listing UAB Urology. We hope that your participation in these surveys will affirm our proud tradition of providing exceptional training in urology – past, present, and future.