Interested in urology? The journey from a medical student to urology resident

Abstract

Applying for a urology residency as a medical student can be very intimidating. The goal of this study is to help provide the framework for understanding the process of becoming a urologist in the United States. This begins with learning about the field of urology, including what they do, the breadth of the specialty, the length of training, and career satisfaction/hours. Following this, it is important to explore the field firsthand when deciding on a specialty. This can be done through many avenues including shadowing in the clinic setting or operating room, doing urologic clinical/translational research, and attending conferences. Once someone has decided that they want to apply for a urology residency, there are several steps along the path. This article attempts to lay out these steps in a structured manner so that prospective applicants can be best set up for success in applying and matching to their desired training program.