Dear Friends,

In the Department of Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, my colleagues and I work tirelessly to prevent, treat, and cure diseases and disorders of the male and female urinary tract and male genital tract. This dedication has fostered our growth from a division to a department, led to the expansion of our basic science and clinical research programs, and attracted outstanding new faculty.

Achievements over the past years cover a wide range of applications: innovative treatments for cancers of the kidney and prostate, expansion of the kidney transplant program, improved therapies for prostate enlargement and urinary stones, studies in diet and cancer, new approaches to curing urologic abnormalities of infants and children, and enhancements in quality of life for urology patients. Support from friends of Urology have played a key role in this success, providing both vital financial resources for these advances and the encouragement that inspires our finest work.

	The Department of Urology welcomes your contributions throughout the year! To send a contribution in support of our research programs or as a tribute or memorial, please make your check payable to "Regents of UC" and mail it to: Jenny Shepard at the Department of Urology, Box 951738, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1738 For credit card donations, please call Ms. Burch at 310-794-2159 or email to jshepard@support.ucla.edu

Because of your interest in the Department, we want you to share in our enthusiasm and accomplishments. We invite you to join the Friends of UCLA Urology, a new organization including our most valued donors. The group will meet several times a year to strengthen the role of private support for our basic science and clinical research programs. Members will be invited to attend luncheons, lectures, tours, and other activities that will highlight Urology research and programs in the Department of Urology.

On behalf of the Department and the School of Medicine, I welcome you to this special group. An annual gift of $1,000 or more will secure your membership and support our continuing efforts to find innovative approaches to preventing and treating urologic diseases and disorders. As always, my colleagues and I will be honored to offer our assistance as needed and to keep you informed of the Department's progress through our popular newsletter.

We look forward to welcoming you to our expanded Friends of Urology.

Sincerely yours,