USANZ & ANZUNS 2026 ASM Award Recipients

At the USANZ & ANZUNS 2026 ASM in Melbourne, the following Members were recognised with these honours:

Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand Medal

This honour is awarded in recognition of exceptional service and leadership that has been provided by Society members in at least one aspect of the Society's work over a considerable number of years. This year, the Medal was awarded to two of our esteemed Members.

Congratulations the first recipient of the Society Medal is Melvyn Kuan who served USANZ extensively over many years. He was Training and Education Chairman (Western Australia) 2010–5, then Deputy Chair of the Board of Urology (BOU) from 2014–6, before taking on the role of BOU Chair for 2016–8 and, later, USANZ Director from 2021–4. In addition, Melvyn served as a member on the prostate cancer guidelines steering committee for PCFA and as an examiner for the FRACS in Urology. He continues to sit on the governance committee of the PCOR-ANZ.

We want to also congratulate the second recipient of the Society Medal this year, Nathan Lawrentschuk, in recognition for his work as a formative editor of the USANZ supplement to BJUI over a 10-year period. During this time the BJUI USANZ supplement has become established as the official journal of USANZ, has enhanced the impact factor of BJUI, and assisted in the publication of multiple scholarly works by urologists from Australia and New Zealand.

Congratulations Melvyn and Nathan!

 

Honorary Member of the Society

This year USANZ awarded the position of Honorary Member of the Society to Allen Chiu. This award is available to any person who, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, has made a distinguished contribution to urology or the Society.

Allen has dedicated his life to advancing urology across Asia and beyond, with his career spannning clinical excellence, academic leadership, public service and governance. He is a surgical pioneer, performing Taiwan’s first laparoscopic nephrectomy and Asia’s first laparoscopic radical cystectomy. He has served as President and Secretary General of the Urological Association of Asia, and his support was instrumental in securing the UAA meeting in Sydney a few years ago. Allen is highly respected within our profession and has been sincere in his support of USANZ.

We warmly congratulate Allen on this prestigious and well-deserved nomination.


 

Daniel Christidis Scholarship

This scholarship was established to honour the memory of Daniel Christidis, a respected and valued SET1 Trainee Member of USANZ. To commemorate Daniel's dedication to research, this scholarship is intended to assist a current USANZ Trainee to present their research at an international urological meeting.

The recipient of this year's scholarship is Niranjan Sathianathen, who was presented with the award by Daniel's brother, Michael, and sister, Melissa. Niranjan's project is titled 'Introducing MRI into the diagnostic pathway for bladder masses: a health economic analysis'. The co-authors are Nathan Lawrentschuk, Joseph Ischia, Marlon Perera and Damien Bolton. Niranjan will present this work at the EAU in London.


 

Dennis Deane Arnold Prize

This new Prize was established through a bequest by Dennis Deane Arnold, a much-respected USANZ member who died in 2024. Dennis served as USANZ Secretary (1966-9), President (1981-2) and Convenor of the 1982 ASM. He was made a Fellow of the Society in 1996. This Prize was established by Dennis to reward a member who has achieved outstanding laboratory-based research of a urological nature.

Congratulations to the inaugural recipient, Weranja Ranasinghe, who presented his research at the ASCO GU Cancers Symposium in February 2026. His presentation was titled 'Targeting highly aggressive ductal prostate tumours with poly ADP ribose polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) and androgen receptor signaling inhibitor (ARSi) combination therapy'.


 

Keith Kirkland & Villis Marshall Awards

These two awards are given to the best presentation of a study by a SET Urology Trainee in the Keith Kirkland and Villis Marshall session at the USANZ ASM.

The Keith Kirkland Award is for a study with research endpoints with a direct clinical impact or related to individual patient care. Congratulations to this year's recipient, Ramesh Shanmugasundaram, who presented on 'Interim analysis of the MBC trial: diagnostic accuracy of pre-TURBT bladder mpMRI and diffusion kurtosis imaging for T-staging in bladder cancer'.

The Villis Marshall Award is for a study that examined epidemiological, economic or basic science/translational content as the primary outcomes. Congratulations to this year's winner, Bharti Arora for 'Scatter of Urology'.

We acknowledge the support of the Australasian Urological Foundation in funding this prize.

 

Alban Gee Award

This is an award provided by USANZ for the best poster presentation at the ASM.

Congratulations to this year's winner, Kieran Sandhu. His poster was titled 'The value of MRI and histological features at the diagnosis in predicting progression outcomes in men with Grade Group 2 disease on active surveillance'.


 

Low-Arnold Award in Female and Functional Urology

This award is presented to the person with the best podium or poster presentation in the field of Female or Functional Urology by a Full Member of USANZ.

Congratulations to Marnique Basto, who presented on 'Robotic artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) for women with stress urinary incontinence: Initial Australasian experience'.


 

BAUS Trophy

This award was established in recognition of the Society's enduring relationship with the British Association of Urological Surgeons. It is for the best scientific podium presentation by a Full Member of USANZ.

This year's winner was Jonathan Kam.


 

Platinum Trophy

The Platinum Trophy, sponsored this year by Johnson & Johnson, is awarded for the Most Innovative Research presented at the ASM by a Full Member of USANZ.

Congratulations to the winner, Athina Pirpiris, for her presentation on 'Transperineal ultrasound assessment of pelvic floor function and correlation with long term continence outcomes post radical prostatectomy'.

The award was accepted on her behalf by USANZ President Damien Bolton.
 

Best Oncology Presentation

The recipient of the Best Oncology Presentation will be invited to deliver the USANZ Lecture at the ANZUP ASM. ANZUP is a successful clinical trial co-operative research group in Australia, and the Society is pleased to collaborate with their ongoing research.

Congratulations to Weranja Ranasinghe for his work on Cxbladder triage and urothelial carcinoma detection in patients with haematuria.


 

Christchurch Medal

The USANZ Christchurch Medal is awarded to Urologists who have given exceptional community service, where the nominee has substantially contributed to the improvement of the quality of life of members of a community through humanitarian endeavors.

This year, the medal was presented to Richard Grills in recognition of his commitment to surgical service and training across three decades and multiple continents. He has worked as a volunteer in Zambia in 1995, Tanzania in 2001, Samoa in 2023-5 and Tuvalu in 2004, as well as annual visits to Vanuata from 2009-19, where he was instrumental in establishing an enduring local endoscopic urology service. In parallel, Richard provided tireless service to RACS and USANZ, particularly in training, supervision, and the assessment and support of SIMGs. His work has strengthened surgical education and built capacity across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific.

Congratulations Richard!


 

Recognition of Service

USANZ acknowledges the exceptional service of Mark Frydenberg, who has over a decade in service to the USANZ Board including as Vice President in 2013-5, President in 2015-7 and Urology Specialty Representative on the RACS Council since 2017. He was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2016 for his services to medicine and recognised by his peers with the awarding of the USANZ Medal in 2023. Mark now concludes his third term as RACS Councillor and his time on the Board of USANZ.

USANZ thanks Mark for his enduring service to the Society and to Urology.


 

Board of Urology Chair

The Board of Urology pin is worn by the Chair, in recognition of their work in the regulation and delivery of the SET Program in Urology. This year, outgoing Chair Lydia Johns Putra presented to pin to her successor, Rick Catterwell, who will serve in the role for the next two years. USANZ President Damien Bolton presented Lydia with a certificate to recognise her service in the role over the past two years.

We thank Lydia for your contributions to the Society, and welcome Rick to this important role.

 

ANZUNS Awards

In addition to the USANZ Awards, ANZUNS presented several awards:

  • Lifetime Membership Award to Kath Schubach
  • Diamond Award to Xuan Lee
  • Emerald Award to Kerry Santoro
  • Sapphire Award to Russell Briggs
  • ANZUNS Most Innovative Paper Award to Stu Wilder
  • ANZUNS Best Paper Award to Russell Briggs
  • ANZUNS Best New Presenter Award to Tiphany Catalan
  • ANZUNS Talbot-Crowe Award to Sally Sara
     

Organising Committee Awards

Finally, USANZ and ANZUNS recognised the 2026 organising committee, particularly USANZ Convenor Renu Eapen and Scientific Committee Chair Devang Desai, and ANZUNS Convenor Luke Mitchell and Scientific Program Chair Felicity Petricola, whose hardwork and dedication over the past twelve months ensured the success of the ASM.


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