Curriculum and Scholarly Activity
Basic Urology Curriculum
Urology residents are expected to acquire knowledge in the field of urology in at least the following ways: didactic lectures and clinical conferences, in the care of patients in the clinic, hospital, and operating room, guided by attending supervision and in self-study. The department has an established basic urology curriculum that is a comprehensive coverage of the major fields of urology including (1) anatomy and evaluation of the urologic patient, (2) renal and adrenal physiology/pathophysiology and renal transplantation, (3) oncology, (4) female/neurourology, (5) BPH, (6) infectious disease, (7) sexual function and dysfunction, (8) trauma/reconstruction, (9) stone/endourology, (10) infertility and (11) pediatric urology. The curriculum is designed to follow a two-year cycle such that during the course of the four-year urology training residents will have completed a complete curriculum twice. In addition to the core curriculum weekly conference, the department conducts urology grand rounds which covers a host of topics germane to the practice of urology. A weekly indications/case presentation conference is also held wherein upcoming surgical cases are discussed in detail in an educational format. In addition to these weekly conferences, the department also conducts a monthly journal club, multidisciplinary conference, and a monthly morbidity and mortality conference.
Research and Scientific Presentations
All residents in the urology training program are required to engage in scholarly activity. This is accomplished through one year of non-accredited research. Residents are expected to have at least one publication before completing the training program in urology satisfactorily. In fact, most residents will complete a number of projects and present their findings at national and regional meetings. All residents are required to present two researched topics (in didactic lecture form) at the Wednesday morning conference each year of their residency. Basic science research is not necessarily encouraged for the resident physician. However, if a resident possesses specific talents that lend themselves to participation in ongoing basic scientific research, and if it is approved by the appropriate faculty, then permission will be granted for these special cases. A standard resident travel policy exists in which residents are funded for approved meetings if he or she is presenting an academic paper or participating in an academic program. Intermediate level urology residents are also supported to attend the American Urological Association Basic Science Review Course held in Charlottesville, Virginia each year.