The Department of Urology
Undergraduate Medical Education
University of Tennessee Students
The Department of Urology offers two courses for Medical Student Education. Students have full access to our Medical Simulation Center where opportunities are provided to increase surgical skills. New laparoscopic trainers offer students the ability to practice a variety of skills, such as suturing, dissection and pattern cutting, and allow the students to improve their visual, tactile and coordination skills. These training procedures range from the basics, such as drawing blood to more sophisticated procedures. Sim Man, a full-sized patient simulator, offers training using pre-programmed scenarios, instructor-created scenarios, and on the fly training. Simulation equipment and models include adult and newborn human patient models, endovascular simulator, procedural models, and laparoscopic surgery trainers and instruments.Since the number of students on the urology rotation is small, students have the opportunity to receive individualized attention from the staff. Faculty members are passionate about the field of urology, well known throughout the country for their expertise, and dedicated to teaching. Opportunities to continue to receive the benefit of the faculty teaching skills are available through the urology residency program. Urology Education at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville is designed to exceed the special requirements for residency training in general surgery and produce physicians with sound clinical and technical skills. Our residency is a five-year program that is fully accredited by the ACGME. We offer two categorical positions per year. The program graduates have been highly successful in securing post-graduate fellowships, clinical practice positions, and pursuing careers in academic surgery.
Throughout the rotation, emphasis is placed upon developing skills needed by physicians in urologic diagnoses and appropriate referral. Required scheduled urologic conferences (M & M, Grand Rounds, and Professorial Rounds) are help daily in the mornings at 6:30 a.m. Students are required to attend conferences. Students may be asked to present a seminar at the end of the rotation.
Third Year Clerkship: Urology (URO-35020)
The Urology Department offers a 2-week face to face Urology Career Exploration Clerkship (URO-35020). Each student participating in the urology clerkship will explore urology as a potential career choice. Students will be expected to display a fund of knowledge consistent with his/her level of training, demonstrate self-directed learning, thoroughness, consistency and reliability, and relate well to families, team members and patients. The student’s level of patient care responsibility will be determined based on the student’s skill level and at the discretion of the supervising attending. Participation in resident conferences and rounds with house staff and faculty are expected.
Fourth-Year Elective: URO-40110 Junior Internship in Urology
The Urology JI is offered as a 4-week rotation with the goal to obtain medical knowledge and patient care experience, both inpatient and outpatient. The M4 student will gain exposure and clinical experience to a variety of urological diseases. This rotation incorporates both smaller, elective outpatient procedures as well as more complex procedures and the student may expect a healthy mixture of open and minimally invasive/robotic surgery techniques. The Urology JI is an intense clinical rotation with a very robust operative and technical exposure with the potential for increased autonomy. The student will fully participate in evaluation and management of patients and function as an integral member of the health care team. Students will be on-call for in-house and weekend call with the on-call attending/resident during the rotation. Patient exposure, outpatient clinic and hospital rotation will be exclusively at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville and University Urology, PC. This JI is recommended for those seriously considering urology residency.
Visiting Medical Students (4th Year)
Fourth-Year Elective: URO-40110 Junior Internship in Urology
The student will act as an Intern on this service and be exposed to all aspects of a University-based Urology Service. The student will be responsible with one house staff member for approximately 25-30 patients and will assist in surgery. The student should obtain good 'hands on' diagnostic urological skills and be given duties commensurate with demonstrated ability, knowledge and skills. The student will attend Surgery Grand Rounds, and the weekly M & M and Cancer Meeting Conferences. In addition, the student will participate in the monthly GU Radiology Conference. The student will attend weekly departmental conferences. This JI is recommended for those seriously considering a urology residency.
Guidelines The University of Tennessee, College of Medicine has elective opportunities available at its sites in Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville, and Jackson for students from other medical schools.
To be eligible for consideration, students must meet the following criteria:
- Visiting students must be candidate for the M.D. or D.O. degree in good standing in their final year of training in an accredited medical school or from institutions with which UTHSC has a formal exchange program.
- Visiting students shall be limited to a maximum of (8 weeks) of experience at UTMCK during their medical school career. Electives will be assigned to visiting students only after all University of Tennessee students have been scheduled.
- All visiting students must have:
- coverage for malpractice/liability insurance in the amount of $1 million per incident and $3 million aggregate from their institution or from acceptable other sources
- health insurance
- required immunizations for measles, rubella, influenza, and Hepatitis B
- taken a TB skin test within the past year
- been certified in CPR within the past year
- Passed USMLE Step 1 or COMLEX Part 1
- Visiting students must have completed instruction in the basic physical examination and have a working knowledge of general ward procedures. All electives require that the student has completed the basic Family Medicine, Medicine, Neurology, Pediatrics, Surgery, Psychiatry, and Obstetrics-Gynecology clerkships. All students must have met the prerequisites of the clerkship to which they are applying. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Dean of Medical Education, campus Associate Dean or their designee at the recommendation of the Department Chair or their designee.
Application Process
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center will be using VSAS, the Visiting Student Application Service, to receive visiting student applications for the upcoming academic year for all campus locations. Applications may be submitted thru VSAS starting on April 1. Completed applications MUST be submitted and received before availability of slots will be discussed. Applications must be submitted at least 8 weeks prior to the desired rotation dates.
To apply, please complete and submit your VSAS application for your preferred electives and dates. Please upload your photograph, CV, immunization form, and transcript into VSAS. USMLE Step I or COMLEX score should be uploaded as a supplemental document in VSAS. For questions or additional information about VSAS, please visit www.aamc.org/vsas or contact VSAS at vsas@aamc.org or (202)478-9878.
Visiting Student Housing
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Knoxville campus does not provide housing for visiting medical students. It is the student's responsibility to secure their housing.
For additional information or questions about our visiting student electives, please contact The Office of Medical Student Education.
