PGY 1

Urology training begins with general surgical internship, where each resident spends 12 months on the general surgery service learning the basics of pre and post operative patient care, tissue handling, wound care and overall management of the surgical patient.

PGY 2

The second year builds the foundation for the acquisition of urologic knowledge and experience, where each resident spends six months on general surgery rotations and six months on urology rotations. The general surgery time is structured to be a combination of the general surgery service dealing with abdominal surgery and surgical intensive care. The six months of urology has an emphasis on ambulatory care where residents are able to do patient evaluation and follow-up in the clinics, help with rounding and emergency room consults and learn to do basic procedures such as cystoscopy and prostate biopsies.  This first six months of urology exposure serves to build a strong foundation so that there will be a smooth transition from general surgery to the urology service for the URO-1 year.

PGY 3

During the third year (URO-1), rotations to the Veterans Administration Hospital and the Loma Linda University service strengthen each resident's patient management and surgical skills. Time spent at the VA hospital offers significant value particularly in dealing with the geriatric population and problems specific to the veteran’s demographic.  In addition, the six month rotations afford an opportunity be involved in the continuity of care and see the natural history of urologic disease.  The university service offers exposure to tertiary care and sub-specialty urology.

PGY 4

The fourth year (URO-2) consists of six months of research and vacation coverage (of other residents vacations) allowing residents to create a stronger foundation of urologic knowledge, refine their critical thought process, analyze urology research and prepare themselves to interpret evidence based medicine.  It is common for residents to author at least 3 peer reviewed papers and attend and present at several scientific meetings.  If the resident is interested in academic medicine, this experience is invaluable in helping them match into the fellowship program of their choice.

PGY 5

The fifth year of training (URO-) empowers the resident with leadership responsibilities and administrative at each of the county hospitals, Riverside County Regional Medical Center and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center during their six month rotations. During this time residents are faced with a combination of graduated autonomy with mentoring and supervision in the county health care system preparing them for the transition to independent practice.

PGY 6

The sixth (URO-4) and final year is the chief resident experience which develops and refines advanced technical urologic surgery skills and further develops administrative and leadership skills.   This last year is a combination of the tertiary care urology on the university service and the VA hospital with its emphasis on geriatric care and the specific issues of the veteran population. We are proud of the way that the residents advance in their technical and cognitive skills to finish the program prepared for independent practice.  A significant component of our urology residency, refined during the final year, is learning to navigate the complex medical care delivery system while learning invaluable qualities of leadership and professionalism.