Baltimore, M.D. — December 30, 2025 — For nearly 30 years, Dr. Arthur L. Burnett II, internationally recognized urologist and Patrick C. Walsh Professor of Urology at Johns Hopkins Medicine, has played a defining leadership role in shaping the lives and futures of young men across Baltimore through sustained mentorship, strategic program development, and community-driven impact.
Dr. Burnett has served in a long-standing leadership and advisory capacity with Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood, a Baltimore-based youth mentorship initiative supporting boys and young men ages 8–18. Its mission is to build self-esteem, positive character, and academic ambition through regular mentorship sessions, guest speakers, and life skills guidance. The program has been operating since 1996 and has worked with more than 3,000 youth over the past decades.
His contributions have extended far beyond governance, helping to design programming focused on academic persistence, positive identity development, civic engagement, and long-term life outcomes.
Under Dr. Burnett’s guidance, the program has consistently served 35–40 participants per session, creating a stable mentorship environment that emphasizes discipline, respect, school attendance, and drug-free living. He has been instrumental in integrating exposure-based learning into the program ensuring participants experience environments that broaden expectations and expand possibility.
Beyond program initiatives, Dr. Burnett’s influence is reflected in the consistency and longevity of the mentorship model itself. As a physician, educator, and community leader, he has leveraged his professional expertise to mentor young men while modeling accountability, excellence, and service. Alumni of the program credit sustained mentorship and exposure to professional role models as key factors in remaining engaged in school and pursuing higher education or career pathways.
As Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood approaches its 30th anniversary in 2026, the milestone underscores Dr. Burnett’s enduring leadership and commitment to measurable community impact. His work demonstrates how long-term mentorship rooted in consistency rather than visibility can shape generational outcomes.
“I’ve learned that mentorship isn’t a one-time lesson; it’s a long-term commitment to guiding someone and believing in their potential even before they believe in themselves.” Dr. Burnett said.
Dr. Burnett continues to advocate for mentorship as a critical strategy in youth development, education equity, and community health, emphasizing that early exposure and consistent guidance remain among the most effective tools for changing life trajectories.
Ways to Support Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood
As Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood approaches its 30th anniversary in 2026, community support remains essential to sustaining and expanding its impact. Those interested in supporting the organization’s mission to empower Baltimore youth through mentorship are encouraged to contribute.
Donations can be made in the following ways:
- Online: www.mentoringmaleteens.org
- Cash App: $mentoringmalez
- By Mail: Checks may be made payable to Mentoring Male Teens and mailed to
PO Box 6756, Columbia, MD 21045
The organization is deeply grateful for the many contributions Dr. Burnett has made over the years and for the continued generosity of supporters who help ensure this vital work continues for future generations.
About Dr. Arthur L. “Bud” Burnett II
Arthur L. “Bud” Burnett II, MD, MBA, FACS, is a trailblazing and globally recognized urologist, educator, and researcher at Johns Hopkins University, where he has served for more than 40 years as the Patrick C. Walsh Professor of Urology and Director of the Male Consultation Clinic. Celebrated as the first Black professor of urology at Johns Hopkins and past president of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America, Dr. Burnett pioneered research that made Viagra possible, performed thousands of prostate and urologic surgeries, and authored more than 500 peer-reviewed publications and three books — The Manhood Rx, Johns Hopkins Patient’s Guide to Prostate Cancer, and Prostate Cancer Survivors Speak Their Minds. He is also founder of UroMissionsWorks, a nonprofit expanding urologic care worldwide, and a decorated U.S. Army veteran.
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