BALTIMORE, March 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the American Urological Association (AUA) announced its Board of Directors has approved Steven Kaplan, MD, FACS, of Mount Sinai Health System as the new Chair of the AUA Office of Research. Dr. Kaplan will assume the role of Chair-elect on June 1, 2020 and Chair on June 1, 2021.

As Research Chair, Dr. Kaplan will provide strategic oversight of the AUA Office of Research, as well as the research component of the Urology Care Foundation, the official Foundation of the AUA. Dr. Kaplan will also work to advance research across the full spectrum of urologic disease, as well as increase and diversify funding opportunities worldwide. Further, he will also help to develop and implement new initiatives to facilitate the advancement of urologic research and reduce the burden of urologic disease.

"Dr. Kaplan's impressive experience and accomplishments in supporting, leading and advancing urologic disease research, including Chairing the AUA Research Advocacy Committee," said AUA President-elect and presiding officer of the Research Chair Search Committee, Scott Swanson, MD. "He also has an impressive track record obtaining substantial research funding from the National Institutes of Health, private donors and other sources. The AUA Board of Directors, staff and I look forward to working with Dr. Kaplan furthering urologic research education, funding and endowment support for the benefit of AUA members and the public."

Dr. Kaplan has been awarded five National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants and has received more than $13 million in research funding. He serves as both member and/or Chair of numerous study sections for the NIH and chaired the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Prostate Strategic Planning Committee. He currently serves as a member and past Chair of the AUA Research Advocacy Committee and has served on the AUA Guidelines Panel for the development of the Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) clinical guideline. He was an AUA Research Scholar from 1988-1990 where he focused on identifying molecular markers and urodynamic parameters that herald bladder and prostate dysfunction. Dr. Kaplan was awarded the prestigious John K. Lattimer Award for Lifetime Achievement in Urology by the National Kidney Foundation in 2003.

An active member of the urology community, Dr. Kaplan is Director of Mount Sinai Health System's Wellness Program for Men and is also a Professor with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Kaplan's postgraduate training included an internship and residency in the Department of Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital as well as a residency in Urology at the Squier Urologic Clinic, Columbia University. His research interests include the study of benign diseases, the association of metabolic factors with voiding dysfunction and female urology. Follow Dr. Kaplan on Twitter at @MaleHealthDoc.

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has nearly 22,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.

SOURCE American Urological Association