Beyond TURP Legacy
Redefining Prostate Care: The Evolution of VMMC's Beyond TURP Series and the Vision for Urology Week 2027
The landscape of urologic care is shifting rapidly, moving away from conventional methods toward highly precise, minimally invasive interventions. At the forefront of this evolution in the Philippines is the Department of Urology of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.
Through its flagship Beyond TURP series, the department has consistently provided urologists with a forward-looking perspective on the management of benign prostatic diseases, blending cutting-edge clinical education with a profound commitment to patient care.
As the department looks toward Urology Week 2027, this legacy of innovation is set to reach new heights, uniting advanced surgical technology with community-centered healthcare.
Advanced endoscopic enucleation with live surgical demonstrations.
Minimally invasive surgical therapies and the first event as a full Department.
Holistic men's health, prostate oncology, surgical workflow, and collaboration.
The Genesis: Rediscovering Enucleation (2023)
The journey began on March 30-31, 2023, at VMMC's Valdes Hall with the inaugural event: the 12th Postgraduate Course, Beyond TURP - Rediscovering the World of Enucleation. This milestone marked the first postgraduate course for the then Section of Urology to feature a live surgical demonstration.
Headlined by Korean endourologist Sung Yong Cho alongside international experts, the course explored the full spectrum of endoscopic enucleation techniques for benign prostatic obstruction.
- HoLEP: Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate.
- ThuLEP and ThuFLEP: Thulium laser enucleation variants.
- MiLEP and Bipolep: Bipolar and minimally invasive enucleation approaches.
The sessions went beyond theory, offering attendees practical troubleshooting strategies and critical insights into managing intraoperative complications.
The Expansion: Beyond TURP 2.0 and MIST (2025)
Building on its initial success, the series returned on March 8, 2025, at Seda Vertis North with Beyond TURP 2.0 - Management for BPH. This iteration marked a historic internal milestone: the first postgraduate course organized by the newly elevated, standalone Department of Urology of VMMC.
Beyond TURP 2.0 expanded past enucleation to explore the rapidly growing field of Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapies.
Image-guided robotic waterjet ablation.
Mechanical implants and temporary nitinol devices.
Water vapor thermal therapy.
Interventional radiologic approaches.
The Future: Beyond TURP 3.0 and Urology Week 2027
The achievements of the past four years have laid a robust foundation for the next chapter: Urology Week 2027, featuring the highly anticipated Beyond TURP 3.0.
Designed as a comprehensive academic and community program, Urology Week 2027 serves as a dynamic platform for education, service, collaboration, and innovation. The program gathers clinicians, trainees, allied health professionals, industry partners, and community stakeholders around a shared goal: translating complex technical knowledge into better clinical decisions, safer procedures, and clearer patient communication.
- Benign Prostatic Enlargement
- Prostate cancer management and oncology
- Comprehensive men's health
- Surgical workflow optimization
From its roots in laser enucleation to the future of robotic and community-centered care, the VMMC Department of Urology continues to redefine prostate care, ensuring that veterans and the broader community alike receive world-class, evidence-based treatment.