“We are reaching a point where geography should no longer limit access to high-quality surgical care. Tele-surgery means expertise can travel, even when surgeons cannot.”
At EAU26: 41st Annual EAU Congress, held 13–16th March 2026 in London, Dr Juan Gómez Rivas (Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain) reflected on a period of rapid transformation in the field. Dr Gómez Rivas has been closely involved in shaping both the next generation of urologists and the technologies that may redefine surgical care. In this conversation, he discusses the growth of the Young Academic Urologists (YAU) network, the promise of tele-surgery and augmented reality and why clinicians must embrace – not fear – artificial intelligence.
Across mentorship, technology and precision medicine, Dr Gómez Rivas believes the field is entering a new era. For urologists, he says, the message is simple: embrace innovation, collaborate widely and keep patients at the centre of every advance.
The core mission of the Young Academic Urologists (YAU) is, of course, academic – generating data, publishing research and advancing knowledge. But for me, the most important achievement was building a strong, collaborative network. When I started, the group had around 74 members; by the end, it had grown to more than 200. We also expanded its scope by creating new working groups, such as infections and transplantation, and made a real effort to improve diversity in geographical representation. What was once a largely European group has become a truly global community. Importantly, we also introduced a clearer pathway for young researchers, with affiliate roles that allow early-career urologists to develop their academic profile and progress to full membership. That structure helps turn enthusiasm into long-term academic careers.
The biggest challenge is time. In many European healthcare systems, young doctors spend most of their time in the operating room, in clinics or dealing with administrative work. There is very little protected time for research. But if you want to provide the best care for patients, you must stay academically active. Publishing data, analyzing outcomes and understanding your results ultimately benefits patients. Another challenge is mentorship. Some people are fortunate to have strong mentors who guide their academic development. Others are motivated but lack that support. This is where organizations like the European Association of Urology (EAU) are important. If you work in a hospital that doesn’t offer strong research infrastructure or mentorship, the EAU can provide access to networks, collaborators and educational resources that help bridge that gap.
Robotic surgery is often described as the future, but I think it is already the present. Many centres now have access to robotic platforms, and they have helped standardize surgery.
In a way, robotics has democratized surgical procedures. A surgeon in Belgium or Italy can perform a very similar operation if they have the same robotic tools and training. The next frontier is tele-surgery, where surgeons operate remotely across long distances. That could allow expert surgeons to treat patients in regions where access to advanced surgical care is limited. Another exciting area is augmented reality. Imagine performing surgery while overlaying imaging data directly onto the surgical field, showing the precise location of arteries or tumours. Similar technology already exists in other fields, such as aviation and the military. Bringing it into surgery could significantly improve precision.
One of the biggest potential benefits of AI is reducing human error. Medicine is complex, and humans inevitably make mistakes. AI systems can analyze huge amounts of data – imaging, pathology, patient records – and help standardize interpretation. For example, if several radiologists review the same prostate MRI, they may reach different conclusions. AI could help make that interpretation more consistent. But we should be clear: AI will not replace doctors. What will happen is that doctors who understand and use AI will have an advantage. We also need appropriate ethical and legal frameworks because technology evolves faster than regulation. If we embrace AI and train clinicians properly, it will help us deliver safer and more standardized care.
The main limitation is cost. Advanced technologies – robotics, AI systems, data platforms – require significant investment. Some healthcare systems can adopt them quickly, while others struggle. The real challenge is ensuring these innovations become accessible and sustainable across different regions, so that patients benefit regardless of where they live.
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Cite: Dr Juan Gómez Rivas on collaboration, robotics and the evolving role of the urologist. touchONCOLOGY. 1st April, 2026
Disclosure: Juan Gómez Rivas has no financial or non-financial conflicts of interest to declare in relation to this interview. This short article was prepared by touchONCOLOGY in collaboration with Juan Gómez Rivas. Views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Touch Medical Media.
Editor: Sophie Nickelson (Editorial Director)
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