Celebrating Big 2025 Milestones, and What They Mean for 2026

Winston Churchill said that “to improve is to change.” In 2025, The Urology Group did both: We underwent natural leadership changes through the retirement of our CEO and co-founder, Earl Walz. Earl is succeeded by Michael Gavin, who joined us from OrthoAlliance, where he most recently filled the role of chief operating officer. 

Our founding President, Dr. Gary Kirsh is stepping aside so that Dr. Stephen Kappa can lead the next generation of urologists as our group’s President.  

The transitions in leadership will not slow down our quest to continually improve patient care across our treatment centers in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. In fact, the path we take into 2026 is paved by many accomplishments that occurred in 2025. 

Here’s a look at the highlights, and what they mean for our patients in the coming year.

Some 2025 Accomplishments, and What Patients Can Expect

The Urology Group continued to adopt new medical innovations, invest in our staff, and make our mark on the community. A few highlights:

Our breakthrough innovations

In the area of treatments, we are proud to now provide the following. 

• Prostatic artery embolization. In 2025, we furthered our expertise for treating enlarged prostate, or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), through a breakthrough procedure called prostatic artery embolization (PAE). This minimally invasive, incision-free approach works by injecting tiny particles into the prostatic arteries, blocking blood flow to the enlarged tissue and causing it to shrink. We perform the outpatient procedure at our new Interventional Radiology (IR) Center near our Norwood campus. Since introducing this option, our specialists have treated hundreds of men who are now enjoying improved quality of life. (Read more about PAE here.) 
• PSMA PET/CT scan. This year we also invested in new scanning equipment specifically for diagnosing and determining next-step treatments for prostate cancer. The PSMA (prostate specific membrane antigen) PET/CT scan uses radioactive tracers to pinpoint the presence and location of prostate cancer, both localized and that has spread throughout the body. By knowing the precise location of cancer, especially if it has spread beyond the prostate, your physician can make better-informed decisions about your treatment. 
• Adaptive radiation therapy. In October, we began offering adaptive radiation therapy (ART), a form of advanced imaging technology that is considered the next evolution in cancer treatment. This new technology allows our oncology team to develop a fresh treatment plan before each therapy session, as needed. Adjustments might include a slight alteration in the dosage and/or delivery location since the patient’s last session, due to unique physiological changes in the patient’s body. This heightened accuracy can deliver more eff­ective tumor treatment with less risk of exposing nearby non-cancerous tissue to the radiation.

Our investment in the best people

The Urology Group is committed to recruiting and retaining top-shelf talent, and we are honored to be recognized for it.

• New providers were added. This summer we welcomed three new physicians to our already talented group. Their fresh perspectives, combined with the experience of our seasoned providers, make us an even stronger team. We welcome:  Dr. Cooper Benson, Dr. Brandon Mudd, and Dr. Aroh Pandit. They are supported by our team of amazing advanced practice providers.    
• Our team attracts statewide award (again). For the fourth consecutive year, Ohio Business Magazine in 2025 recognized The Urology Group as “One of the Best Workplaces in Ohio.” The annual award pays tribute to companies that strive to make a difference in both their employees’ lives and in their community. Every member of our team deserves credit for this recognition.

Our appreciation for community

The Urology Group’s success is depends on our community relationship, and we invest in it with equal seriousness as we do in treatments and staff. Here are a couple of our annual commitments.

• Patient education made free, and easy. Our physicians continued to donate their time and expertise toward instructive webinars that answer questions about of top-of-mind urology conditions, from prostate cancer and kidney stones to women’s urinary health and erectile dysfunction. Our doctors opt to perform these webinars after office hours to make them accessible to more of our patients.
• Our “potty-party” trailers’ extended touring. It might sound trivial, but when the urge to go strikes, especially for those with overactive bladder, it can be urgent. So we brought our “More Party. Less Potty,” rolling bathroom trailers to more events this summer – to the relief of many fans. The trailers, which we park within walking distance of outside festivals and other events across the region, are a spacious, clean, and welcoming alternative to portable toilets.

Looking to 2026: Stay Tuned for Even More

The events of 2025 coalesce into an advantageous platform for the coming year. Thanks to the dedicated support of our staff, The Urology Group has undergone a drum-tight transition and we are better-than-ready to demonstrate our excellence to our patients and community in 2026. 

Stay tuned to learn about new areas of treatments and advanced care innovations.To keep in touch with the latest news at The Urology Group, you can catch our newsletters here. Also, for the latest in urology conditions, treatments, and trends, visit our blog page