The Department of Urology

Urology Residency Program Curriculum

Clinical Training

In this competitive program, urology residents gain experience providing clinical and surgical care of adult and pediatric patients. Residents rotate through three hospitals, three private practices, and one free-standing pediatric surgery center. The program includes abundant clinical training for resident experience in all aspects of urology. Surgical training is unparalleled with surgical volume and autonomy.

The department helps residents accomplish their goals by:

• Providing abundant clinical training material for resident experience in all aspects of urology.
• Providing opportunities to operate and master surgical judgement and techniques.
• Promoting the development of critical diagnostic and analytic qualities, both in patient care and in reading and interpretation of medical literature.
• Providing opportunities for basic science research as well as clinical and surgical research projects corresponding to the individual resident’s interests.
• Assisting in the development of teaching, writing and speaking skills to enhance career options.

Research

The faculty recognizes the importance of scholarly research in contributing to the expansion of the greater good and are always available for assistance. Accordingly, strong relationships have been forged between the division and several academic departments at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine.

Ongoing research includes industry-sponsored clinical trials, animal lab research conducted at the University of Tennessee School of Veterinary Medicine, collaborative prospective and retrospective studies with the Department of Radiology and Radiation Oncology, as well as ongoing research under the guidance of the UT Cancer Institute at several Oak Ridge National Laboratories in Oak Ridge, TN.

As stated, basic science laboratories are available through the Department of Surgical Research with PhD support. Animal lab facilities are available both at UTMCK as well as at the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Residents are encouraged, but not required to, complete research during their training.

Conferences

The didactic program includes the core curriculum of lectures and discussions based on Campbell's Urology textbook; weekly Morbidity and Mortality Conference; monthly Journal Club; monthly Practice and Professionalism Conference where guest lecturers are invited to discuss topics relating to practice development and professionalism in a seminar format; and Surgery Grand Rounds in which faculty or visiting professors present updates of various topics of interest within and without the fields of surgery.

The importance given to the didactic program by the faculty is evidenced by the fact that residents are excused from all activities except absolute emergencies to attend conferences.

Morbidity and Mortality

Residents and faculty meet collectively at 6:30am every Tuesday to discuss surgical complications. A review of the events leading to the complication is examined with particular emphasis on practice improvement.

Pre-Operative Conference

Residents and faculty discuss interesting cases acquired during the week as well as upcoming surgical cases. Radiographs are presented and residents are expected to answer questions regarding the case itself as well as the disease process and its management. This conference is held immediately following Morbidity and Mortality.

"Campbell's" Conference

One designated faculty member will meet with the residents each Tuesday morning at 8am to discuss one to two chapters from the Campbell's Urology textbook. In general, residents will be expected to read the assigned chapter(s) and complete its accompanying Study Guide questions. Residents can expect to review the entire four volumes over the course of two years.

Genitourinary Pathology Conference

A combined urology-pathology-radiology conference is held on the first Monday of each month at 7am. A particular disease process, usually malignant in origin, is chosen for each meeting. Patients seen in our urology clinics are discussed by us. The radiographs of these patients are discussed by radiology residents and attending radiologists. This conference offers an excellent educational experience with particular emphasis on continuity of patient care and a better understanding of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of urologic diseases.

Grand Rounds

Grand Rounds is held every Thursday at 7am. Current topics within and outside of the field of urology are discussed by invited internal and external faculty members.

Practice and Professionalism

Understanding the increasing role that business and practice management plays on one's clinical success has led to this multidimensional conference that meets approximately every six weeks at 5pm. This conference brings in lawyers, financial planners, ethics professors, and the like to speak on topics relevant to one's future as a practitioner.

The W. Bedford Waters Visting Professorship

The W. Bedford Waters, MD Visiting Professorship was established in honor of W. Bedford Waters. Dr. Waters was the first chief of the Division of Urology at UTGSM and a key advocate in implementing resident education at the University of Tennessee as a whole. Invited Professors are generally nationally recognized authorities and significant contributors to the field of urology. The professorship focuses on a full day of resident education and presentations