A-BE-C proudly took part in the AUA Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C.—a powerful event that brings together urologists, patient advocates, and policy makers to influence healthcare legislation and elevate the needs of the urologic patient community.

Imagine a room filled with 51 of the world’s top pediatric urology specialists, all gathered with a single mission—to transform the lives of children born with bladder exstrophy. That’s exactly what happened at CIVIL Hospital, as it proudly hosted the 2025 International Bladder Exstrophy Collaborative (IBEC) Conference!

This was our 5th trip to Uganda, and while every year leaves us feeling blessed, accomplished, exhausted, fulfilled, and yes, even stressed, this year was different.

The 2024 Annual Exstrophy Conference was held in Milwaukee, WI and proudly hosted in conjunction with Children’s Wisconsin.

A-BE-C recently presented its Richard W. Grady Humanitarian Award to Dr. Joao Luiz Pippi Salle, Professor of Urology, SickKids Hospital and Co-Director of the Center for Pelvic Reconstruction.

We are committed to creating a self-sustaining bladder exstrophy community in Sub-Saharan Africa. On our upcoming Family Education Day, over 50 families from Uganda, South Sudan, and Burundi will come together with our Global Care team for a day focused on education, empowerment, and connection.

Rachel Althizer, 32, received the 2024 Courage to Shine award at the International Conference in Milwaukee, WI.

The A-Be-C Uganda initiative continues to grow with each passing year. This October, A-BE-C was represented by a dedicated team of surgeons, nurses, a social worker, and patient advocates.

Realizing that care for the entire patient – beginning with appropriate surgical counseling and preparation, to psychosocial support and postoperative management – is key to successful outcomes, the sessions focused on the challenges patients and families face through a spectrum of discussions and provide tools to show that BE Doesn’t Limit ME!  

A-BE-C recently presented its Richard W. Grady Humanitarian Award to Dr. William Reiner, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Urology. Dr Reiner, a world-renowned Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, spent his career focused on the psychological aspects of bladder exstrophy.