Amy Luckenbaugh, MD, on SWIU's role in mentorship, leadership, and career growth

In the following video, Amy N. Luckenbaugh, MD, FACS, outlines the ways that the Society of Women in Urology (SWIU) supports women across all stages of their urologic careers. Luckenbaugh is the current president of SWIU as well as a urologic oncologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

For medical students, Luckenbaugh explains that the society’s primary focus is helping them successfully navigate the residency application process. For residents, SWIU serves as an essential venue for exposure to female leaders in urology, particularly for those who may not have women in leadership roles at their home institutions. These connections help residents see what is possible and build early professional networks.

For early- and mid-career faculty, Luckenbaugh highlighted leadership development as a key priority. She explained that SWIU aims to help women advance in both academic and private practice settings, whether that means achieving professorship, becoming a program director, or eventually serving as a department chair. While the number of women entering urology continues to rise, she acknowledged that women remain underrepresented in leadership positions, underscoring the importance of targeted mentorship and initiatives such as SWIU’s annual mentoring conference, including the recent meeting in Nashville.

Luckenbaugh also outlined multiple ways women can stay engaged with or become involved in SWIU beyond the annual meeting. Opportunities include participating in task forces focused on issues such as parental leave policies, early- and mid-career development, and communications efforts like social media and podcasts. She additionally encouraged members to apply for open leadership roles, including upcoming member-at-large board positions, noting that even those not selected can make meaningful contributions through volunteering on task forces or subcommittees.