The University of Vermont offers a five-year urology residency program approved by the American Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and American Urological Association. Residents gain experience in both in-patient and outpatient procedures and care.
First Year
During the first year of training residents will spend six months in Adult Urology as well as the following rotations:
- Surgical Intensive Care Unit
- Blue/Bariatric
- Peds/Transplant
- Acute Care Surgery
- Plastics/Surgical Oncology
- Gynecologic Oncology
Second Year
For the second year of urologic residency training the goal will be to develop a working knowledge of urologic terminology, physiology and anatomy while developing skills in the management of patients with basic urologic disorders. The PGY-2 resident will also acquire fundamental surgical skills and develop an understanding of research principles including simple biostatistics and the language of scientific literature. While on a one-month rotation with Nephrology and Surgical Pathology each, the resident will gain a working knowledge of these specialties as relates to the important role for multidisciplinary input and care of the complicated urology patient. The resident will be able to demonstrate a knowledge base with respect to the role of the surgical pathologist in diagnosis determination and how that role integrates into treatment decision making.
Third Year
The goal for the third year of urologic residency training is to solidify a broad fund of basic urologic knowledge while developing the ability to diagnose and treat all basic adult urologic disorders as defined under the programmatic category of ambulatory urology. The successful resident will demonstrate the professionalism and communication skills required to function as an increasingly independent member of the treatment team. Further, the resident will have acquired a fundamental knowledge and skill set related to the evaluation and treatment of basic pediatric urologic disorders including emergency conditions in the pediatric urologic patient. While on a one-month Interventional Radiology rotation, the resident will gain a working knowledge of these specialties as relates to the important role for multidisciplinary input and care of the complicated urology patient. The resident will be able to demonstrate a knowledge base with respect to the appropriate and necessary use of interventional radiology for consultation as well as have a broad knowledge of the specialty's procedures and imaging interpretation.
Fourth Year
All goals and objectives from the previous years of Urology training will carry over to the 4th year of urology training. The 4th year urology resident will add to those goals and objectives the following:
- The senior resident training year is designed to formalize the transition of an individual from supervisor-directed and task-oriented residency training to independent clinical judgment and evidence based clinical practice. During this year the resident will acquire and demonstrate the complete set of clinical skills required to provide medical and surgical care for low, moderate and, in some cases, highly complex urologic patients.
- The primary clinical focus of the senior resident year is on inpatient consultative and surgical care during which the individual will acquire increasing levels of autonomy and independence. Concomitantly, the senior resident's increasing role in planning and coordinating the educational curriculum will better provide the opportunities to mature an understanding of the role of evidence based medicine, familiarity with current urologic scientific literature, healthcare resource consumption and management while continuing the process of dialogue about medical ethics, professionalism and interpersonal skills.
Chief Year
All goals and objectives from previous Urology years of training will carry over to the Chief Year of training. The Chief resident will add to those goals and objectives the following:
- The Chief Resident training year is designed to complete the transition of an individual from supervisor directed and task oriented residency training to independent clinical judgment and evidence based clinical practice.
- The year is designed to provide the Chief with formal experience in medical resource management, leadership within a medical team, professional communication, complex surgical skill development and independent delivery of high quality clinical care. The successful individual will be capable of functioning in an independent manner with excellent clinical judgment and communication skills that will facilitate their performance as physicians.