Eugene Y. Rhee, MD, MBA

PRESIDENT, 5/19/2026 – 5/24/2027

Dr. Eugene Rhee holds dual leadership roles as National Chair of Urology for Kaiser Permanente, where he oversees the delivery of urologic care to 12 million lives within the United States' largest nonprofit managed healthcare system and Area Assistant Medical Director for Business Line & Finance for Kaiser Permanente, San Diego. He earned his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in biology and political science from Emory University and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Clinically, Dr. Rhee is a specialist in incontinence, urologic reconstruction, sexual medicine, and minimally invasive treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In addition to his clinical practice, he holds device patents in the field of urology, reflecting his commitment to advancing the science of care through innovation and technology.

Dr. Rhee is a dedicated leader in urological health policy and scholarly work. He served as the inaugural Section Editor for health policy at Urology Practice and is a graduate of both the AUA Leadership Program and the AUA Gallagher Health Policy Scholar program. His leadership includes tenure as AUA Public Policy Chair (2020–2024) and key roles on committees for federal advocacy, workforce planning, electronic health records and telemedicine. He currently serves as the Immediate Past President of the AUA Western Section. Dr. Rhee has been a member of the AUA since 1996.

Dr. Rhee served as AUA Public Policy Chair (2020-2024). He was also a graduate of the AUA Leadership Program and a distinguished AUA Gallagher Health Policy Scholar. Dr. Rhee has been a member of the AUA since 1996.

Thomas F. Stringer, MD, FACS

PRESIDENT-ELECT, 5/19/2026 – 5/24/2027

Dr. Thomas Stringer is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Urology at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He served until recently as the Associate Chairman of Philanthropy and Alumni Affairs and as the inaugural President of the Alumni Society known as the Urogators since 2007. Dr. Stringer received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his medical degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He completed his residency in surgery and urology at the UF College of Medicine in 1980. Following a fellowship in Uro-oncology, he began private practice in Inverness, Florida which over several years expanded to a four-county group practice of 17 urologists. He served the group as managing partner and was the inaugural Chief Medical Officer for Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness. After decades as an adjunct professor at his training institute, he returned to UF urology full-time in 2011 as medical director and subsequent interim Chairman.

Dr. Stringer is Past-President the AUA Southeastern Section (2009 - 2010) and the Florida Urological Society (2006 - 2007). He served on the AUA's Finance Committee as Chairman as well as the Bylaws and Investment Committees. He served as the Southeastern Section representative to the AUA Board of Directors (2014 – 2019) and as AUA Treasurer (2020-2025). He is a past contributing author to the AUA's Core Curriculum and was co-author of “The Complete Business Guide for a Successful Medical Practice”. Dr. Stringer served several years as the Director for the AUA Annual Meeting course on Physician Contract Negotiation for Employment and Ownership. In June of 2016, Dr. Stringer was honored with the UF Department of Urology Resident Teaching Award. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Urological Society in 2021. He was awarded the AUA's prestigious Presidential Citation in 2010. He writes and lectures nationally on the business of urology. He has been a member of the AUA since 1984.

Lane S. Palmer, MD, FACS, FSPU

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT, 5/19/2026 – 5/24/2027

Dr. Lane Palmer is Professor of Urology and Pediatrics at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and Chief Emeritus of Pediatric Urology at Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York at Northwell Health. He received his undergraduate education at Columbia University and then his medical school education at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He remained in the Bronx at Montefiore Medical Center for his 2 years of general surgery and his urology residency. This was followed by a 2-year fellowship in pediatric urology at Children’s Memorial Medical Center in Chicago (currently Lurie Children’s). He returned to New York in 1997 and served as Chief of Pediatric Urology and as Pediatric Urology Fellowship Program Director since 2003.

He has authored of over 150 peer-reviewed articles and 29 book chapters. Dr. Palmer has trained 19 fellows, and successfully mentored 16 urology residents in careers in pediatric urology; he was twice named Outstanding Teacher Award of the Northwell Health System. He served as President of the Council of Pediatric Urology Fellowship Program Directors and twice served on the ACGME Pediatric Urology Milestone Development Committee. Dr. Palmer worked with the American Board of Urology to develop the oversight process of the non-clinical fellowship year which was subsequently adopted by the ACGME. He served as Secretary and then President of the Societies for Pediatric Urology during which time he led the reorganization of the SPU. Dr. Palmer has also served as a Governor of the American College of Surgeons.

At the AUA, Dr. Palmer has served as Chair of the AUA-SPU Task Force on Intersex and Transgenderism, which has been instrumental in deterring efforts in passing legislation that would ban surgery on children with Intersex conditions during childhood. He also Chaired the Pediatric Sections of both the AUA National Urology Ultrasound Faculty and the Core Curriculum. In addition, he has volunteered extensively on AUA Committees, editorial boards, guidelines and as course director for educational programs. Dr. Palmer is a Past-President of the AUA New York Section. In 2024, he received an AUA Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Palmer has been a member of the AUA since 1997.

David F. Penson, MD, MPH, MMHC

SECRETARY, 5/2/2023 – 5/24/2027

Dr. David Penson 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 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 and also obtained an MPH at Yale. He currently maintains a clinical practice in urologic oncology at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. 

Dr. Penson’s specific research interests include the comparative effectiveness of treatment options in localized prostate cancer and the impact of the disease and its treatment on patients’ quality of life. He has received federal grant funding from the National Cancer Institute, the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. He previously chaired the National Institutes of Health’s Health Services Outcomes and Delivery (HSOD) study section, which reviews almost all health services research grant submitted to the NIH.

Dr. Penson served as AUA Public Policy Chair (2012-2016) and AUA Science & Quality Chair (2018-2022). He has been a member of the AUA since 1997.

Victor W. Nitti, MD

SECRETARY-ELECT, 5/19/2026 – 5/24/2027

Dr. Victor Nitti is Professor of Urology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Administrative Chief of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS) and Fellowship Director for that ACGME accredited program. Dr. Nitti also holds the Shlomo Raz Chair in Urology. He completed undergraduate education at the University of Rochester and received his medical degree and Rutgers New Jersey Medical. He completed his urology residency at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, NY and then completed a fellowship in female urology, neurourology and reconstructive urology at UCLA. Prior to coming to UCLA, Dr. Nitti was Professor of Urology and Obstetrics and Gynecology and Vice Chairman of Urology at New York University Langone Medical Center where he was also the URPS fellowship director. He is an authority in urodynamic techniques, medical and surgical therapies for urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, female pelvic reconstructive surgery and voiding dysfunction.

Dr Nitti served six years as AUA Education Chair and possesses a deep knowledge of current trends and developments in urology with significant contributions made to AUA’s scientific programs and educational services during his tenure as Education Chair. His leadership experience in high level organizational governance includes service as Secretary of the New York Section of the AUA and as the President of the Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction.   He has also served as program director for ACGME accredited programs in urology and Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS) at two different academic institutions.

In 2015 he received the AUA Victor Politano Award for expertise in urodynamics, therapies for urinary incontinence, female pelvic reconstruction and voiding dysfunction.  He has been a member of the AUA since 1994.

Jennifer U. Miles-Thomas, MD, MBA

TREASURER, 4/30/2025 – 4/30/2029

Dr. Jennifer Miles-Thomas is the Vice Chair of Regional Integration and Innovation in the Department of Urology at Northwestern Medicine. She previously served as President and CEO of Urology of Virginia and as Medical Director of the Pelvic Health program at Chesapeake Regional Healthcare. Dr. Miles-Thomas specializes in female reconstructive surgery, pelvic prolapse, incontinence, complex urinary disorders, and neurologically related urinary conditions . Eager to expand her leadership and strategic acumen, she earned an completed her MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2024.

In addition to her clinical and administrative roles, Dr. Miles-Thomas is deeply involved with the AUA.  She has served as a mentor in the AUA Leadership Program, contributed to the AUA Leadership & Business Education Committee, hosted multiple AUA podcasts focused on the Business of Urology and sat on the Mid-Atlantic AUA Board of Directors.  Dr. Miles-Thomas has been a member of the AUA since 2005.

Arthur L. Burnett II, MD, MBA

MID-ATLANTIC SECTION REPRESENTATIVE, 5/7/2024 – 5/22/2028

Dr. Arthur Burnett is the Professor of Urology and Director of the Basic Science Laboratory in Neuro-urology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Burnett received his undergraduate degree in biology from Princeton University and his medical degree at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in surgery, and subsequently residency and fellowship in urology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Dr. Burnett is recognized as a world-authority in the science and medicine of male erection disorders and has contributed several original discoveries which substantiated the clinical development of oral medications to treat erectile dysfunction.  His areas of expertise include prostate cancer, lower genitourinary tract malignancies and reconstruction, erection disorders, penile abnormalities and female urology.

Dr. Burnett served as a member of the Urology Care Foundation Board and served as the Chair of the Foundation’s Reproductive and Sexual Health Committee.  He served as a member of the AUA Research Council and was a Leadership Program Mentor.  He also served as the chair of AUA’s Erectile Dysfunction Guideline Panel, the Patient Care Section Editor for Urology Practice, and Assistant Editor for The Journal of Urology.  Dr. Burnett received the Hugh Hampton Young Award in 2022 and a Distinguished Service Award in 2018 from the AUA for his career achievements. Dr. Burnett has been a member of the AUA since 1990.

Adam S. Kibel, MD, MHCM

NEW ENGLAND SECTION REPRESENTATIVE, 4/30/2025 – 5/24/2027*

Dr. Adam Kibel is the Chair of Urology at Mass General Brigham, the Elliott Carr Cutler Professor of Surgery at Harvard University, the DiNovi Chair of Urology at BWH, the Chair of the Harvard Residency Program (BWH) and Disease Center co-leader of the Dana Farber GU Oncology Program.  He received his B.A and M.D. from Cornell University in 1987 and 1991 respectively.  He then completed his residency at Harvard Program in Urology (Longwood) in 1997 and a fellowship in Urologic Oncology at Johns Hopkins in 1999.  In 2022, he received a Master’s in Health Care in Administration from Harvard University.

His practice focuses on minimally invasive approaches to urologic cancers.  He has over 450 peer reviewed publications and has grant support from multiple agencies including the National Cancer Institute, American Urologic Association, American College of Surgeons and the Department of Defense. The focus of his research is on identification and treatment of patients with lethal prostate cancer though neoadjuvant therapy, improved imaging and novel biomarkers. 

He has served in many leadership positions include serving on the AUA Quality Council, the NCCN-Prostate Screening Guidelines Committee, the NCI Genitourinary Trial Steering Committee, the CALGB Executive Committee and President Elect of the Society of Urologic Oncology. He has been a member of the AUA since 1997.

Jay A. Motola, MD

NEW YORK SECTION REPRESENTATIVE, 5/7/2024 – 5/22/2028

Dr. Jay Motola is a Professor of Urology at the NYU Langone School of Medicine (clinical). He received his medical degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He completed his residency at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center. After completing his residency, he joined a private practice in northern Westchester and Putnam Counties in NY. After 18 years, he returned to academic medicine.

Dr. Motola has been involved with resident education and served as a site director at Mount Sinai for 8 years prior to joining NYU Langone. He is a general urologist with clinical interests including Endourology, BPH, incontinence and prosthetics. He has co-authored numerous manuscripts on BPH and stone disease.

Dr. Motola is presently the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) alternate advisor to the AMA Editorial Panel on CPT. He is a Past President of the New York Section of the AUA. He served as Chair of the Practice Management Committee for six years and served as a member of the Public Policy Council and Coding & Reimbursement Committees.  Dr. Motola has been a member of the AUA since 1995.

Tobias S. Köhler, MD, MPH

NORTH CENTRAL SECTION REPRESENTATIVE, 5/7/2024 – 5/22/2028

Dr. Tobias Köhler is a Professor of Urology and specializes in the treatment of sexual dysfunction, and BPH (enlarged prostate) in the Department of Urology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He is head of Mayo Men’s health and program director for the Mayo Andrology Fellowship. He received his undergraduate, medical degree, Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Urology Specialty Training all from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.  This was followed by an andrology fellowship at Northwestern School of Medicine in Chicago. Dr. Köhler spent his first nine years of academic practice at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois rising to Full Professor before matriculating back to his home state of Minnesota.

Dr. Köhler has published more than 300 peer reviewed scientific articles, book chapters and scientific abstracts and presented both locally and nationally on various subjects including erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, BPH, priapism, surgical education, and penile prostheses.

Dr. Köhler is an active member of American Urological Association, North Central Section, and is the current President of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America.  He previously served as Chair of AUA’s Public Media Committee and is a graduate of AUA’s Leadership Program.  He has also contributed as a member of AUA’s BPH and Priapism Guidelines. Dr. Köhler has been a member of the AUA since 2009.

Ronald P. Kaufman Jr., MD

NORTHEASTERN SECTION REPRESENTATIVE, 4/30/2025 - 5/24/2027*

Dr. Ronald Kaufman is a Professor of Surgery in the Department of Urology at Albany Medical College in Albany, New York.  He received his undergraduate degree from Trinity College and his medical degree at George Washington University. He completed his internship and residency in surgery at Case Western Reserve-Integrated Hospitals of Cleveland, a research fellowship at The Harvard Medical School-Brigham and Women's Hospital and his Urology residency at Duke University.  He then joined the faculty at Albany Medical College.  Early in his career he was the Interim Chair of the Division of Urology.  Recently he briefly was a medical director with Neotract / Teleflex. He currently maintains a practice primarily in urologic oncology. He is the author of 200 peer-reviewed articles.

 Dr. Kaufman was a member of the inaugural AUA Leadership Program in 2004.  He has served on numerous AUA committees, including Chair of the AUA Coding and Reimbursement Committee and service as a consultant to the AMA Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel.  He is a past president of the New York State Urological Society and the Northeastern Section of the AUA. Dr. Kaufman has been a member of the AUA since 1995.

Tomas L. Griebling, MD, MPH, FACS

SOUTH CENTRAL SECTION REPRESENTATIVE, 5/19/2026 – 5/22/2028*

Dr. Tomas Griebling is the John P. Wolf 33° Masonic Distinguished Professor of Urology and is also a Faculty Associate in the Landon Center on Aging at the University of Kansas. During his more than 20 years at the KU School of Medicine. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, Summa Cum Laude, from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa with majors in biology, chemistry, and sociology. A graduate of the University of Iowa College of Medicine, he completed his urology resident training and a two-year fellowship in Geriatric and Reconstructive Urology, Urodynamic and Outcomes Research, also at Iowa. This was funded by a Research Scholar grant award from the AUA. He earned his Master of Public Health degree from the University of Kansas. He is certified in both general urology and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery by the American Board of Urology, and holds Fellow designation in the American College of Surgeons (FACS), the Gerontological Society of America (FGSA), and the American Geriatrics Society (AGSF), and is certified in public health by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (CPH).

Dr. Griebling is recognized for his expertise in the area of aging and urologic health and recently served as Editor-in-Chief for Geriatric Urology (Springer), the first comprehensive textbook on the topic published in 19 years. He is Past-President of the AUA South Central Section, President of the Geriatric Urological Society (GUS), and Past-Chair of the Health Sciences Section of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). Dr. Griebling has served several times on committees for the International Consultations on Incontinence (ICI) and co-chaired a committee for the recent International Consultation on Urologic Disease on Neurogenic Bladder focused on urologic health in geriatric patients with spinal cord injuries. He has chaired and/or been a faculty member on multiple plenary sessions, workshops and courses related to various aspects of geriatric urology for the AUA, the International Continence Society and the Société Internationale d’Urologie. He serves on the Editorial Boards of several urologic journals receiving numerous awards as an outstanding peer reviewer along with several citations for outstanding editorial work. He has also served several terms as a member of the Education Committee for the American Geriatrics Society and chaired the AUA Public Media Committee. He is the recipient of numerous awards including a 2017 AUA Distinguished Service Award for his work in the field of geriatric urology. He has been a member of the AUA since 1997.

Glenn M. Preminger, MD, FACS

SOUTHEASTERN SECTION REPRESENTATIVE, 1/7/2023 - 5/24/2027

Dr. Glenn Preminger is the James F. Glenn Distinguished Professor of Urologic Surgery at Duke University Medical Center. He received his medical degree from New York Medical College and urologic training at the University of North Carolina. He was an AUA Scholar in Mineral Metabolism at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, concentrating on the medical management of nephrolithiasis.

His clinical interests include the minimally invasive management of urinary tract stones including SWL, percutaneous and ureteroscopic stone removal. He directs the metabolic evaluation and preventative medical treatment offered at the Duke Comprehensive Kidney Stone Center.  He has extensive experience in developing endoscopic instrumentation for minimally invasive urologic procedures and holds nine patents in SWL design.  He has published more than 360 manuscripts, 100 book chapters and 10 books.

Dr. Preminger’s career highlights include activities on multiple committees and guideline panels, including Co-Chair of the AUA / EAU Guidelines Panel from 2003 – 2012 and Chair of the AUA Office of Education from 2006 to 2009. He also received the AUA Residents Committee Teaching Award in 2008, the AUA Flannigan Education Award in 2015, was the AUA John K. Latimer Lecturer in 2021, received the AUA Ramon Guiteras Award in 2022, the AUA Urology Care Foundation Distinguished Scholar Alumnus Award in 2022, and is currently the Secretary/Treasurer for the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons. Dr. Preminger has been a member of the AUA since 1986.

Christopher R. Porter, MD, FACS

WESTERN SECTION REPRESENTATIVE, 5/2/2023 - 5/27/2027

Dr. Christopher Porter is on staff at Ali’i Health in Kona Hawaii.   He was Clinical Professor of Urology at the University of Washington (retired) and previously was the Director of the Urologic Oncology Fellowship. In addition, he serves as the Medical Director for Research for VMFH. He graduated from the University of Michigan with degrees in Microbiology and Philosophy and received his medical degree from Rush University in Chicago, surgical training in urology at Brown and completed his Fellowship in Urologic Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering. During his fellowship Dr. Porter worked closely with Dr Fair, investigating novel methods of prostate cancer detection. This work spurned his interests in prostate cancer imaging and led to him participating and Chairing the Urologic Diagnostic and Therapeutic Imaging Committee at the AUA.

Dr. Porter joined the faculty at Georgetown after his Fellowship, before moving to Seattle to join the faculty at Virginia Mason in 2002. Chris has had a lasting passion for research having authored more than 100 peer reviewed manuscripts and book chapters on prostate cancer, diagnostic imaging and testicular cancer. Chris has won a number of awards and honors, including the AUA Leadership Award, Outstanding Service Award at the Western Section AUA and served as Western Section President. Dr. Porter has been an AUA member since 1999.

Michael T. Sheppard, CPA, CAE

Chief Executive Officer

Mike Sheppard is a seasoned business executive with over 35 years of corporate leadership experience. As the Chief Executive Officer of the AUA, he oversees its four corporate entities including the AUA’s Political Action Committee and the Urology Care Foundation. During his 30 years of tenure with the AUA, Mr. Sheppard held various executive leadership roles and has served as its CEO since 2005.

Before joining the AUA, Mr. Sheppard held senior-level positions at USF&G Realty Advisors, Inc. as a real estate portfolio controller, and at C.W. Amos and Company, LLC as a senior independent public auditor. He is also a retiree of the U.S. Naval Reserves.

Mr. Sheppard is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the Specialty Societies CEO Coalition, the American Society of Association Executives, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives and the Institute of Management Accountants. He earned his MBA from Loyola College's Sellinger School of Business and Management.

A recipient of numerous honors, including several military awards. Mr. Sheppard is also an active contributor to the medical field.  He has published numerous articles and serves on several committees for medical organizations.  Additionally, he is a Past President of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies and a Board member of Verana Health.