Division Of Urology Curriculum

The Urology Residency at NJMS spans a total of five years of training, to include six months of pre-specialty training in General Surgery and four and a half years of Urology. Two residents serve at each level. The residency is tailored towards acquiring the skill set outlined by the six core competencies listed below:

• Patient care
• Medical knowledge
• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Professionalism
• Practice based learning and improvement
• Systems based practice

Each year, you will have had opportunity to attend several important urological seminars and resident competitions. Academic, as well as clinical excellence is expected of all of our residents; publication of articles in the scientific literature is strongly encouraged.

PGY1:
During the first year you will have intensive clinical exposure to General Surgery and the surgical specialties at University Hospital (UH), Cooperman-Barnabas (CBMC). You will rotate on Renal Transplant, Trauma Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Surgical ICU and other areas. In addition, you will spend 6 months in Urology at RWJ Trinitas Medical Center with direct supervision by the academic faculty.

PGY2:
The PGY2 year is broken down into three month rotations alternating between UH hospital, VA hospital, Cooperman Barnabas adult, Newark Beth Israel Pediatric Urology. The PGY2 and PGY4 will work closely with the PGY5 (chief) resident.  There will be a balance of autonomy and guidance from chief resident, senior resident and attending’s. 

At UH, the rotations will be involve an extensive, but balanced, number of hours in the clinic and the operating room (40% clinic; 60% OR).  Most of the time is spent working closely and under the guidance of the chief resident or senior resident and attending faculty.  The goal of the rotations will be: 1) learn workup and management of patients in the clinic; 2) be able to perform basic clinical procedures on your own such as cystoscopy, ultrasound, ureteroscopy, etc. 3) assisting with major open, laparoscopic and robotic cases; 4) presenting didactic lectures at Grand Rounds.  There is also a Nurse Practitioner to help during clinic hours.  You will be working closely with Dr. Robert Weiss, Urology Division Chief and Program Director, & Dr. Amjad Alwaal (male sexual dysfunction, Urologic Reconstruction Voiding Dysfunction and Infertility) and Dr. Evan Kovac (urologic oncology if robotic surgery).

At VA hospital, there is a similar level of expectations.  Autonomy is given to the chief resident, senior resident and PGY2 to organize the service.  The VA is led by Dr. Michael Piecuch who is fellowship trained in robotics. Additional staff includes Dr. Asha Shah, who performs general urology and endoscopic surgery, Dr. Joseph DiTrolio, Dr. Marvin Blumenfrucht who perform general Urology. In addition, the robotics program at the VA is directed by Dr. Evan Kovac, Dr. Mina Fam.

PGY3:
This year alternates between Pediatric Urology at NBI (three months) and the adult services at Cooperman Barnabas. Dr. Wayland Wu at and Newark Beth Israel (NBI) is an outstanding pediatric urologists known for his clinical expertise. The resident is responsible for the clinical service and scrubs on all pediatric cases, as well as presenting Pediatric Grand Rounds monthly. This rotation provides a one-on-one intensive exposure to pediatric urology (there is no fellow). 

The three months adult service of CBMC encourages a close, clinical interaction between Urology residents and active, suburban urologists in private practice. During this time, the PGY3 resident will develop further clinical skills on endourology and assists in major cases. Supervision during their rotation includes Dr. Rahul Bhalla and expert in Robotic Oncology, Dr. Michael LaSalle general urology and men’s health, Karl Coutinho urologic reconstruction and Dr. Gregory Mullen endurology. The PGY3 will also spend three months rotating at UH and three months at the VA.

PGY 4:
This year is spent between CBMC and Morristown Medical Center, University Hospital and the VA in three month rotations. The emphasis is on (1) Continuing the development of your clinical skills, (2) Development of teaching and administrative skills as you advance towards your Chief Resident year. Participation as surgeon in all major surgical cases and guiding the junior resident (PGY 3) are key goals, as well as participating in clinical studies and honing of presentation skills. 

At CBMC, you work one on one with the several attendings performing a wide range of cases but mostly laparoscopic, robotic and open cases.  The site is led by Drs. Rahuldev Bhalla and Michael Lasalle.  In some cases, you may need to assist the junior with pediatric or complicated endourology cases.  Dr. Karl Coutinho performs reconstruction, Dr. Nitin Patel performs transgender surgery and Dr. Gregory Mullen performs Endourology stone surgery.  There are a number of excellent private urologist who also participate in resident education.

At CBMC, you are involved with major cases and advanced Robotic Surgery.

The Morristown Medical Center is our newest rotation The resident has the opportunity to perform complex  robotic surgery and are individually mentored.  Dr. Sandip Prasad and Dr. Ben Taylor, Lee Pressler and Dr. Kaynan lead the robotic experience.  Dr. David Chaikin, Dr. Michael Ingber, and Dr. Joseph Steinberg direct female urology and reconstruction. Dr. David Taylor and Dr.   Anika Ackerman broaden the residents experience in prostate cancer and general urology. Morristown offers excellent pediatric Urology exposure.

The PGY4 will also spend three months at University Hospital and the VA as senior residents.       

Chief Year (PGY 5):
Your final year will round out your operative and diagnostic experience and you will gain administrative experience as Chief Resident, you will spend three months at University Hospital, VA, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and Morristown Medical Center. During this final year, you will be expected to perform most major operative cases independently with the assistance of the junior resident, but at all times under direct faculty supervision. In addition, the chief is expected to guide the junior resident during clinic and endoscopic and minor urologic cases.  Junior residents under your supervision present case discussions and topical reviews at Grand Rounds. As Chief Resident, you will take an active role in assuring not only that you are receiving maximum benefit from your training, but also that you are making a strong, lasting, positive impact on the training experience of those who will follow.  Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 1) Grand Rounds planning and preparation, 2) Leading monthly Tumor Board 3) Participate in ongoing program improvement in coordination with faculty.

Rotations

Conference Schedule

First Friday of Month   - UH       7-10, Didactic/ Case Logs/Topic Lecture
Second Friday – CB                      7-10   Didactics/ Invited Lecture/ Lecture-Case review
Third Friday – UH                        7-10  Didactics/ Tumor Board/ Lecture
Fourth Friday- CB                         7-9 Pediatrics
Journal Club monthly – rotates from site to site