Thomas Polascik, MD, received the Focal Therapy Society Medal for Distinguished Lifetime Contribution to men’s health from the American Urological Association (AUA) in recognition of his work advancing focal therapy as a treatment for prostate cancer patients. Polascik is the director of surgical technology for the Duke Cancer Institute Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers.

Since 2006, Polascik has been a leader in the field of focal therapy for prostate cancer. His work focuses on developing minimally invasive, image-guided treatments that target tumors in the prostate, preserving as much of the healthy tissue as possible.

According to the Focal Therapy Society, this approach offers a precise and effective alternative to traditional treatments, improving patient outcomes, particularly urinary control and sexual function.

“Patients come to us hesitant about receiving radical radiation or radical surgery to treat their cancer,” Polascik said. “When we can localize and eradicate the tumor in a less invasive way, we can help preserve the patient’s quality of life.”

The Focal Therapy Society medal was inaugurally presented to Polascik during the AUA’s annual meeting, which took place in April 2025. At the meeting, he was also selected as chair of the Male Genital Expert Panel for the American Joint Committee on Cancer and named to the Endourological Society’s 2025-26 Board of Directors.

“Our rapidly advancing field was built on the vision and dedication of pioneers,” said Art Rastinehad, DO, vice president of the Focal Therapy Society. “Dr. Polascik has been instrumental in translating focal therapy from bench to bedside, driving its global adoption as a life-saving treatment that preserves a man’s quality of life. We are proud to honor his unwavering commitment and leadership.”