The urology curriculum at RUSH features a yearlong intern skills curriculum and dedicated surgical training.
Educational Conferences
Didactic Program
Lectures are given and moderated by faculty each Tuesday morning on a wide range of core urology topics. The curriculum features 60 topics that rotate on an annual basis.
Grand Rounds
Every Wednesday morning, faculty and guest speakers present on the foundational principles and hot topics in Urology. Residents also present educational case based presentations under the mentorship of a faculty member.
Morbidity and Mortality
Each month the faculty, fellow, and residents gather to discuss and learn from the challenging cases of the previous month.
Tumor Board
Tumor Board is conducted on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month. Complex Urologic Oncology cases are discussed by a multidisciplinary team of Urologic Oncologist, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Interventional Radiology and Pathology.
Journal Club
Each month, journal club is conducted to discuss and critically appraise recent literature from leading Urologic journals such as the European Journal of Urology & Journal of Urology.
Pediatric Urology Surgery Conference
While at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago for pediatrics, the resident participate in the weekly academic conference on Friday mornings.
Surgical Skills Education
Cadaveric Anatomy & Labs, Surgical Simulators
In addition to weekly conferences and lectures, residents have the ability to improve their surgical technique and anatomical understanding through wet lab experiences and surgical simulators. Cadavers are available for anatomic dissections multiple times each year.
The Urology Department at Rush also features a state of the art robotic simulator (Mimic simulator), DaVinci Si and Xi simulators, and laparoscopic trainer (Simbionix LAP Mentor) which residents have access to at all times to improve their surgical skills. These simulators provide real-time feedback that residents can use to enhance their surgical skills on laparoscopic and robotic cases.
Additional Highlights
National Courses and Conferences
Funding is provided by the Department of Urology for residents to attend several different conferences throughout their training.
American Urological Association Board Review Course
Both fifth year residents attend the AUA board review course in the Spring, which reviews the key topics for the boards.
Annual Review Course
All second year residents attend the Annual Urology Review Course in the Spring. The conference reviews the key topics for the boards.
The American Urological Association Annual Meeting
The American Urological Association Annual Meeting is the largest Urology meeting in the world covering all subspecialties. All fifth year residents as well as residents presenting podium and poster presentations attend the annual meeting each year. The meeting features the world-class research in urology as well as a full day of lectures dedicated to residents. The day covers topics on business practices such as contract negotiation, malpractice insurance, billing and coding, finding your first job, and marketing.
Academic Meetings
Residents of all years are encouraged to attend additional review courses including the Sexual Medicine Society of North America, World Congress of Endourology, Society of Urologic Oncology, Society of Urodynamics and Female Pelvic Medicine.
Research
Residents have ample opportunities to get involved in research in all subspecialties. Residents that have their research accepted as oral presentations at one of the major domestic Urology society meetings (AUA, SUO, SMSNA, SPU, GURS, SUFU, WCE) are funded to attend and present their work by the Department of Urology.