Congratulations to Kara L. Watts, MD, Vice Chair, Urology, Montefiore Einstein and Associate Professor, Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, on receiving the American Urological Association’s 2026 Gold Cystoscope Award—one of the AUA’s most selective and distinguished honors.

The Gold Cystoscope Award is bestowed upon a small number of early-career urologists nationwide who have demonstrated extraordinary, sustained impact on the field within 10 years of completing residency. Dr. Watts was recognized for her pioneering research in prostate cancer diagnostics and ablation, focal therapy, and systematic quality improvement methodologies, as well as her scholarly work in benign prostatic hyperplasia and endourology. Her research has helped shape evidence-based practice and elevate standards of care across urology.

A nationally recognized emerging leader in her field, Dr. Watts is a member of the American Urological Association Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Committee, the Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance Research Initiative Advisory Committee, and the Urology Times Editorial Board.

The award will be presented at the AUA’s Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., where the association honors physician researchers and educators whose work has had a lasting and transformative impact on urology, research, and patient care.