Beginning January 1, 2026, the American Urological Association (AUA) is excited to share that we are building upon our policy and advocacy efforts by launching the Coalition for Urologic Patients (CUP). The CUP will serve as the coalition arm of the AUA to organize patient organizations and specialty societies within the urologic community to build consensus, lobby, and collaborate on public policy and advocacy initiatives at the federal and state levels. 

The Coalition for Urologic Patients (CUP) unites patient advocates and physicians to advocate for policies that lower the barriers that limit urologic patients from accessing and choosing treatments, improve the coordination of care of urologic diseases, and increase research funding for urologic diseases. By speaking with one collective voice, we aim to make sure that decisions made by policymakers reflect the experiences and priorities of the urologic patient community. 

The CUP is free to join and open to any organization (patient, physician, member society, etc.) that focuses on any urologic condition or disease (women’s health, prostate, kidney, men’s health, bladder, etc.) that wishes to advocate on public policy issues impacting urology. The CUP will elevate our ongoing patient advocacy work, including direct federal and state lobbying, leading policy stakeholder letters, regulatory advocacy, organizing grassroots campaigns, and submitting oral and written testimonies to Congress. Members of the CUP will also be invited to join the Patient Advocacy Connections Program (PACP), which is an event held the day before the AUA Summit where patients receive patient-centered advocacy training in preparation for meetings with lawmakers during the Summit.