One of my favorite statements is one made by the author Khaled Hosseini during a New York Times’ interview when he opined: “It is an unmerited gift to have this life.”

It is in that spirit that I wish to personally thank each of the members of the Endourology Society who have so generously supported the World Endo endeavor first begun at the 29th WCE in Kyoto in 2011. Since the initiation of the World Endo program, 55 urologists from 48 countries that heretofore could not afford to attend a WCE were able to be present at the meeting. As a global endourological society, nothing can be more important than each of us realizing the responsibility we have to provide opportunities for others from across the globe to learn the techniques of endourology so they can in turn apply them to the benefit of their patients. In this way, we fulfill our mission as physicians to reduce human suffering and pain.Thank you one and all!

Michele Paoli Executive Director Endourology Society New York Section, AUA 4100 Duff Place, Lower Level Seaford, NY 11783