We foster a collegial environment and education-focused culture that provides an inclusive learning experience. Meet the current fellows in the Endourology Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

Christopher Ballantyne, M.D.

Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine
Residency: University of Virginia
Fellowship graduation: expected June 2025

Describe the mentorship model of teaching at Mayo. The mentorship program at Mayo provides a highly interactive learning experience. You’ll be matched with a mentor for a 10-week period, where you'll gain exposure to diverse aspects of patient care, from clinic visits to surgeries, all while further developing your skills and knowledge.

What was the most surprising part of the program? One of my favorite and most surprising aspects of the program is the camaraderie among the fellows and residents. Moving across the country without knowing anyone can be daunting, but the way everyone collaborates and gets along is a standout feature of the program. It has truly made the experience more enjoyable.

Jackson Cabo, M.D.

Medical school: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Fellowship graduation: expected June 2026

Describe the mentorship model of teaching at Mayo. As part of the Endourology Fellowship at Mayo, you will rotate with four different attending surgeons and also have research blocks. During each of these clinical rotations, you go where your mentor goes. I think the best part of this is that you get to build your surgical skills and operate with one attending over a long period of time, which I think is excellent for honing skills in a particular procedure and for graduated autonomy.

What was the most surprising part of the program? A nice surprise for me was how close the residency program is here. This isn’t necessarily something you pick up on during the fellowship application trial but as a fellow here, you do get to work with the residents closely. As a fellow, you get to work with both junior and senior residents, which offer opportunities to act as a teacher in different settings, but also have support around as you get used to things here in Arizona. I think the fellows have a great, collaborative relationship with the residents!

What do you enjoy most about this program? The supportive faculty. Whatever you want to work on (be it a research project or a particular part of a surgery) the faculty enthusiastically support you in that and make every effort to see that you are successful.

Why did you choose to train at Mayo Clinic? I chose to complete my endourology fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Arizona due to the unique clinical and research balance offered here. This is one of the few programs in the country that offers high-volume training in HoLEP, ultrasound-guided PCNL, and robotics. That was a high priority for me as was having protected research time, which you also get, interspersed with other clinical blocks. This was an optimal schedule for me as it allowed me to initiate several studies at the beginning of fellowship and continue to build on them over the course of fellowship.

Mayo Fellows Association (MFA)

The Mayo Fellows Association (MFA) offers a peer and social support network for residents and fellows and their families with social events, athletics, and advocacy. The MFA also holds an annual resident and fellow appreciation event open to all trainees with complimentary massages, stress-reducing activities, and social support.