The Society of Women in Urology

President’s Message

Akanksha Mehta, MD, MS

I am delighted to introduce myself to the SWIU membership as the 2023-2024 SWIU President. My name is Akanksha Mehta, and I am an Associate Professor of Urology at Emory University School of Medicine. I completed my Urology residency at Brown, followed by fellowship in Male Reproductive and Sexual Medicine at Cornell, before starting my academic career at Emory. I also serve as the Residency Program Director for Emory Urology, a role that is near and dear to my heart.

I have served on the SWIU Board since 2016 and have observed this dynamic organization grow and mature in a remarkable way over these past few years. SWIU is unlike any other organization I have ever been a part of; it is absolutely committed to the professional growth and success of every woman in Urology, through mentorship, support, advocacy, and career development. Serving on the SWIU Board is a constant reminder of the talent and the strength of our community.

SWIU membership is growing exponentially and is a testament to the value that this organization brings to all women in Urology, whether they be trainees or practicing urologists or urologic researchers. There are so many benefits to a SWIU membership – the ability to be listed in the SWIU speaker database, eligibility to conduct survey-based research of the SWIU membership, and access to UROLOGY, the official journal of SWIU – to name a few. In my mind, however, the most valuable benefit is the ability to participate in advancing the mission of SWIU. I am in awe of SWIU members who have passionately served on SWIU Taskforces, addressing a myriad of topics that are important to our membership, ranging from the recruitment of women in Urology to salary equity and fostering industry partnerships. Their efforts have resulted in tangible, meaningful change at a variety of levels.

SWIU is an organization that has always celebrated diversity within our ranks and has advocated for other organizations to follow suit. We are passionate about leading the discussion about the unique needs and challenges pertaining to women urologists. We are focused on improving representation of women in the leadership of all urologic organizations. And we are committed to furthering strategies that help recruit and retain women in the field of Urology. Over the past couple of years, SWIU has been joined by tremendous, vocal allies from the urologic community, which has been wonderful to see.

If you are already a member of SWIU, thank you; your support of this organization is invaluable. If you are not an active member of SWIU, I encourage you to join; you will not be disappointed. Either way, I look forward to hearing about the issues that are important to you, and how SWIU can help you succeed.

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as President of the Society for Women in Urology. I look forward to another productive year. 

Akanksha Mehta, MD, MS
SWIU President