Residency

The aim of the Saint Louis University Urology Residency Program is to provide a comprehensive educational experience that encompasses all aspects of clinical urology and research. Our program involves one year of general surgery and four clinical years of urology training, as well as weekly didactic teaching sessions. As residents progress through training, they will be given increased clinical and surgical responsibilities. We promote an environment of mentorship and teamwork between attending surgeons and residents.

Rotation

PGY-1

PGY-1 will be spent 6 months in general surgery and 6 months in Urology. For the general surgery rotations, the resident will rotate through core rotations that will lay a foundation for the years to come on Urology. These include Transplant, Surgical Oncology, Colorectal Surgery, General Surgery, and Pediatrics Surgery/Trauma. The rotations on Urology will allow you to lay a strong foundation into the fundamental problems in both adult and pediatric urology. Call will be a buddy-call system with the PGY5. 

PGY-2

PGY-2 year provides residents with a solid foundation in ambulatory and inpatient care in General and Pediatric Urology as well as progression in conference participation and leadership. The resident dives further into fundamental problems in general urology, including stone disease, incontinence, sexual dysfunction, voiding dysfunction, and oncology.  Surgical skills are introduced for endoscopic procedures and minor open surgery. The PGY-2 resident will attend ambulatory urology clinic staffed by the urology service with a focus on clinic management and procedures (cystoscopy, prostate biopsy, vasectomy, ect). They will also rotate for six months at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, and be exposed to a large volume and high complexity pediatric urology practice. Residents gain competence and confidence in the urologic and overall clinical evaluation of children, with particular attention to the physical examination and selection and interpretation of radiographic studies. The resident attends clinics and participates in surgery to the degree allowed by his or her experience and skills.

PGY-3

This rotation advances the residents solid foundation in ambulatory and inpatient care in General Urology. The resident progresses in their knowledge and management of stone disease, incontinence, sexual dysfunction, voiding dysfunction, and oncology. The resident will expand upon their surgical skills via the introduction of an increasing complexity of endoscopic (PCNLs) and open procedures (urethroplasties, prosthetics). Furthermore, the resident will begin bed-side assisting in robotic surgery so as to familiarize themselves with oncologic procedures. The second six months will involve increasing exposure to previously mentioned cases while also encouraging autonomy by allowing the resident to develop comfort with the management of their own inpatient census. The PGY-3 resident will continue to attend ambulatory urology clinic staffed by the urology service, while also furthering their surgical techniques in endoscopic surgery, open surgery and introducing minimally invasive procedures.

PGY-4

This year is aimed at mastering ambulatory and inpatient care and progressing in conference participation and leadership. The resident is continually exposed to fundamental problems in pediatric urology, including disorders of sexual development, hypospadias, pediatric genitourinary trauma, congenital genitourinary tract anomalies, voiding dysfunction, and pediatric urologic oncology.  Surgical skills are emphasized for complex open and minimally invasive pediatric urologic reconstructive procedures, including complex hypospadias repair, continent urinary diversion, and ureteral re-implantation. Meanwhile, the resident will be introduced to fundamental problems in uro-gynecology, pelvic prolapse, and female voiding dysfunction during their uro-gynecology rotation. The PGY-4 resident will attend ambulatory uro-gynecology clinic staffed by the St Mary’s uro-gynecology service, will participate in daily teaching rounds, and will take part in uro-gynecology surgical cases. This year culminates with exposure to complex stone disease, prosthetic urology, major oncology, and laparoscopic/robotic surgery at SLU Hospital.  Surgical skills are emphasized for complex endoscopic procedures, prosthetic devices, major open cases, and laparoscopic/robotic principles. The PGY-4 resident will attend ambulatory urology clinic staffed by the urology service, will participate in daily teaching rounds (with special emphasis on education of junior residents and medical students), and will take part in advanced surgical cases. The PGY-4 resident’s surgical focus is on the advanced surgical treatment techniques for complex endoscopic surgery, major open cases, and laparoscopic/robotic skill sets

PGY-5

This year focuses on mastering inpatient and ambulatory adult urology so that the resident can develop the comfort and confidence for practicing urology. The resident is continually exposed to fundamental problems in general urology, including complex stone disease, prosthetic urology, major oncology, and laparoscopic/robotic surgery.  Complex endoscopic procedures, prosthetic devices, major open cases, and laparoscopic/robotic principles are stressed with an emphasis on the solidifying any weakness the resident and/or attendings may perceive. They will also continue to perform and master clinic procedures such as cystoscopy, prostate biopsy and ultrasound, and vasectomies. The PGY-5 resident will have administrative duty of designing call schedule, leading morbidity and mortality conference, walking junior residents through procedures and orchestrating the care for inpatients. The PGY-5 resident’s surgical focus is on the advanced surgical treatment techniques for complex endoscopic surgery, major open cases, and laparoscopic/robotic skill sets.  Their clinical focus is on mastery of seeing patients in a timely manner, documenting on patients, and performing clinic procedures competently.