Joseph Liao, MD, Honored with Distinguished Mentor Award by Urology Care Foundation
Joseph Liao, MD, the Kathryn Simmons Stamey Professor and incoming chair of the Department of Urology, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Mentor Award by the Urology Care Foundation, the official foundation of the American Urological Association (AUA) that supports its research and education missions.
Established in 2003, the Distinguished Mentor Award honors researchers and physician-scientists with an exceptional record of fostering future investigators through strong training environments, thoughtful guidance, and sustained mentorship of Urology Care Foundation Research Scholars, one of the most important mechanisms to support mentored research training for postdoctoral fellows and early-career faculty. In addition to being a former scholar, Dr. Liao has mentored four former scholars from Stanford Urology, including current faculty Eugene Shkolyar and incoming faculty Jessie Ge.
“I am deeply grateful to the American Urological Association and Urology Care Foundation for this recognition. A mentor once told me that paying it forward is the best way to honor your mentors. In that spirit, I dedicate this award to the mentors who guided my path and to the many mentees I have had the privilege to work with across diverse training backgrounds and disciplines,” said Joseph Liao, MD.
The award is part of the Urology Care Foundation’s annual Research Awards of Distinction, which recognize leaders advancing the field across a range of areas - from pediatric urology and prostate cancer research to academic scholarship and early-career innovation.
“The 2026 Research Awards of Distinction recipients exemplify the power of curiosity, rigor, and mentorship in advancing urologic science,” said Harris M. Nagler, MD, Urology Care Foundation President. “Their work not only expands our scientific understanding but also directly informs how we may care for patients today and tomorrow. We’re proud to celebrate their achievements and the lasting impact of Urology Care Foundation–supported research.”
In addition to the Distinguished Mentor Award, the foundation also announced recipients of several other honors, including the Pediatric Urology Research Excellence Award, Prostate Cancer Research Excellence Award, Distinguished Scholar Alumnus Award, and Outstanding Graduate Scholar Awards.
