The Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) Department of Urology participated in the 2026 American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, United States, with representatives featured in two separate academic sessions. Notably, the department’s urology case presentation was among only 12 selected worldwide for presentation during the AUA session. The AUA is regarded as one of the most prestigious organizations in the field of urology, with its clinical guidelines and scientific updates widely recognized as global references for medical practice and training.
One urologic case, “When an Undescended Testis Isn’t What It Seems,” was presented by Dr. Raul Martin Brien C. Andutan during the interactive Flip the Script: Case Presentations session. Flip the Script is an annual AUA program and one of its most anticipated case-based sessions, where residents, fellows, and young urologists present complex urologic scenarios with known outcomes for live review by content experts. This year, the case was among only 12 selected for the session, including 8 from the United States, 3 from Asia, and 1 from Europe.
The case was discussed with Dr. Siamak Daneshmand, one of the leading authorities in advanced testicular cancer and a member of the AUA Guidelines Panels for testicular cancer and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Despite the rarity of the condition, he recognized the possibility of Persistent Müllerian Duct Syndrome early in the discussion and shared his experience with similar complex cases.
It was especially meaningful that Dr. Daneshmand offered a favorable perspective on the clinical decision-making and management approach presented, and expressed that we presented a good case for discussion. For the department, this was an encouraging moment of reflection on our clinical reasoning and overall management approach in relation to expert international practice.
In a separate session, Dr. Raul Carlo Andutan, reconstructive urologist, delivered a lecture during the Young GURS 2024–2025 Reconstructive Literature Update, reviewing reviewing key recent studies on urethral reconstruction, including female urethral stricture repair, dorsal versus ventral buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty, pan-urethral stricture reconstruction, drug-coated balloon therapy, and recurrence patterns.
Also in attendance at AUA 2026 in Washington, DC, was NMMC Department Training Officer, Dr. Rommel B. Vallejos.
The department is spearheaded by its Chairman, Dr. Harry G. Longno, together with the consultant staff: Dr. Gregorio M. Cordovez, Dr. Paul Nimrod B. Firaza, Dr. Melinda R. Gabales, Dr. Dionisio T. Gaw, Dr. Emmanuel B. Sebastian, Jr., and Dr. Virna Noreena R. Seno. The resident staff is headed by Chief Resident Dr. Jackeline O. Lao.
images and info from NMMC Urology
