2026 APP Forum-Part 1

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The forum opened with welcoming remarks from LACPA leaders emphasizing the long-planned effort to create a space for advanced practice providers (APPs) in urology to share ideas, build common ground, and strengthen collaboration with physicians. Leaders highlighted the important contributions of key organizers and mentors, including Dr. Jeffrey Speer and Dr. Michael Dittmer, and celebrated examples of successful physician-APP partnerships.<br /><br />The first major presentation focused on an APP-led bladder cancer pathway at West Virginia University. The speaker described how a severe urology staffing shortage forced the team to redesign workflow so APPs could manage hematuria referrals, cystoscopy, pathology review, and many nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer cases at the top of their license. The model uses clear guardrails, telemedicine, rapid access, and close physician backup to reduce delays, keep care local, and preserve surgeon time for more complex cases such as cystectomy and muscle-invasive disease. The talk also previewed newer treatments like TAR-200 (“the pretzel”) and emphasized that APP-driven care can safely expand access when supported by guidelines, training, and champions.<br /><br />The second presentation covered sexual medicine and infertility care, especially women’s sexual health. The speaker explained a biopsychosocial approach to sexual dysfunction, including desire, arousal, pain, orgasm disorders, pelvic floor issues, and hormonal factors. She highlighted the importance of education, normalizing symptoms, careful exam of the clitoral and vestibular anatomy, and treatments such as vaginal estrogen, testosterone, flibanserin, bremelanotide, laser therapy, and pelvic floor therapy. She also briefly reviewed men’s sexual health, erectile dysfunction, testosterone management, and male infertility workups.<br /><br />Overall, the forum stressed mentorship, scope-of-practice awareness, training, and the value of APPs as essential partners in modern urology.

Keywords

advanced practice providers

urology

Diane Newman

pelvic floor dysfunction

urinary incontinence

bladder health

bladder training

digital exam

patient assessment

APP training

urology curriculum

billing and coding

procedural training

workplace culture

urology collaboration

bladder cancer pathway

APP-led care

hematuria referrals

cystoscopy workflow

staffing shortage

telemedicine

sexual medicine

women's sexual health

male infertility

mentorship