A physician-led mission to advance urologic training and expand access to specialized care in underserved communities worldwide.
For more than 15 years, Dr. Arthur Burnett served as a visiting professor at The University of the West Indies, supporting urology training programs in Trinidad and Jamaica. Over time, he gained a deeper understanding of the critical gaps in urologic education, clinical resources, and specialized care across the region, gaps that left patients without access to the procedures and expertise they needed.
In response, Dr. Burnett began dedicating more of his time and expertise to the islands on a volunteer basis. His visits expanded to include cognitive and technical skill development for residents, grand rounds reviewing complex patient cases in detail, hands-on performance of highly specialized surgical procedures not previously available in-country, research protocol guidance, and direct mentorship of both urology residents in training and practicing physicians.
In 2017, Dr. Burnett formalized this commitment by founding UroMissionsWorks, Inc., a tax-exempt, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization as a vehicle to sustain, expand, and deepen this work. Today, the organization's mission-driven activities extend across the Caribbean, Africa, and South America, with ongoing efforts to establish new training partnerships and recruit additional volunteer urologic surgeons.
Traditionally, healthcare resources in underserved regions have been concentrated in primary care and infectious disease management. While this focus has been necessary, it has come at the expense of other critical areas, including urology. Urological diseases represent a broad and impactful spectrum of health conditions that affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and genders throughout their lifetimes. These conditions include urinary tract infections, urinary obstructions and difficulties, kidney stones, reproductive and sexual dysfunction, and cancers of the kidney, prostate, bladder, and genital tract. Their impact ranges widely from manageable, short-term discomfort to chronic, debilitating disease and life-threatening illness.
People of lower socioeconomic status and underrepresented communities bear a disproportionate burden of urological disease, frequently lacking access to the diagnostic tools, specialized providers, and surgical interventions needed for effective treatment. This inequity translates directly into poorer health outcomes and reduced quality of life.
Research consistently shows that investing in the training of urologic healthcare providers within underserved communities leads to measurable improvements in knowledge, clinical skill, and the quality of care delivered. UroMissionsWorks exists to accelerate that process by building local capacity through education, mentorship, and hands-on surgical training that creates lasting change from within.
Advance the urological training of future urologic healthcare providers in underserved regions by enlisting skilled urologists to augment their training experience.
Enhance the urological care provided to underserved communities by transforming the educational experience of urology trainees who serve these populations.