Program Overview

Urology

PGY-1 & 2

During the first two years of training the Urology resident completes Surgical Foundations and Foundations of Discipline (Urology). The objective of these first two years is to give the trainee a strong foundation in the basic principles of surgery. Upon completion of these pre-urology years, the trainee will have amassed sufficient knowledge to successfully complete Part II of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination and the Surgical Foundations Exam.

PGY-3 to PGY-5

The final three years of residency are devoted to Core Urology training. During this time, the resident rotates through all subspecialty and general urology rotations at the clinical teaching sites which include the University of Alberta Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Misericordia Community Hospital, Grey Nuns Community Hospital, Stollery Children's Health Centre and the Dianne and Irvine Kipnes Urology Centre (DIKUC). The main adult teaching units are the University of Alberta Hospital and the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Ambulatory urology training is centralized at the DIKUC located adjacent to the University of Alberta Hospital. This ambulatory centre is ideally suited to residency training for it encompasses all outpatient clinics (including multidisciplinary clinics), cystoscopy, shock wave lithotripsy, minor procedures and urodynamics. All academic (didactic) teaching and most clinical research endeavours also occur at the DIKUC site.

Clinical rotations in urology offer training in all aspects of adult and pediatric urology (urologic oncology, reconstructive urology, laparoscopy / minimally invasive and robotic surgery, stone disease / endourology, urodynamics and female urology, pediatric urology, BPH, erectile dysfunction and renal transplantation). Responsibility is graduated; however, with a small program and a large clinical volume operative experience is gained early.

Rotations

PGY-1
The PGY1 year is a component of the 2-year Surgical Foundations Program with appropriate modifications incorporated for Urology Residents. It consists of:

  • 16 weeks Adult Urology

  • 12 weeks General Surgery

  • 4 weeks Pediatric Urology

  • 4 weeks Nephrology

  • 4 weeks Emergency Medicine

  • 8 weeks Selective (choose 2: Radiology, CCU, Internal Medicine)

  • 4 weeks Vacation

PGY-2
The PGY2 year is a component of the 2-year Surgical Foundations Program with appropriate modifications for each specific discipline. It will consist of:

  • 20 weeks Adult Urology

  • 8 weeks Pediatric Urology

  • 12 weeks ICU

  • 12 weeks Vascular Surgery

PGY3 to 5
The final three years of training involve exposure to all aspects of Adult and Pediatric Urology. Responsibility is graduated; however, with a small training program and a large clinical volume, operative experience is gained early.

Rotations include:

    • General Urology

    • Pediatric Urology

    • Oncology 1 (penile/testicular)

    • Oncology 2 (prostate/bladder)

    • Oncology 3 (renal/adrenal)

    • Genito-Urinary Reconstruction

    • Andrology/Infertility

    • Renal Transplantation

    • Endourology (stones)

    • Female Urology

    • Elective (2 blocks in PGY4)