An update on the current status of medical student urology education in the United States

Abstract

Objective: To provide an updated report on the status of urology education in the United States.

Methods: Forty-one randomly selected accredited medical schools in the United States were surveyed concerning their urology curriculum. All schools were included in the randomization, even those that had not produced any successful urology applicants during the past 5 years.

Results: In 48% of the schools, there were no urology lectures or coursework required before third-year clinical rotations. Two schools (5%) had a mandatory urology clinical clerkship. All schools offered an elective urology clerkship during either the third or fourth year of medical school. Fifty-five percent of medical schools used a core curriculum, and 31% based their curriculum on the American Urological Association's medical student core curriculum. Twenty-nine percent used Web-based resources during their clerkship, and 21% had a urology interest group.

Conclusion: This survey further reveals that there is a decline in exposure of medical students in the United States to formal urology teaching. In an attempt to minimize any possible adverse impact and to ensure that students are being exposed to the most important urologic topics and skills needed, some medical schools have instituted the use of a core curriculum in their clerkships. Despite the persistent decline in required medical student exposure to urology, urology residency programs remain extremely competitive.