Residency Program

 

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Our five-year residency program in urology offers intensive clinical training with advanced academic orientation. Our program gives residents an opportunity to become skilled clinicians and to develop the background for an academic career if they choose. In either case, our goal is to train physicians who can provide leadership in a challenging specialty in an ever-changing practice environment.

At Tulane Urology, our faculty members, who are very involved in basic and clinical research, are recognized as experts in basic urology and in all recognized areas of subspecialization within urology. Therefore, our residency program not only offers an exceptional education for residents but also prepares residents for the challenges ahead. Specifically, residents will receive advanced training in numerous hospitals and clinics including Tulane University Hospital and Clinic, Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center New Orleans, Tulane University Lakeside, West Jefferson Medical Center, Touro, and Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System. Visit our Facilities page for more information.

Approximately, 25 percent of the applicants are invited for an interview, and no applicant is accepted without a personal interview. Our current RRC-ACGME full accreditation allows for three resident selections per year. We participate in the American Urological Association (AUA) Residency Matching Program.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Raju Thomas, MD, FACS, FRCS, MHA
Professor and Chair, Department of Urology

U.S. MEDICAL STUDENTS INTERESTED IN SUB-INTERNSHIP WITH TULANE UROLOGY

If you are a medical student interested in a clinical clerkship (Sub-Internship) with Tulane Urology, please contact our GME Program Administrator, Demi Robert, at 504-988-2794 or by email at drobert@tulane.edu.

You may also visit the Office of Student Affairs for more information on this program.

AN EXACTING PATH TO EXCELLENCE

Our residency program is a fully accredited, comprehensive five-year program that provides a solid foundation for a life’s work in either clinical or academic urology. While its areas of concentration are necessarily complex, the program’s focus is clear: to work, to learn, and to grow in an environment of excellence. With an educational focus on diverse medical management and state-of-the-art surgical technology, in addition to offering ample opportunities for clinical and basic research advancement, our residency program is designed around a working relationship between our residents and our faculty members who are experts in their areas of specialties and subspecialities, including pediatric urology, renal transplantation, fertility, oncology, endourology, laparoscopic and robotic surgery, sexual dysfunction, urodynamics, infectious diseases, and microsurgical techniques.

CURRENT RESIDENTS

PGY-5 (Chief Residents)

PGY-4 Residents

PGY-3 Residents

PGY-2 Residents

PGY-1 Residents

POLICY ON SELECTION

Qualifications

Resident applicants are chosen based on the criteria established by the American Board of Urology. To qualify for our residency program, applicants are required to have a degree from from an accredited medical school.

RESIDENCY MATCH

Tulane Urology participates in the American Urological Association Match Program. Applications are accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Please register with ERAS to apply. For further information, contact Demi Robert by email (drobert@tulane.edu) or by phone (504) 988-2794.

For more on How to Apply, click here.

CURRENT ROTATIONS

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. Residents receive an unparalleled experience in men’s sexual health and in basic and complex urologic prosthetic surgery when rotating through this section.

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. Under the guidance of Dr. Raju Thomas, residents receive outstanding training in robotic radical prostatectomy, partial nephrectomy, nephrectomy, and radical cystectomy, especially since Tulane Urology has one of the largest series of robotic reconstructive cases. Accordingly, simulation labs and robotic simulation procedures are an essential component of the curriculum.

Urologic Oncology:

Tulane Urology offers a robust and full range of clinical experience in urologic oncology. Under guidance, residents train to be well-versed in advanced robotic, laparoscopic, and open surgical techniques. A wide array of research opportunities, advanced imaging, and clinical trials are also available.

Pediatric Urology:

Presently, this is exclusively delivered through Children’s Hospital under the direction of the Program Director, Dr. Joseph Ortenberg, and three other pediatric urologists. Children’s Hospital is a premier pediatric facility that provides a full spectrum of pediatric urology, including robotic surgery.

Urodynamics and Incontinence:

This rotation is led by Drs. Pablo Labadie, Wesley Bryan, and Ryan Glass. This RRC-approved rotation gives residents a complete training in matters related to urodynamics and incontinence. The anticipated future expansion of the faculty should further enhance the learning experience of our residents. In addition, Dr. Margie Kahn actively engages residents in urogynecological management of open surgical and robotic procedures, further enhancing their skills for managing urinary incontinence.

Reconstructive Urology:

This is a unique subspecialty. Under the guidance of Dr. Wayne Hellstrom, residents receive training regarding the principles and techniques for lower urinary tract reconstruction, with a specific focus on uretheral stricture, GU trauma, transgender surgery, genital reconstruction, and skin grafting. Furthermore, under the guidance of Dr. Raju Thomas and Dr. Erik Castle, residents receive robotic training, specifically the da Vinci robotic platform, for managing a range of procedures such as pyeloplasty, Boari flap, and urinary reconstruction.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Tulane Urology boasts over 3300 square feet of research laboratory space. This space includes a basic research area, and Tulane Urology has state-of-the-art equipment such as its own molecular biology laboratory. There is also a specific clinical research office, and though research is not mandated, every effort is made to provide residents with the necessary tools to pursue research as well as an academic career.

Features include:

  • A full-service vivarium
  • A small animal lab and a simulation center
  • Fully furbished molecular biology laboratories
  • Collaboration with faculty in the Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine for outcomes research

Procedures

By the completion of our residency training, our residents are capable of performing the procedures listed below:

Phallus: dorsal slit; circumcision; excision of tumor/cyst; biopsy; partial amputation; complete amputation; insertion of noninflatable semirigid prosthesis; insertion of noninflatable rigid prosthesis; insertion of inflatable, single-unit prosthesis; excision of fibrosis corpora; chordelysis; injury repair and management of Peyronie’s disease.

Urethra: biopsy; meatotomy; excision of caruncle; repair injury; drainage of urinary extravasation; hypospadias repair; microsurgical closure of fistula; partial excision; urethrectomy; diverticulectomy – male; diverticulectomy – female; excision of condyloma; extraction of foreign body; external urethrotomy; internal urethrotomy; and urethroplasty.

Prostate: transrectal ultrasound of prostate with needle biopsy; open biopsy; endoscopic incision and drainage of abscess; perineal incision and drainage of abscess; prostatolithotomy; transurethral prostatectomy; retropubic prostatectomy; simple retropubic prostatectomy; radical retropubic prostatectomy; suprapubic prostatectomy; perineal transvesicocapsular, robotic prostatectomy; laparoscopic and robotic procedures (depending on proficiency of the resident).

Bladder: punch cystostomy; open cystostomy; cystolithotomy; cystolithotripsy; repair of rupture; cystostomy for electrocoagulation; bladder tumor resection, endoscopic; bladder tumor biopsy, endoscopic; partial cystectomy; radical cystectomy; simple cystectomy; diverticulectomy; cystoplasty ileum; cystoplasty sigmoid; cystoplasty cecum; cystoplasty ileocecal; cystoplasty vesicostomy; cystoplasty repair of fistula – vesicocutaneous; cystoplasty repair of vesicosigmoid fistula; cystoplasty repair of fistula – vesicorectal; cystoplasty repair of fistula – vesicovaginal; bladder neck revision – endoscopic; bladder neck revision – open; Marshall Marchetti; anterior vaginal repair; pereyra procedure; sling procedure; Leadbetter procedure; post-void residual ultrasound; robotic radical cystectomy (depending on proficiency of the resident); and bedside and console surgeon.

Ureter: biopsy, endoscopic; open biopsy; repair ureterocele; meatomy, endoscopic; open repair, ureterocele; ureterolithotomy; ureteral repair – lysis; ureteral repair; ureteral repair – rectrocaval ureter; ureteral repair – ureteroneocystostomy, simple; ureteral repair – ureteroneocystostomy, ureteroplasty; ureteral repair – excision and anastomosis; ureteral repair – ureteroplasty; ureteral repair – uretero-ureterostomy; ureteral repair – uretero-calyceal anastomosis; ureteral repair – close ureterovaginal fistula; ureteral repair – close ureterointestinal fistula; ureteroenterostomy: ileal conduit; ureteroenterostomy: colon conduit; ureteroenterostomy – ureterosigmoidostomy; ureteroenterostomy – ileocecal pouch; ureteroenterostomy – ileocecal conduit; ureteroscopic tumor biopsy; *ureteroscopic tumor removal; ureteroscopic stone extraction; ureteroscopic lithotripsy; cystourethroscopy – ureteral calculus manipulation; cystourethroscopy – ureteral calculus extraction; and endoureterotomy.

Kidney: exploration; repair of trauma; needle biopsy; open biopsy; drainage of peri-renal abscess; drainage of renal abscess; nephrostomy; pyelostomy; nephropexy; denervation of pedicle; closure of renal fistula; nephrolithotomy; abdominal transperitoneal nephrectomy; extraperitoneal nephrectomy; partial nephrectomy; nephroureterectomy; nephroureterectomy with partial cystectomy; excision or decortication of cyst; pyeloureteroplasty; percutaneous nephroscopy; percutaneous nephroscopy – calculus extraction; percutaneous nephroscopy lithotripsy; and laparoscopy for all renal procedures – robotic partial nephrectomy, robotic pyeloplasty, laparoscopic nephrectomy, and nephroureterectomy (depending on proficiency of the resident).

Scrotal Contents: incision and drainage of abscess; excision of lesion of cord; hydrocele; excision of lesion of tumor; vas ligation; epidiymotomy; epididymectomy; microscopic ligation spermatic veins; macroscopic ligation spermatic veins; microscopic vasovasotomy; vasoepididostomy; macroscopic vasovasotomy; hydrocelectomy; spermatocelectomy; reduction, torsion testicle; excision – torsion hydatid; excision – lesion of tunica vaginalis; excision – lesion of testis; simple orchiectomy; radical orchiectomy; repair injury of testis; testis biopsy; and insertion of testicular prosthesis.

Miscellaneous: exploratory laparotomy; pelvic exenteration, anterior; pelvic exenteration, complete; biopsy retroperitoneal tumor; colostomy; closure of evisceration; inguinal lymphadenectomy; superficial inguinal lymphadenectomy; deep pelvic lymphadenectomy; and gastrostomy tube placement.

Diagnostic and Endoscopic Procedures: urethroscopy; cystoscopy; ureteroscopy; nephroscopy; ureteral catheterization; ureteral catheterization with pyelogram; ureteral catheterization – differential function; percutaneous; nephrostogram; percutaneous nephrostomy placement; loop-o-gram; fluoro-pyelogram; urethrogram – retrograde; cystogram; cystourethrogram; percutaneous renal cystogram; cystometrogram; urethral pressure profile; fluorourodynamics; Whittaker test – percutaneous; Whittaker test – open; cavernosogram; urologic laparoscopy; percutaneous renal access; and robotic da Vinci procedures: bedside and console (depending on proficiency of the resident).

Adrenal: exploration; excision of cyst; adrenalectomy – partial adrenalectomy, bilateral adrenalectomy, and laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

Goals and Objectives

  • To provide superior training to all our residents in the art and science of urology. Our foremost intention is to recruit intelligent, qualified individuals and to train them into excellent urologic surgeons (open surgical and endoscopic);
  • To provide an environment that is stimulating to academic achievements. Our goal is to stimulate at least 10-15% of our resident pool to pursue a career in academia and to pursue further fellowship training;
  • Provide a milieu that encourages both basic and clinical research. This enhances the academic process and productivity of the faculty and residents;
  • To provide adequate supervision of the residents during their entire training process. With the rapid proliferation of technological innovations within urology, supervision is critical to the growth of residents.
  • To provide advanced and up-to-date technology for patient management. This directly results in increased patient referrals, which directly benefits our teaching and clinical research programs; and
  • To work in unison with a community of urologists in Louisiana and Mississippi to further enhance our department as a Center of Excellence for urological referrals. This, once again, brings in difficult cases for management, further enhancing our residency program.

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You Can Also Call Tulane Urology at

504.988.5271