We offer a 5-year comprehensive urologic residency training program based at Temple University Hospital and Fox Chase Cancer Center. We have expanded our program from three to four residents a year beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year. Our expansion has been ACMGE approved due to the significant expansion of our department over the past several years. We are fortunate to have national and international experts treating all aspects of benign and oncologic urology. Many of our faculty are regionally and nationally recognized, fellowship-trained experts in such fields as urologic oncology, robotic surgery, endourology, trauma/reconstruction, voiding dysfunction, pediatric urology, female pelvic medicine, and gender affirming surgery.
As trainees progress through the program, clinical duties and surgical experience advance commensurate with clinical expertise and demonstrated surgical skills. Senior residents are responsible for teaching and supervising junior residents and medical students. As such, trainees must demonstrate proficiency as they progress through each level of the program. Proficiency is measured by the annual urologic in-service exam and bi-yearly faculty evaluations which are discussed confidentially with each resident.
Our residency program consists of five unique rotation sites each offering different expertise and practice styles:
- Temple University Hospital: general urology, andrology, gender affirming surgery, urologic oncology, reconstruction, neurourology
- Fox Chase Cancer Center: urologic oncology, reconstruction
- Temple University Hospital - Jeanes Campus: general urology, endourology, FPMRS, urologic oncology, reconstruction
- Chestnut Hill Hospital: general urology, andrology, endourology, FPMRS, urologic oncology, reconstruction
- St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children – Pediatrics
The PGY-1 curriculum consists of 6 months of General Surgery and 6 months of Urology, split between Temple University Hospital and Fox Chase Cancer Center. The general surgery rotations provide the resident with a foundation of knowledge and skill in the care of the acute surgical patient. Interns will rotate on services selected by the Urology department, namely trauma, the surgical intensive care unit, surgical oncology, acute care surgery, abdominal organ transplant, and night float services. During their urology rotations, the interns learn the post-operative management of urology patients, evaluate inpatient urology consults, and become familiar with basic urologic outpatient as well as hospital-based procedures.
The PGY-2 year consists of rotations at Temple University Hospital, Fox Chase Cancer Center, and Jeanes Hospital. The 2nd year curriculum focuses on outpatient urologic care and pre-operative evaluation, basic urologic principles, minor open and endourologic procedures, and exposure to robotic and laparoscopic surgery as bedside assistants. Residents become proficient in managing consults, triaging patients, and building their operative skills.
The PGY-3 year is spent at Temple University Hospital, Chestnut Hill Hospital, and St. Christopher’s Hospital on the pediatric urology rotation. Residents will continue to master advanced endourologic procedures and assist in major open urologic surgery, participating in procedures under the direct supervision of the chief resident and faculty. Early subspecialty training will be a focus on the Chestnut Hill rotation. Residents gain their first exposure to robotic surgical training in the role of the console surgeon both at Chestnut Hill and Temple University Hospitals. Additionally, 3rd year residents learn the basics of outpatient and operative management of pediatric urology patients on their pediatrics rotation.
The PGY-4 resident is expected to function at a senior-level and begin to take on the responsibility of chief resident at the program’s flagship institutions. Rotations this year will include Fox Chase Cancer Center, Chestnut Hill Hospital, and Pediatric Urology at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. The Fox Chase Cancer Center rotation focuses on all aspects of academic, clinical, and operative urologic oncology at an NCI designated comprehensive cancer center. The high-volume surgical experience emphasizes robotic and major open surgical cases. PGY 4 residents on the Chestnut Hill and pediatric urology rotations function as the chief residents of their service, mastering complex cases and supervising junior residents on the rotation.
Finally, the PGY-5 residents functions as the chief resident on the Fox Chase Cancer Center (4 months) and Temple University Hospital (8 months) rotations. The PGY-5 will become proficient in advanced endourology, major and minor open procedures, and minimally invasive surgery, including laparoscopic and robotic techniques. Under the supervision of our faculty, it is expected that the chief resident will be able to complete all procedures independently, and be capable of supervising the junior residents learning basic urologic procedures. Additionally, the PGY-5 class assumes administrative leadership roles, creating call-schedules and implementing the educational content delivered to residents during our weekly didactic conferences.