Mike Sheppard, CPA, CAE

Chief Executive Officer, AUA

Mike Sheppard is a business professional with over 30 years of corporate leadership experience. As the Chief Executive Officer of the AUA, he is responsible for AUA's four corporate entities, including the Urology Care Foundation, AUA’s official foundation for urologic patient education and research. In over 25 years with the AUA, Mr. Sheppard has held several executive-level positions and has served as AUA's CEO since 2005.

Prior to joining the AUA, Mr. Sheppard served in senior-level business positions at USF&G Realty Advisors, Inc., as a real estate portfolio controller, and C.W. Amos and Company, LLC as a senior independent public auditor. In addition, he is a retiree of the U.S. Naval Reserves Service. He has numerous professional affiliations, including memberships with the American Society of Association Executives, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Greater Washington Society of Association Executives and Institute of Management Accountants Association. Mr. Sheppard received his MBA from Loyola College's Sellinger School. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Association Executive. Mr. Sheppard is the recipient of several awards, including many military honors. He has written a number of published articles and participates on several committees for medical-related organizations, including Immediate Past President of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies and Board member of Verana Health.

Steven A. Kaplan, MD, FACS

Innovation Nexus Physician Director | Professor of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | Director, The Men’s Health Program, Mount Sinai Health System

Dr. Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur and a founder of Medidata Solutions Inc., one of the premier electronic data capture companies in the world; Medivizor, Inc., a medical informatics enterprise; Aspargo Health, a novel drug delivery system for various medications including sildenafil and metformin; and Zeteo Health, Inc, a bidirectional digital application using generative artificial intelligence for Men’s Health.  

As a key driver behind the development of the Innovation Nexus, Dr. Kaplan's leadership has been essential to the program's growth and success. His dedication to advancing innovation in urology has helped establish Innovation Nexus as a leading initiative for fostering new ideas and breakthroughs. Under his guidance, the program has expanded in scope and gained recognition for bringing together thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and researchers to transform innovation in urology.

Dr. Kaplan is an internationally recognized authority on benign prostate diseases and voiding dysfunction, with over 1,300 publications and five co-authored books. He has delivered over 340 presentations worldwide and received more than $13 million in NIH research funding. He earned his M.D. from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, completing postgraduate training at Mount Sinai Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center. He has held various leadership roles at esteemed urology centers of excellence throughout his career and is currently Professor of Urology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Director of The Men’s Health Program of the Mount Sinai Health System. He is currently the AUA Research Chair. He will assume the Physician Director position as a strategic lead on the Innovation Nexus initiative officially on June 1, 2025.

Patricia Hope, MSc

Chief Marketing and Development Officer, Executive Vice President, AUA

Patricia Hope serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing and Development Officer for the AUA and the Urology Care Foundation (UCF). In her role, Patricia provides direction on the organization's operations, mission and financial goals with specific oversight of marketing, communications, business development/sales, member engagement, publications, the Urology Care Foundation, and Innovation Nexus.

Patricia brings more than two decades of experience in the C-suite to the AUA and UCF. Prior to joining the AUA, she held senior leadership roles at the Miami Herald and Factor Health.

She holds a Master's degree in Economics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. She is a Certified Professional Coach from iPEC (Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching) and holds a certificate in Leadership Coaching for Organizational Performance from George Mason University.

Derick Maggard, MS

Innovation Nexus Director

Derick is a venture partner, startup builder, and ecosystem leader. He has dedicated his career to mentoring founders, scaling businesses, and fostering innovation. He serves as a mentor-in-residence at the University of Arizona's Tech Launch Arizona. Previously, he founded and led the Apex Center for Entrepreneurs at Virginia Tech, launched Startup Hokies, co-founded LunchPail Ventures, and served as Executive Director of the Roanoke–Blacksburg Technology Council. A serial entrepreneur, he has built and exited multiple businesses, worked in venture capital, and led technology partnerships with major healthcare organizations and professional sports leagues. Derick is passionate about MedTech innovation, driven by both his professional experience and personal journey as a urology patient. His firsthand perspective fuels his commitment to supporting transformative technologies that improve patient outcomes.

Keith D. Price, CEM

Industry Relations Director, AUA

Keith Price is a seasoned business professional with over 15 years of expertise in industry relations and fundraising. As the Industry Relations Director at the AUA, he drives strategic direction and oversees all industry sponsorship, advertising, and exhibit sales. Keith spearheads new business development, focusing on non-grant/CME opportunities with industry partners to create innovative, revenue-generating programs. He cultivates strong industry relationships, both existing and new, to secure sustainable revenue streams. Furthermore, he fosters seamless collaboration with AUA support and program departments. Notably, Keith has been instrumental in the growth of the AUA’s Innovation Nexus since its 2023 inception, successfully partnering with numerous industry leaders over the past three years.

Johanny Kugelman-Tonos, PhD

Director of Research, AUA

Dr. Kugelman-Tonos’ expertise includes the administration of government grants and contracts, and the application of scientific, administrative, and organizational knowledge for the management of basic and translational science, multi-institutional and multidisciplinary groups, pre-clinical and clinical trials research. Her education and research activities have strongly focused on molecular endocrinology, foundational principles in prostate cancer biology, therapeutics development and biochemistry.

In addition to her extensive experience and commitment to biomedical research, Dr. Kugelman-Tonos holds a Doctorate degree in Pathobiology from the University of Texas at El Paso. As Director of Research, she works closely with AUA’s Research Council, Urology Care Foundation (UCF) and other AUA departments to better support urological research through funding, advocacy and education with the goal of increasing interest in the field of urology by investing in the next generation of scientists and preparing them to become successful research leaders.

Sarah K. Gross, MS

Sr. Manager for Research Grants, AUA

Sarah Gross, MS, is a research neuroscientist by training with more than 17 years’ experience working in diverse scientific and managerial roles. During her scientific career she specialized in translational research relating to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and neurodegeneration. She transitioned to grants management with the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) where she supported multiple programs, including the Spinal Cord Injury Research Program and their bowel, bladder and neuropathic pain portfolios. Her dynamic experience as both a scientist and grants manager, combined with her expertise in process improvement, enable her to lead and expand the AUA Office of Research’s (OR) grant opportunities.

Courtney Shelsby

Senior Marketing Coordinator, AUA

Courtney Shelsby earned a degree in business management from Virginia Tech with a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology. With ten years of experience in the field of marketing and communications, she acts as the key strategist driving the promotional efforts behind the AUA Innovation Nexus. In her role, Courtney is responsible for developing comprehensive marketing plans and implementing cross-channel advertising campaigns to meet the overall business goals of the American Urological Association. Courtney has been a significant contributor to the planning and advancement of the AUA Innovation Nexus since the launch of the inaugural conference in April of 2023, cultivating brand awareness and driving interest in the program’s objective of transforming urologic innovation from conceptualization to impactful patient care.   

Jamie Hartley, CAPM, CSM, CSPO

Innovation Nexus Project Coordinator, AUA

Jamie Hartley brings extensive experience in continuing medical education (CME) program management. She has successfully partnered with senior leaders and multidisciplinary teams to launch critical training programs including LVAD credentialing courses, critical and urgent care simulations, and obesity management enduring materials. Her background also includes securing accreditation for numerous medical conferences, overseeing robust Grand Rounds programs, and leading interdepartmental process improvements. Her work has impacted thousands of clinical learners, and hundreds of CME program administrators.

With professional training in project management and continuous improvement, she thrives on driving initiatives that foster advancement and empower teams to work smarter.

In 2023, Jamie co-authored a poster showcasing her innovative work in continuing medical education which was accepted by the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions. The poster was featured at the Alliance’s 2024 annual conference in New Orleans, LA.

As Project Coordinator, Jamie plays a key role in supporting operations and facilitating the growth of Innovation Nexus. She collaborates closely with senior leadership and works cross-functionally with various teams including research, industry relations, and marketing to support the program’s strategic objectives. She is excited to be a part of the team fostering innovation and rewarding advancements in the urological field.