Training

The program's overall mission is to provide 12 months of intense, comprehensive clinical and surgical training in urologic reconstruction and urologic prosthetics, preparing you for a practice focusing on meeting the unique reconstructive needs of our patients.

Rotation schedule

The clinical year consists of six sequential eight- to nine-week rotations. Rotations are designed to provide a condensed experience and advanced training of complex facets of procedures, pathologies, and case management including open and advanced robotic reconstruction of male urethral stricture disease, genitourinary fistula, ureteral obstruction from stricture disease or trauma, male stress urinary incontinence, and erectile dysfunction after treatment of prostate cancer, and ureteral stricture disease. Also, you gain experience and competency in the surgical management of patients with neurogenic bladder, spinal cord injury, and gender-affirming surgery.

Didactic training

Participate in weekly imaging and pathology case conference with urology faculty, residents, and fellows, as well as a weekly topic-oriented journal club when reconstructive topics are discussed. Additionally, you participate in a monthly Trauma and Genitourinary Reconstruction Journal Club conference and meet bimonthly with the trauma and reconstructive faculty to present and discuss unusual, complex, and challenging cases. Simulation exercise programs using a state-of-the-art robotic console, simulation facilities, and courses designed to practice and hone microsurgery skills are available.

Research expectations

You're provided opportunities and encouraged to actively pursue research projects. A broad range of research opportunities are available within the program, and there is an opportunity within rotations for research activities.

Mayo Clinic's Trauma and Genitourinary Reconstruction Fellowship actively supports the preparation of manuscripts for publication and travel to regional and national meetings to present research data.

You're required to submit a minimum of one manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or national/international meeting abstract before the end of the fellowship.

Call frequency

Fellows in the Trauma and Genitourinary Reconstruction Fellowship program are not scheduled to take call.  

Teaching opportunities

Periodically, you will meet with a mentor and the program director to discuss individual goals and future career plans. If you're interested in education, you will have opportunities to present didactic lectures to the residents. Also, you may attend the annual Teach-the-Teacher Education Symposium held in the Department of Urology for faculty development purposes.

Conferences

Participate in the Trauma and Genitourinary Reconstruction Journal Club conference once a month, which is specifically designed for the advanced reconstructive trainee. Also, you will attend the weekly Urology Imaging and Pathology Case Conference and participate in the monthly Morbidity and Mortality Conference with all urology faculty and trainees. You're expected to attend the weekly Topic-Oriented Journal Club Conference when reconstructive topics are presented. Opportunities to attend other regularly scheduled didactic conferences covering urologic cancers and other pathologies are available.

Evaluation

To ensure you gain proficiency and develop the corresponding technical skills, supervising faculty members monitor performance throughout this program. The supervising faculty member completes competency-based electronic evaluations after each clinical rotation. The program director meets with you to review these evaluations on a quarterly basis and more frequently if necessary. Additional evaluation is obtained by residents, allied health staff, and patients.

In addition, you have the opportunity to evaluate the faculty and the program to ensure educational goals are being met.

Work/life balance

Fellows in the Trauma and Genitourinary Reconstruction Fellowship program have access to all that Mayo Clinic and Rochester, Minnesota, have to offer. We'll support you both inside and outside of Mayo Clinic's campus to promote wellness and ensure your work/life balance.