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Division of Urology — Residency Program

Overview

Urology Residents assisting in surgery

The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) urology training program is an ACGME accredited 5-year residency, currently accepting 2 residents per match cycle. For the most current information, please check this website and the American Urological Association (AUA) Matching Program, as well as the Society of Academic Urologists. Effective July 1, 2019, all ACGME accredited Urology Residency Programs are 60 months in length (5 years). Pre-requisites that were once completed in a General Surgery program prior to matriculation into a Urology program have become part of the Urology Residency Training Program. 

The program is based at several hospitals in the Galveston/Houston area: UTMB Jennie Sealy Hospital, UTMB League City/Victory Lakes Hospital, UTMB Clear Lake Campus, Texas Children's Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Hospital Galveston (Texas Department of Corrections). UTMB is a designated Level 1 Trauma Center.

Program

The URO-1 year is an integration between the Division of Urology and the Department of General Surgery. Six months consists of Adult Urology and the remaining year with various General Surgery rotations outlined according to the Urology Residency Program Requirements.

The URO-2 year offers concentrated outpatient services where the resident learns urologic diagnosis, radiography and endoscopy with supervision from the chief resident and attending staff. Rounds and nights on call give contact with inpatients, and time is spent in the operating room assisting and, as skills develop, performing surgery. This rotation also allows the URO-2 resident to learn and participate in the initial evaluation, diagnosis, selection and implementation of therapies, and management of complications in both the outpatient and inpatient settings. It also gives the resident the opportunity to learn and perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the outpatient setting and to gain surgical experience in the operating room setting. The URO-2 also spends time running the pediatric service with both outpatient and inpatient responsibilities as well as performing cases in the operating room.

The URO-3 year includes a two (2) month off-campus rotation in pediatric urology at Texas Children’s Hospital.  The remaining rotations for the URO-3 include all aspects of services provided within the program in both outpatient, inpatient, and OR settings.

The URO-4 year incorporates intensified experience in inpatient and operative urology. Open, endoscopic, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery are performed both as assistant and primary surgeon, with appropriate support from the chief resident and faculty. Additionally, this year includes two months of off-campus rotations in urologic oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center as well as the opportunity for electives time in research or additional clinical activities.

Leading overall urological services is the hallmark of the URO-5 year (chief resident). With appropriate supervision the URO-5 participates in all major procedures performed with the goal of operating autonomously by the end of training. The URO-5 also runs the inpatient services, overseeing the team in managing perioperative patients as well as consults. Chief Residents are expected to serve as mentors to junior residents as well as students. Administratively, the chief assists in managing resident schedules, education conferences, and ensuring the day to day operations of the service go smoothly.

Conferences

Three hours of protected educational time is provided weekly. Clinical teaching rounds are held at each of the hospitals.  Tumor boards with medical oncology, pathology, radiology, and radiation oncology are held regularly. Weekly didactic educational conferences provide exposure to selected topics based mainly on the AUA core curriculum. Upcoming case/x ray conference is held weekly. Monthly journal clubs and selected grand rounds supplement scheduled educational activities. Distinguished national and international lecturers are often invited as visiting professors. Regular morbidity and mortality conferences are also held. In addition, we are proud to be the only urology program incorporating a high value care curriculum in the form of the Movement to Accelerate Value Education Nationally (MAVEN) presented by the High Value Practice Academic Alliance (HVPAA).

Virtual Tour

To see our campuses across Galveston County please follow this link to a virtual of UTMB Health facilities.