Abstract
The Diokno-Lapides Essay Contest was originally established in 1984 as the Jack Lapides Essay Contest on Urodynamic and Neurourology Research. Developed by Ananias Diokno to honor his mentor, Jack Lapides at the University of Michigan, it was funded by a grant from Marion Laboratories. The contest recognizes individuals doing outstanding work in neurourology and has been awarded yearly since 1985. Renamed the Diokno-Lapides Essay Contest in 2014, it has generated significant papers and discoveries in neurourology. Spanning 40 years, winners and other participants have attested to the contest's influence on their careers and its opportunities for networking and mentorship across the global urology community.