The Expert APProach: Advancing APP Leadership and Expertise in Urology, With Susanne Quallich, PhD, ANP-BC, NP-C

Welcome back to The Expert APProach!

In this episode of The Expert APProach: Conversations in Uro-Oncology, host Joy Maulik, CRNP, welcomes Susanne A. Quallich, PhD, ANP-BC, NP-C, CUNP, CMHE, FAUNA, FAANP, a nationally recognized expert in men’s health and male andrology from the University of Michigan. Quallich, who was the first nurse practitioner to hold an academic appointment in the university’s urology department, reflects on her decades-long career advancing the role of advanced practice providers (APPs) in urology. She discusses how the APP role has evolved from being viewed primarily as an extension of the care team to becoming an integral part of clinical, academic, and leadership efforts within the specialty.

Throughout the conversation, Quallich highlights opportunities for APPs to develop focused areas of expertise and take greater ownership of specialized urologic care. She discusses the growing role of nurse practitioners and physician associates in procedures such as cystoscopy, as well as opportunities to lead service lines focused on men’s health, incontinence, urologic oncology, and other areas that do not necessarily require surgical training. Quallich also shares clinical pearls for APPs entering men’s health and andrology, including the importance of recognizing the nuances of hypogonadism, fertility considerations in younger men, and sexual and ejaculatory concerns that may have underlying psychological or behavioral components. She also addresses the role of testosterone management in men who have undergone treatment for prostate cancer, emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and quality-of-life considerations.

The discussion also explores the often-overlooked business and academic skills that can help APPs demonstrate their value within a practice. Quallich emphasizes the importance of understanding coding and billing, tracking productivity, documenting the “unseen” work involved in patient care, and recognizing the many forms of compensation and professional value beyond salary. Looking toward the future, she encourages APPs to pursue specialization, research, presentations, journal peer review, and involvement in professional organizations as ways to strengthen the profession and expand its presence within urology. Above all, Quallich emphasizes the importance of creating a culture in which APPs are empowered to develop expertise, lead specialized areas of care, and contribute as true clinical and academic partners.