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Urology Scientific Mentoring and Research Training (USMART) Program
The Urology Scientific Mentoring and Research Training (USMART) program provides a mechanism for creative interactions across the AUA, between fifteen early-career mentees and established physician, physician-scientist, and researcher mentors. The USMART program offers invaluable support, as each mentoring relationship aims to accelerate the mentee’s professional growth, research collaborations, and career-building opportunities beyond their local environment.
With renowned mentors in academic, community practice, and industry settings whose combined expertise spans across the Basic, Translational, Clinical, and Outcomes research fields, the comprehensive nature of the USMART program ensures that every mentee is set up for success and able to obtain their goals.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the 2026 USMART program, applicants must:
- Be an AUA-member in good standing.
- Be affiliated with an institution located within the within the boundaries of the AUA Sections.
- Be able to commit 1-2 hours per month for one year (via phone, video conference, or in-person interactions) to participate in the program.
- MD (or equivalent) Degree Candidate Eligibility:
Applicants must be within eight (8) years of completing ACGME (or equivalent) residency training. Thus, current ACGME residents are not eligible, while current ACGME and non-ACGME clinical fellows are eligible.
- PhD (or equivalent) Degree Candidate Eligibility:
Applicants must be within ten (10) years of completing terminal degree.
- Other Important Eligibility Criteria:
For applicants holding dual MD and PhD degrees, the above eligibility criteria most applicable to the applicant is permissible for consideration.
- Have a strong, demonstrable commitment to a future career as a urology physician, physician-scientist, or researcher.
The AUA Office of Research does not provide administrative scheduling services between mentors and mentees.
Applications for the 2026 USMART Program are due by Monday, December 15, 2025.
This is not a travel award. The AUA does not provide any travel funding for this program.
Please refer to the 2026 USMART Call for Applications [pdf] for important dates.
Program Impact
Established in 2018, USMART is proud to have served as an integral career development mechanism for many of urology's rising clinician-investigator and scientific leaders. Program alumni have proudly produced:
