The doorbell rings, a package is delivered, and history is cemented.
Each year, the American Urological Association (AUA) honors the contributions of physician researchers and educators to the field of medicine, the specialty of urology, with The Gold Cystoscope Award. It’s an honored tradition dating back to 1977 and this year the award was to be presented at a black-tie gala at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.
In December of 2019, Thomas Chi, MD, Professor UCSF Urology found out he was named the AUA 2020 recipient of The Gold Cystoscope Award for his “outstanding research into the cause of urolithiasis and innovations in surgical techniques for kidney stone removal.”
“The award is deeply coveted and well-deserved,” says Raj S. Pruthi, Professor, Department of Urology, UCSF. “Dr. Chi is as tenacious in his research as he is in providing outstanding care for his patients. We are proud to have him recognized for his service to the field.”
One special thing about this award is that the award itself is not just a piece of paper. The recipients actually receive a gold-plated cystoscope! And, its arrival to the Chi household caused cheers and fascination to his young family.
“My wife and I unwrapped it to the great delight and suspicion of our kids. They all somehow knew that they did not want to be on the other end of the cystoscope,” chuckled Dr. Chi. “Despite their trepidation they made a celebratory ice cream cake for us to enjoy together. It was a nice moment, a time to pause and reflect how fortunate I have been and how blessed I am to have such incredible mentors and role models in UCSF Urology.”