Volume 23, Number 2EditorialAdvanced Practice Providers, Urology Workforce Challenges, and Reviews in UrologyKenneth A. MitchellIn 2015, the American Urological Association published the Consensus Statement on Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) with the goal of providing up-to-date information on the training of APPs, the scope of practice legislation, and examples of APPs in urologic practices.1 This statement was co-written by an experienced team of physicians and APPs whose purpose was to provide a unique and collaborative perspective on urology APPs. The paper was inspired by a report from an American Urological Association ad hoc committee assembled in 2008, which concluded that there were substantial workforce shortages in urology and that physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses would provide the “best solution” for the declining urology workforce.2 In 2009, reports estimated that there were 3.1 urologists per 100 000 people in the United States and that urology was the second-oldest surgical subspecialty, with a workforce median age of 52.5 years.2 A published update in 2021, which used data from 2018, revealed that there were 3.89 urologists per 100 000 people in the United States, with 65% of urologists reporting that they were “interested” in the integration and use of APPs; 72.5% of urologists reported already incorporating an APP into their practice, accounting for nearly 41% of a physician (ie, MD or DO) full-time equivalent.2 More recent data showed the use of APPs was lowest in practices with the youngest and oldest subgroups of urologists and was highest in urban urology practices, which represent groups most likely to be affected initially due to the disproportionate geographical urology patient population density.Physician assistantsnurse practitionershealth workforce