LUGPA is pleased to announce our first Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Celeste Kirschner, who will begin as CEO October 19.

After a thorough selection process, we are thrilled to announce LUGPA’s new CEO and are confident that Celeste’s previous leadership experience will take LUGPA to new heights helping our independent-practice members flourish in today’s era of transformative health care.

With more than 20 years of experience in medical society management and a record of growth, innovation, and leadership, Celeste is the ideal person to lead LUGPA. She understands the challenges and opportunities for our member practices and I look forward to a partnership that enhances independent urology.

Kirschner, who will be based in Chicago, most recently held the title of Perioperative Surgical Home Executive at the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). She has worked at the ASA since 2008. Throughout her career, she has had experience with large and small practices and has led committees of 100+ volunteer physician advisors. Earlier in her career, she worked at the American Medical Association, where she directed the association’s Current Procedural Terminology program.

Creating and filling the CEO role is an important moment in LUGPA’s 8-year history. To select the most qualified candidate for this position, LUGPA partnered with a recruiting agency that performed an exhaustive search. The agency reached out to approximately 85 prospective candidates, considered more than 45 individuals, and conducted more than 35 interviews. The LUGPA search committee interviewed five candidates that were carefully reviewed and assessed relative to the position criteria and background information the agency compiled from in-depth discussions with the LUGPA Search Committee.

We believe that there is no better candidate to lead and grow LUGPA than Kirschner. She brings public policy, advocacy, financial management, and revenue generation skills that promise to advance LUGPA on a national scale. I look forward to working with her and all that she brings to our organization.