Since its founding in 2022, the Fox Chase – Temple Urologic Institute has grown exponentially, increasing demand for highly trained advanced practice providers (APPs) to work alongside attending specialists. Recently, eight new APPs have joined the team to address the expanding clinical needs in both urologic oncology and general urology, with clinic appointments often exceeding capacity.

To manage this growth, Alexander Kutikov, MD, FACS, Co-Executive Director of the Fox Chase – Temple Urologic Institute and Chair of the Department of Urology at Fox Chase, has long envisioned creating a central learning environment for urology APPs from across the country. Joining Kutikov in this endeavor is Andres F. Correa, MD, Associate Professor in the Department of Urology at Fox Chase who leads the Institute’s APP training and education as well as the APP CME/NCPD program.

“As part of Dr. Kutikov and Dr. Correa’s vision for APP urologic training, we hope to hold an APP urology CME/NCPD program each year,” said Elena Dreyzin, PA-C, Advanced Practice Provider at the Fox Chase – Temple Urologic Institute. “Both Dr. Kutikov and Dr. Correa want our APPs working at the very top of their licenses to provide the highest level of patient care. Extensive training in the clinic and hospital is ongoing and mandatory. My physician-led cystoscopy training took about one year because of the responsibility involved in checking for bladder cancer recurrence,” Dreyzin said.

Sarah Leach, PA-C, Advanced Practice Provider at the Fox Chase – Temple Urologic Institute, said, “Interestingly, our initial PA training included only basic urology. Here at Fox Chase, our urology APP training has been like another degree. I handle general urology, urologic emergencies, kidney stones, and BPH, while Elena focuses on urologic oncology.”

“As part of Dr. Kutikov and Dr. Correa’s vision for APP urologic training, we hope to hold an APP urology CME/NCPD program each year,” Dreyzin said. “We had many sleepless nights planning this year’s meeting, with credit to Sarah for leading it.” Planning is already underway for next year, with the 2027 Urology APP Meeting scheduled for April 14–16 in Philadelphia. More details will be shared soon.

The two-day Philadelphia-based CME/NCPD program drew 140 participants from around the country. Mornings were devoted to lectures by Dreyzin and Leach and other APPs from the Institute along with general urologists and urologic oncologists. Afternoons featured smaller breakout groups with hands-on simulations and discussion—day one focused on benign conditions, and day two on oncology.

“One of the meeting highlights was a hands-on cystoscopy truck with five stations where attendees practiced cystoscopy using realistic models,” said Leach. Another well-received session was an emergency-care simulation focused on catheter and tube management for triaging patients with clot retention and irrigating catheters. Leach described creating a beet juice and cranberry sauce mixture to simulate blood and clots so attendees could practice catheter irrigation.

Both Dreyzin and Leach agree that this education program demonstrates how Fox Chase training enables APPs to expand their roles and collaborate more closely with physicians. Feedback from the program was excellent, with a focus on APP practice development such as implementing cystoscopy or intracavernosal injections. Once again, this demonstrates Fox Chase’s leadership in developing all aspects of urologic and urologic oncology care.

2026 Program Highlights: Comprehensive Care for Advanced Practice Providers

Our 2026 APP CME brought out the best in Fox Chase leadership, education, clinician care, and building hands-on skill sets. Looking ahead, the 2027 Urology APP Meeting will take place April 14–16 in Philadelphia, with more details to be shared soon.