Award Winners at 2024 USANZ Section Meetings

With the 2024 USANZ Section Meetings now wrapped up, we would like to congratulate the following award recipients who were acknowledged at their respective meetings in October and November.

USANZ would also like to thank all those who attended the Section Meetings, promoting a sense of collegiality and connection amongst the membership.
 

Victoria

The 2024 USANZ Victorian Section Meeting was held on Friday 11 October at the Collins Square Events Centre in Melbourne. This year the meeting was organised by Dr George Mirmilstein (Urology Program Convenor) and Teresa Smilovic (Nurses' Program Convenor).

The Peter Lawson Award for the Best Victorian Registrar was presented to USANZ Member Dr Niranjan Sathianathen. With this award, Niranjan received a prize of $1000 and a trophy.

The Best Podium Presentation was awarded to Mohammadmehdi Adhami for his presentation on "Oncological Outcomes Post Focal Low-DoseRate Brachytherapy for Low-Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer – Results from Australia’s LIBERATE Registry."

The Best Poster Presentation was awarded to Ming Hei Fu for "Utility of PSMA PET/CT for Staging of Favourable Risk Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer."

Congratulations Niranjan, Mohammadmehdi, and Ming Hei!

 

Aotearoa New Zealand

The 2024 USANZ Aotearora New Zealand Section Meeting was held at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington from 30 October to 1 November. USANZ Conference Convenors Dr Omid Yassaie and Rod Studd were joined by NZUNS Convenors Shelley De Boer and Robert Hale.

Two JMO Awards (sponsored by Mobile Medical) were presented. On the Thursday, the award was presented to Khi Yung Fong, who presented on "Deferred Cytoreductive Nephrectomy in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Systemic Review and Patient-Level Meta-Analysis." The Friday award was presented to Viktoriya Boncheva-Henderson, whose paper title was "Positive Surgical Margins are a Strong Predictor for Biochemical Recurrences of Prostate Cancer following Robotic Prostatectomy."

The Trainee Award (sponsored by Tristel) was presented to USANZ Member Dr Christian Robinson for his presentation about "Standardised MDM Assessment for Stress Urinary Incontinence."

Congratulations Khi Yung, Viktoriya and Christian!

 

Northern

Convened by A/Prof Devang Desai, the 2024 USANZ Northern Section Meeting was held at the Burke & Wills Hotel in Toowoomba, Queensland from 1–3 November.

The Frank Gardiner Award for Best Registrar/PHO Presentation was awarded to Madeline Bain. Congratulations!

As the winner of the Frank Gardiner Award, Madeline received a grant of $2,500 towards the cost of attending the USANZ ASM.

 

South Australia and Northern Territory

The 2024 USANZ South Australia and Northern Territory Section Meeting was held on Saturday 2 November at the Marriott Hotel in Adelaide. The Meeting Convenor was Dr Matthew Hong.

The winner of the St Paul's Ball Prize for Best Presentation by a USANZ Member was Urology Registrar Dr James Kovacic. James presented on Uromune in recurrent UTI.

A further award was presented to USANZ Member Dr Michael O'Callaghan for the best presentation at the Meeting.

Congratulations James and Michael!

 

New South Wales

The 2024 USANZ New South Wales Section Meeting was held at the Orange Ex Services Club from 7–9 November. The Meeting Convenor A/Prof Clair Whelan, was joined by the Scientific Program Chair, Dr Nicholas Mehan.

Congratulations to USANZ Member Dr Varun Bhoopathy, recipient of the George Schnitzler Award for Best Registrar of 2024.

The Chris Farrell Award for Best Registrar Presentation was awarded to Dr Zoe Williams for her presentation on the "Urological manifestations of Stevens–Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis and their management: a scoping review". Congratulations Zoe!

Prof Prem Rashid supplied these photographs of Zoe (with Scientific Program Chair, Nicholas Mehan) and Varun (with Mohan Arianayagam, Deputy Chair of the NSW/ACT Regional Training Committee).

 

Western Australia

The 2024 USANZ Western Australia Section Meeting was held at Rendezvous Scarborough, Perth from 8–9 November, convened by Dr Isaac Thyer.

This year there was a tie for the England-Watson Prize. Congratulations to Ashley Lee and USANZ Member Dr Bradley Reynolds. Ashley spoke on "Carbon Footprint of Transperineal Prostate Biopsy. A Real-World Australian Perspective Comparing the Outpatient versus the Operating Theatre Clinical Setting." Bradley's paper was entitled "ROBOT-WARS: Robotic-Assisted Surgery Among Western Australian Urology Registrars: A Statewide Survey."

Congratulations to both Ashley and Bradley!

 

Tasmania

Convened by Dr Anthony Eaton, the 2024 USANZ Tasmanian Section Meeting was held at Hobart Rydges from 15–16 November.

Congratulations to USANZ Member Dr Catalina Palma, winner of the Robbie Roberts Prize for the Best Registrar Presentation. Catalina's paper was entitled "Evaluation of techniques for controlled cutting of the Resonance ureteral stent: Options for management of severe stent encrustation." With this prize, Catalina will receive $2,500 towards expenses to attend the USANZ ASM in 2025. Congratulations Catalina!

Two highly commended prizes were awarded to Alice Thomson and Bodie Chislett.

Thank you to Dr Victor Ilie for sending through this picture of Catalina and Anthony.