An Exacting Path to Excellence

The first year of the residency program covers basic clinical urology. The second year has a possible part-time block dedicated to research. The third year focuses on advanced clinical urology. The fourth year is spent as a chief resident.

Teaching rounds - along with daily, weekly, and monthly conferences - enable residents to acquire necessary clinical skills reinforced by a practical frame of reference for academic study. The program's emphasis on direct involvement and the wide variety of cases encountered in this major urban healthcare center produce a training regimen that is as rewarding as it is demanding.

At Tulane, residents work closely with full-time faculty members in areas of subspecialization, ranging from pediatric urology to renal transplantation, including fertility, oncology, endourology, sexual dysfunction, urodynamics, infectious diseases, and microsurgical techniques. Throughout the program, breadth of interest is matched by depths of inquiry. The full-time faculty is agumented by a large, diverse and active clinical faculty. Additionally, several outstanding external visiting professors supplement the faculty each year.

The residency program includes a basic sciences course at the University of Virginia during the first  year and an ongoing basic science review at Tulane conducted by members of the basic sciences departments. Senior residents attend at least one major AUA seminar. The program also includes the annual Specialty Review in Urology course in Chicago for chief residents. Any resident who has a paper accepted by a regional or national meeting may attend that meeting at the expense of the department if the meeting is within the United States.

Residency training at Tulane provides a solid foundation for a life's work in either clinical or academic urology.

Policy on Selection

Resident applicants are chosen based upon criteria established by the American Board of Urology.

Tulane Urology Residency Program requires that the student graduate from an accredited Medical School, followed by completion of one year of general surgical training. It is expected of all resident applicants that the general surgical training be completed through the General Surgery Department at Tulane University. Prior research experience and requirements can be accommodated as per American Board of Urology guidelines.

Following adequate completion of one year of general surgery, which Tulane University, Department of General Surgery, will provide, an additional four years of urologic training is required.

Application Process:

Tulane accepts applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Forms are returned along with the appropriate supporting paperwork, such as Dean's transcripts and letter, recommendation letters, research projects, personal statement, curriculum vitae, etc.

The Program Director and/or his designee reviews all of the completed applications and ranks them on what is considered to be a "merit listing" based on the application process.

Interviews will be held on the following day:

• Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Saturday, December 13, 2008, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

This gives the resident applicant every opportunity to interact with the majority of faculty and housestaff in an uninterrupted fashion.

During the interview process, the applicant is given a guided tour through the Urology Department, Health Sciences Center, and adjoining hospitals. All pertinent questions and concerns are addressed in a brief presentation prior to the individual interviews.

Interview Process:

The interview process is designed so that there is a one-on-one interaction, in most instances, with each faculty member. This interview process provides a subjective and objective evaluation of the applicant. Also, the applicant is given every opportunity to investigate the status of the department.

During the course of the interview process, the applicants meet separately with the present complement of urology residents and get a detailed tour of our physical facilities (hospitals, clinics, specialty urology areas, etc.). The Chief Residents play an active role in the interview process and provides useful feedback.

Well over 100 completed applications are received each year. Of those, approximately 25 resident applicants are interviewed annually.

At the end of each interview day, the faculty meets and scores these resident applicants in writing on a standardized evaluation form. These applicants are then placed on a numerical ranking list.

In the month of December, once all the resident interviews have been completed, the entire faculty meets and reviews the entire list of resident applicants who have been ranked. Final adjustments are made prior to sending our rank list to the American Urological Association for Match Day. Special consideration is given to resident applicants who have shown evidence of interest in urology in the form of research, electives, paper presentations or publications, AOA status, etc. These candidates are ranked and the list submitted for the residency match in January.

Invited Applicants

This section is dedicated to those who have been invited to interview at Tulane for the 2009 Residency Match.  If you have not done so already, please contact Demi Robert via e-mail at drobert@tulane.edu or by phone (504) 988-2794 to schedule your interview date.

The interviews will be conducted at Tulane University School of Medicine in the department of urology's academic offices.  The address is 1430 Tulane Avenue.  You must report to the residency program coordinator’s office, room 3508 (3rd floor), at least 20 minutes prior to your scheduled interview time.

Listed below are some suggested hotels that are within walking distance to the medical school (rates subject to change):

• Tulane University Hospital Housing (The Deming Pavilion, Tulane & Saratoga Sts.)
  Please mention that you are interviewing when reserving ($60.00-100.00/night)  (504) 988-6275
• Holiday Inn - Superdome: 330 Loyola Ave. (Loyola & Perdido Sts.) Please mention EP# TU35 when reserving. Complimentary shuttle tour. ($79.00/night)
  (800) 465-4329
• If you truly want to experience the essence of New Orleans and stay in a hotel close to the French Quarter, we suggest The Royal Saint Charles: 135 St. Charles Ave. (St. Charles & Canal) Please mention that you are interviewing at Tulane urology when making your reservation. ( 800)-265-1856 ($79.00/night)

The New Orleans International Airport is 30-40 minutes away via car.  The quickest and easiest way to travel would be by taxicab – costing approximately $25.00 - $30.00. However, there are regular shuttle services are also available at a reduced rate.

There is also a bus line serviced by Louisiana Transit (504) 818-1077.  The “Airport Express” line runs directly from the airport to Tulane and Loyola Avenues.  The cost is $1.60 and service runs every 23 minutes.

Please carefully review the revised residency status post-Katrina

Thank you for choosing to interview at Tulane Urology, we look forward to showing you the exciting career opportunities at Tulane Urology.

2008-09 Residency Match

The 2008-09 application process has begun.   Tulane accepts applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Please register with ERAS to apply. For further information contact Demi Robert via e-mail at drobert@tulane.edu or by phone (504) 988-2794.

Important Message for 2008-2009 Residency Match applicants

Post-Katrina, Tulane Urology voluntarily decreased the resident complement from two residents per year to one resident per year.

Tulane Urology participates in the Residency Match program. One year of general surgery rotation in the Department of Surgery at Tulane is an expectation, followed by four years in the Department of Urology.

Hospitals presently available for residency education and rotation:

• Tulane University Hospital and Clinic (1415 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA) is the main campus and has all the latest urologic equipment including a fixed ESWL unit, a wide array of urologic laparoscopic and other minimally invasive equipment, urologic prosthetics, etc.
• Tulane-Lakeside Campus (Metairie, LA) is 11 miles from the main campus and was used post-Katrina to transfer services from the downtown campus. The daVinci robot is still housed here and will be moved to the downtown campus by December, 2007. The Tulane Urology program will be maintaining a presence, though decreased, at this campus as well.
• Children’s Hospital (New Orleans, LA) is approximately five miles from the medical school and is a comprehensive pediatric hospital. Tulane residents rotate for a total of six months per year at Children’s Hospital.
• Medical Center of Louisiana in New Orleans (MCLNO) University Hospital is approximately a quarter mile from the medical school. This is a level one trauma center with urologic services. This urology service will be shared with the LSU Department of Urology.
• VA New Orleans presently houses the outpatient services and diagnostic clinics. This is one block from the Tulane Medical School. Inpatients requiring surgery are transferred to the Tulane University Hospital for surgical procedures.

Present Rotations

1. Andrology, Infertility, and Urologic Prosthetics (for ED): Tulane Urology has traditionally had a very strong presence in these areas. This section is led by Dr. Wayne JG Hellstrom.
2. Endourology, Laparoscopy, and Robotic Surgery: Tulane Urology has a long history of being on the cutting edge of minimally invasive urologic surgery, boasting a large series of percutaneous lithotripsy procedures, rigid and flexible ureteroscopy including endopyelotomy, the largest experience of urologic laparoscopy in the entire Gulf South, as well as the oldest and largest experience in urologic robotic surgery. At the present time, Tulane Urology performs 200 radical prostatectomies per year, is adept at performing robotic radical cystectomies, and has one of the largest series of robotic pyeloplasties.
3. Pediatric Urology: At the present time, this is exclusively delivered through Children’s Hospital. Dr. Joseph Ortenberg is the program director at Children's Hospital.
4. Urodynamics and Incontinence: This rotation is led by Dr. Chris Winters, Chair of the LSU Department of Urology in New Orleans. This RRC approved rotation gives the residents a complete training in matters related to incontinence.

The anticipated future expansion of the faculty should further enhance the learning experience of our residents.

We are anticipating going back to two residents per year once all the parts are in place.

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Endourology, Urologic Laparoscopy and
Robotic Surgery Fellowship Program

Plan:

• Two-year fellowship program recognized by the Endourological Society.
  1 st year: Research year with clinical experience.
  2 nd year: Clinical. Thus at any given time, there will be one senior and one junior fellow within the program.
• The fellowship program will commence on the first of August of each year and terminate on the 31 st of July, twenty-four months later. This change is meant to enhance the fellows overall experience. This will let chief residents focus on Part I of their Boards. Also, since they are in a two-year fellowship program, they will qualify for Part II of the Boards which is taken during their senior year of the fellowship program.
• Participate in the Endourological Society match program.

Institutions participating:

• Tulane University Hospital & Clinic
• Medical Center of Louisiana (Charity East & West campuses)
• Veterans Affairs Medical Center , New Orleans

Goals:

• To train and mentor academic endourologists, urologic laparoscopists and robotic surgeons.
• To consolidate Tulane Urology's position as a leader in the field of endourology, endo-oncology, urologic laparoscopy and robotics and its reputation for minimally invasive urologic surgery.
• To enhance overall resident and fellows experience in endourology and laparoscopy by increasing activity in both the clinical and academic arena.

Core Faculty:

• Benjamin Lee, M.D.
• Raju Thomas, M.D., F.A.C.S., M.H.A.

Both faculty members are well-versed and experienced in the principals and applications of minimally invasive urologic surgery and have substantial experience in endourology, basic and advanced laparoscopy and robotic surgery.

Adjunct Faculty:

• Barry Blank, M.D. , Radiology

• Douglas Slakey, M.D., Abdominal Transplantation

Objectives:

At the end of the Endourology/Laparoscopy/Robotic Fellowship the candidate will demonstrate competency in:

1. Pre-operative and post-operative care for patients undergoing endourological, urologic laparoscopic and robotic procedures.
2. Patient selection criteria.
3. Patient exclusion criteria for above-mentioned procedures.
4. Participation in all teaching conferences and be a mentor for the urology residents.
5. Be proficient in:
   • Ureteroscopic procedures for calculus and non-calculus indications.
   • Nephroscopic procedures for calculus and non-calculus indications.
   • Basic and advanced urologic laparoscopic procedures.
   • Basic and advanced urologic robotic procedures.

    

Available Resources:

Tulane Medical School vivarium: Five lapaorscopic animal tables. Radiographic imaging available in the vivarium.

• Laparoscopic simulation laboratory with computer enhanced work stations and pelvic trainers.
• Two OR-1 endo-laparoscopic operating suites.
• DaVinci robot.
• Collaboration with faculty in the Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine for outcomes research.
• Departmental funds for research projects and authorized travel.
• Well-equipped uro-radiology suites with highly experienced uro-radiologists.
• Two in-house fixed lithotripter units (Donier-HM 3 and Medstone).
• Two full-time Ph.D.s in the urology department.
• Fully furbished molecular biology laboratories.
• All required urologic and laparoscopic technology available under one roof.

Curriculum:

Year One: Research Year

• The junior/first year fellow will participate in ongoing research projects.
• Coordinate and conduct prospective clinical trails under the mentorship of the faculty.
• Coordinate and conduct basic science research projects.
• Coordinate and conduct animal research along with the faculty.
• Maintain database of all patients in ongoing research projects.
• Keep the database on quality of life questionnaires in an ongoing manner.
• Opportunities will be available for clinical hands-on patient care experience.
• Be responsible for the ESWL procedures at MCLNO.
• One half-day clinic at Tulane University Hospital & Clinic.

Year Two: Clinical Year

The senior fellow in the second year of his/her fellowship will be having the following schedule:

• Scrub with faculty on all cases. If several cases are running simultaneously, the senior resident has to choose which will be most beneficial. In select cases the junior faculty will cover the other case.
• Be available to cover cases as a junior faculty, at the VA and MCLNO campuses.
• Since periodic review of the surgical logs will be made, priority as to ureteroscopic, nephroscopic, laparoscopic or robotic cases will be delegated on a priority basis to maximize experience.
• Periodic evaluation of the fellow by the faculty will also ensure strengthening of case logs in any particular category of cases.
• Have two half-day clinics at Tulane University Hospital & Clinic. The senior fellow will be working as a junior faculty and will be independent in judgment-making on his/her patients. However, decision for surgical procedures and coverage for these will have to be obtained with one of the three above-mentioned faculty mentors.

Participation in teaching activities:

• Participate in weekly pre-op conferences (Wednesday a.m.)
• Participate in bi-weekly combined (with LSU/Ochsner) Pyelogram Conference (1 st & 3 rd Wednesday p.m.)
• Participate in monthly Journal Club (2 nd Wednesday p.m.)
• Participate and organize monthly Death & Complications Conference (4 th Wednesday p.m.)
• Attend monthly faculty meeting, usually after Pyelogram Conference on the 3 rd Wednesday of each month.
• Have bi-weekly conferences with above-mentioned faculty to evaluate research projects and overall fellowship experience
• Present topic-based didactic lectures to the department quarterly.

Evaluation and Progress Reports:

The fellows will be evaluated every six-months. These evaluations are held in January and July of each academic year. Any strengths and/or deficiencies will be identified and remedial measures instituted.

The methodology for evaluation is as follows:

The department uses a standardized questionnaire which will be completed by the relevant faculty. These are then collated and used for the counseling sessions. The areas of evaluation include medical knowledge, professional and personal behavior, input from nursing and OR staff, surgical and endoscopic skills, rapport with patients and family, teaching and mentorship skills, availability and promptness in conducting duties, etc.

After the counseling sessions the faculty will continue to monitor the areas that may be considered deficient or weak.

Benefits:

• Faculty title: Instructor in the Department of Urology.
• Benefits: Health, life, malpractice and disability insurance
• Three weeks paid leave
• Support to attend the SES, AUA and WCE, if abstracts are accepted.
• Travel to at least one major conference is expected.

Department of Urology  |  Tulane School of Medicine   |  Tulane University

Tulane University  ·  Department of Urology  ·  SL-42 ·  New Orleans, LA 70112
Office Phone: 504-988-2750  ·  Fax: 504-988-5059  ·  Email: urology@tulane.edu