The Current State of Urological Residency Education

Abstract

Introduction: We reviewed literature pertaining to the current state of urological education for residents in the United States.

Methods: A literature review was performed to identify relevant manuscripts using a key word search of the PubMed® and MEDLINE® databases. Central themes of the literature were identified and summarized for the purpose of this review.

Results: A literature search identified 23 articles related to urological residency education. Key themes identified in the available literature included surgical simulation, decreasing open experience, and improving the efficiency and quality of resident education and evaluation. With increasing limitations in available resident training hours as well as increasing utilization of minimally invasive approaches in the field of urology it is important to critically assess how urological residents are trained.

Conclusions: As the scope and complexity of medical knowledge and surgical approaches evolve in the field of urology it is imperative to critically evaluate how urological residents are trained to ensure that graduating residents are prepared to provide outstanding patient care as independent surgeons.

Keywords: education, medical; internship and residency; models, educational; surgeons; urology.