Meet the President

Eugene Rhee, MD, MBA

Dr. Eugene Y. Rhee is a nationally recognized leader in urologic healthcare, blending clinical expertise with innovative leadership and strategic foresight. As the President-Elect of the American Urological Association (AUA) for 2025, he is set to guide the organization as President in 2026, shaping the future of urologic care and advocacy on a global scale. He currently serves as President of the Western Section AUA and National Chair of Urology for the Permanente Federation, where he oversees the delivery of urologic care to 12 million lives within the United States' largest nonprofit managed healthcare system.

Regionally, Dr. Rhee holds dual leadership roles as Chief of Urology for Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Area Assistant Medical Director for Business Line & Finance for Kaiser Permanente San Diego. These positions exemplify his ability to integrate clinical excellence with strategic business management, driving high-quality, value-based care in complex healthcare settings.

During his four-year tenure as Chair of the AUA Public Policy Council, Dr. Rhee played a pivotal role in shaping national urologic health policy. He led efforts in coding and reimbursement, federal and state legislative affairs, regulatory advocacy, patient and research education, and Political Action Committee initiatives. A distinguished AUA Gallagher Health Policy Scholar (2013–2014), he has also served as president of both the California Urological Association and the San Diego Urologic Society. His vision for the future of healthcare delivery was evident when he co-chaired the AUA Telemedicine Task Force, championing virtual care innovations well before the global pandemic highlighted their critical importance.

Dr. Rhee’s contributions extend to scholarly work, where he served as the inaugural Section Editor for Urology Practice, focusing on health policy. He has held key roles across AUA committees, including Legislative Affairs, State Advocacy, Workforce Planning, and Electronic Health Records. He also represented the Western Section on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Clinical Urologists (AACU).

Dr. Rhee earned his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in biology and political science from Emory University and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. A graduate of the 2010–2011 AUA Leadership Program, Dr. Rhee has continually leveraged his dual expertise in medicine and business to drive systemic improvements in healthcare delivery, policy, and education.

Dr. Rhee’s career exemplifies a commitment to transforming healthcare while empowering the next generation of urologists and healthcare leaders. His work continues to inspire those in the medical and healthcare policy fields.