Urology Residency Program
At Northwestern, we are very excited about our residency program. We are a busy, growing program, adding three residents per year. During the course of training, residents gain excellent, state-of-the-art subspecialty experience in urologic oncology, endourology, laparoscopic/minimally invasive urology, infections, female urology, erectile dysfunction, and male infertility. Mentoring in the clinics during each rotation, at each hospital, is an established and important aspect of the training program; we value a balance between inpatient and outpatient care as both are vital components of any residency program. Additionally, there is one-to-one mentoring between residents and the faculty they select to help with career development.
Program Description
The Department of Urology is proud of the diversity of its faculty and residents, the varying and abundant patient populations it draws, the strength of our basic science and clinical research programs, and the full representation of subspecialty urology, and we continue to make every effort to increase the depth of faculty and patient population. In addition, we are pleased to fund external educational opportunities and materials and offer a state-of-the-art facility in which our residents work. Many of our residents go on to complete subspecialty fellowships in well-respected programs and institutions.
The residency in urology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine is a six-year program. Starting July 2006, the entire six years of the program are directed by the Department of Urology. The curriculum includes a full year of research. Northwestern Memorial, Children’s Memorial, John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County and Jesse Brown VA Medical Center participate in the residency program.
Clinical Experience
Residents begin full-time urology rotations in the first two years, while also completing focused, intensive rotations in general surgery, transplant surgery and surgical intensive care. These rotations are designed to provide early urology residents with the necessary skills needed for the more advanced urology rotations. Throughout the five years of clinical urology, residents learn enhanced clinical skills in inpatient, outpatient and office settings with adult and pediatric urology patients. The curriculum includes eight months of electives (four months each in the second and fourth years of residency) in which residents may choose specific clinical rotations in urology or other fields. During the final two clinical years, the resident is the most senior member of the housestaff on all rotations, allowing for significant patient care and operative experience.
Residents obtain sub-specialty experience in endo-, neuro-, female, and laparoscopic/minimally invasive urology, as well as in urological oncology, infections, erectile dysfunction, and male infertility. At a major pediatric tertiary referral center, they see complex hypospadias cases, ureteral reimplantations, pyeloplasties and other more routine pediatric urologic problems. Mentoring in clinics during each rotation at each hospital is an established and important aspect of the residency program.
Research
During the research year, generally the fourth or fifth training year, residents are encouraged to design and implement a basic science or clinical research project. They are allowed to work with scientists within or outside the department. During this year, residents have minimal clinical duties. The experience enables residents to immerse themselves in research and learn more about their potential career interests.
Seminars and Conferences
Residents attend grand rounds as well as the following conferences: multidisciplinary genitourinary oncology, preoperative/morbidity and mortality, education, and research. Many citywide, regional, and national meetings allow additional educational opportunities.
Positions Offered
Three residents are selected each year. Candidates apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). For information and registration, see www.aamc.org/students/eras/start.htm.
Clinical Training Program
The clinical training program takes advantage of approximately 492 beds at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH); 232 beds at the Veteran's Administration (VA) Hospital; 248 beds at Children's Memorial Hospital (CMH), located 10 minutes from the campus and connected by a shuttle bus; and 464 beds in John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County.
Throughout the resident's clinical and laboratory experience, s/he has close contact with both senior and junior faculty members who confine their regular clinical activity to the McGaw Medical Center. Didactic presentations, seminars, a formal pathology course, and continuous informal contact characterize the residency experience at Northwestern.
Contact Information
If you have questions about the residency program or the application process, please contact:
Kelly Ross, Education Coordinator
(312) 503-3238
k-ross@northwestern.edu
