NORTHWEST PASTEUR PLAZA 7909 FREDERICKSBURG, STE. 115-210 SAN ANTONIO, TX 78229 PHONE (210) 614-4544 FAX (210) 582-5523 WILLIAM P. FITCH, III, MD PEGGY P. FRANCIS, DNP, FNP-C WILLIAM J. HARMON, MD TIMOTHY C. HLAVINKA, MD CLAYTON H. HUDNALL, MD LEROY A. JONES, MD NAVEEN KELLA, MD JOAN T. MEANEY, MD KURT G. MEISSNER, MD RANDALL P. SINGLETON, MD C. RITCHIE SPENCE, MD KENNETH J. STALLMAN, MD GEORGE V. BURKHOLDER, MD CONSULTANT NORTH CENTRAL SONTERRA MEDICAL PARK BLDG. III 255 E. SONTERRA, STE. 200 & 203 SAN ANTONIO, TX 78258 PHONE (210) 499-5158 FAX (210) 499-5259 CHRISTOPHER W. GRAHAM, MD THOMAS K. O’NEILL, MD DANIEL R. SALTZSTEIN, MD PATRICIA J. TERRY, MD NORTHEAST NORTHEAST METHODIST PLAZA 12709 TOEPPERWEIN RD., STE. 110 SAN ANTONIO, TX 78233 PHONE (210) 564-8000 FAX (210) 590-7945 CHRISTOPHER W. GRAHAM, MD RENE A. SEPULVEDA, MD DAVID R. TALLEY, MD SOUTHEAST SE BAPTIST MEDICAL OFFICE BLDG. 4212 E. SOUTHCROSS, STE. 125 SAN ANTONIO, TX 78222 PHONE (210) 337-6228 FAX (210) 304-6476 PATRICIA P. CECCONI, MD LUIS R. RIVERA, MD ALAMO HEIGHTS NIX ALAMO HEIGHTS 5307 BROADWAY, 2nd FLOOR SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209 PHONE (210) 614-4544 FAX (210) 582-5523 WILLIAM P. FITCH, MD DOWNTOWN NIX MEDICAL CENTER 414 NAVARRO, STE. 900 SAN ANTONIO, TX 78205 PHONE (210) 474-7020 FAX (210) 226-2192 JUAN A. REYNA, MD / PRESIDENT PATRICIA P. CECCONI, MD ARTHUR S. CENTENO, MD ANDREW A. TOBON, MD HONDO MC SPECIALTY CLINIC 606 31ST STREET HONDO, TX 78861 PHONE (830) 741-3361 FAX (830) 426-8496 WILLIAM P. FITCH, III, MD CENTRAL BUSINESS OFFICE 7909 FREDERICKSBURG, STE. 110 SAN ANTONIO, TX 78229 PHONE (210) 731-2050 FAX (210) 731-2066 www.urologysanantonio.com 7909 Fredericksburg Rd, Suite 110 San Antonio, TX 78229 (210) 582-5666 Abbey.Forney@urologysa.com AUA Communications Office ATTN: Reporting Award 1000 Corporate Blvd. Linthicum, MD 21090 Dear Judging Committee, It is my pleasure to nominate KENS 5 TV’s medical reporter Wendy Rigby for the Excellence in Urology Reporting Award in the consumer electronic publications category. Specifically, I am nominating Wendy for her outstanding television news reports about the male urinary sling and the inflatable penile prosthesis. The stories aired on the San Antonio CBS affiliate during the 5 p.m. Eyewitness News program on May 18, 2007 and September 25, 2007, respectively. Our clinic, which provided the expert interviews for these stories, has worked with Wendy on many occasions. At each encounter, I am impressed by her professionalism and thoughtfulness. Despite the time constraints of television news, Wendy makes her daily pieces informative and relevant for her audience. The probing questions that she poses to her expert sources reveal her clear understanding of the news topic and its context in the larger health care system. She uses this knowledge to guide physicians to translate their technical expertise into meaningful material that viewers can appreciate. Just as impressive as her understanding of medicine is Wendy’s sensitivity for the patients she interviews. She shows incredible respect for the personal nature of their medical situations. Watching Wendy’s work, it is obvious that she has thoughtfully considered the best way to show her subjects as individuals and avoid presenting them as merely illustrations of a clinical condition. The male sling and penile prosthesis news story for which I am nominating her provide excellent examples of her competence in this area. For instance, Wendy’s questions for the recipient of the prosthesis, Mr. Goodman, focused on the impact that the surgical device had had on his self esteem and marriage. She referred all questions about how the device works and its effectiveness to Dr. Jones, the medical expert. The result was that viewers were able to appreciate Mr. Goodman’s situation and receive accurate medical information that is very seldom discussed outside of the urologist’s office. The caliber of Wendy’s work has been honored throughout her career. She is the recipient of numerous reporting awards. Her pieces, including the male sling and penile implant stories, are often selected for inclusion on the CBS newsfeed, where affiliates nation-wide can access the story for use in their markets. Wendy’s informative, responsible, accurate and thoughtful journalism has added a great deal to the public’s understanding of urologic health care and is in keeping with the tradition of the AUA Urology Reporting Award. Respectfully, Abbey Forney Communications Director Enclosures (5 sets of discs and transcripts) cc: . Wendy Rigby, Medical Reporter, KENS 5 TV 5400 Fredericksburg Rd., San Antonio, TX 78229 (210) 337-8634 wrigby@kens5.com