Division of Urology Curriculum

The Urology Residency at UMDNJ spans a total of five years of training, to include one year of pre-specialty training in General Surgery and four years of Urology. Two residents serve at each level. The residency is tailored towards acquiring the skill set outlined by the six core competencies listed below:

•  Patient care

•  Medical knowledge

•  Interpersonal and communication skills

•  Professionalism

•  Practice based learning and improvement

•  Systems based practice

Each year, you will have had opportunity to attend several important urological seminars and resident competitions. You will be provided with a complimentary set of Campbell 's Urology, and a $300 book allowance annually. Academic, as well as clinical excellence is expected of all of our residents; publication of articles in the scientific literature is strongly encouraged.

Pre-specialty training (PGY1):

The first year is an intensive clinical exposure to General Surgery and the surgical specialties at University Hospital (UH), Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC), and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).

First Year Urology Training (PGY2):

Six months of the year will be spent at UH. With the arrival in July, 2003 of the new Urology Division Chief and Program Director, Dr. Mark L. Jordan, an active program of laparoscopic urology, urologic oncology, robotic surgery, endourology and renovascular surgery is being developed. Three new Faculty have recently joined our Division. Dr. Georgi Guruli is an expert in Urologic Oncology and researcher in prostate cancer. Dr. Rahul Bhalla is fellowship trained in Minimally Invasive Urology, Laparoscopy, and Robotic Surgery and brings state of the art treatment in these areas. Our newest faculty member, Dr. Neil Sherman , brings expertise in Female and Reconstructive Urology and runs the new state of the art Endoscopy and Urodynamics Suite. The presence of a Physician's Assistant will greatly enhance your experience. You will become certified in Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) while the presence of a Level 1 Trauma Center will provide excellent experience in the care of genitourinary trauma. There are two Ph.D.'s in the Division, and we encourage you to become involved in research projects during this rotation. Grand Rounds are held weekly, with a monthly Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) Conference.

The second half of the year will be spent at the VAMC. Dr. Patricia Gilhooly has a special interest in Female Urology and GU cancer protocols. Dr. Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad leads the effort in erectile dysfunction. Dr. Todd Linsenmeyer at the nearby Kessler Institute is an expert in the spinal-cord injured patient.

Second Year Urology (PGY3):

This year alternates between Pediatric Urology at St Barnabas Medical Center (6 months) and Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) for 6 months. Drs. Moneer Hanna and Jeffrey Stock at SBMC are outstanding pediatric urologists known for their clinical expertise. The resident is responsible for the clinical service and scrubs on all pediatric cases, as well as presenting Pediatric Grand Rounds monthly. This rotation provides a one-on-one intensive exposure to pediatric urology.

The 6 months at HUMC encourages a close, clinical interaction between Urology residents and active, suburban urologists in private practice. During this time, the PGY3 resident will develop further clinical skills on endoscopy and also assists in major open cases.

Third Year (PGY 4):

This year is spent at HUMC. The emphasis is on (1) Continuing the development of your clinical skills, (2) Development of teaching and administrative skills as you advance towards your Chief Resident year. Each PGY 4 will assume the role of administrative resident for 6 months. Participation as surgeon in all major surgical cases and guiding the junior resident (PGY 3) are key goals, as well as participating in clinical studies and honing of presentation skills.

Chief Year (PGY 5):

Your final year will round out your operative and diagnostic experience and you will gain administrative experience as Chief Resident. During this final year you will be expected to perform most major operative cases independently with the assistance of the junior resident, but at all times under direct faculty supervision. Junior residents under your supervision present case discussions and topical reviews at Grand Rounds. As Chief Resident, you will take an active role in assuring not only that you yourself are receiving maximum benefit from your training, but also that you are making a strong, lasting, positive impact on the training experience of those who will follow.