The Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) is recognizing Joseph Smith Jr., M.D., professor of Urologic Surgery, with the Huggins Medal, its highest honor, for his lifetime contributions to the progress in treatment for patients with genitourinary neoplasms, which are tumors or cancer of the reproductive organs and the urinary system.
The Huggins Medal is named after Charles B. Huggins, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1966 in recognition of his work on the hormonal treatment of prostate cancer.
It is the second major award for Smith from the SUO, having been awarded the SUO Medal in 2006.
“This award is more proof of Jay’s tremendous contributions to the field of urologic oncology,” said David Penson, M.D., professor and chair of Urologic Surgery. “And he was chosen by his peers, which makes it all the more meaningful, in my opinion. There is no one more deserving of this honor than Jay Smith.”
Smith received the medal and presented the Huggins lecture at SUO’s 2015 annual winter meeting last week in Washington, D.C.
“I remember as an intern choosing to go into urologic surgery and to pursue urologic oncology because I wanted to do what looked to be the most challenging operations. The Society of Urologic Oncology has been my most coveted peer group, so to be recognized in this manner is an enormous honor,” Smith said.
Smith, the William L. Bray Professor of Urology, was recently named the next editor of The Journal of Urology.
He performed Vanderbilt’s first robotic surgery in 2003 and has completed more than 7,000 prostatectomies since that time. With Smith, Vanderbilt University Medical Center has established itself as a leader in robotic surgery and indications have extended in urology to radical cystectomy, partial nephrectomy and bladder suspension.
The Society of Urologic Oncology was created in 1984 to enable qualified members primarily interested in the care of patients with malignant genitourinary diseases to meet for the purpose of discussion, development and implementation of ideas to improve care. The society and its bylaws conform to the guidelines and bylaws of the American Urological Association.