Program Goals and Rotation Schedule
The mission of the UCSF Department of Urology is to provide compassionate, cost effective, skillful and innovative care to all patients; to ask relevant questions and answer them with scientific knowledge obtained through laboratory and clinical research; to educate students, residents and fellows in the art and science of urology and thereby train the future leaders in our field; and to recognize that the Department of Urology is a group of individuals working together, responsibly and ethically, to achieve our goals.
First Year of Residency - Intern Year (PGY1)
Medical students match directly into our six-year program through the AUA Urology Residency Matching Program. 6 months of the intern year is spent with the UCSF Department of Surgery where rotations focus on maximal exposure to basic open and laparoscopic general surgery procedures, critical care, kidney transplant, trauma, and plastic surgery. 6 months is spent with the UCSF Department of Urology at UCSF Health Sites: Mission Bay Campus for 3 months and the Parnassus Heights Campus for months. In this role, the intern will learn how to perform urologic inpatient care, consults, and gain experience in the clinic and operating room across a broad spectrum of urologic conditions including: pediatric, oncology, and benign urology.
Second Year of Residency (PGY2)
During their second year, Urology residents complete several months at various UCSF Health sites that dive into a more Urology centered learning experience. Residents will learn how the following at each rotation site listed below:
San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center (SFVAMC) - 3 Months
During this rotation, PGY2 residents gain experience in general, oncologic, reconstructive, and endourology through a combination of outpatient clinics, inpatient care, and operating room procedures.
- Clinical Setting: Transrectal ultrasounds, cystoscopy, fluoroscopy imaging and interpretation in the clinic setting.
- Operating Room: Open, laparoscopic, robotic, and endourologic skills.
Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFGH) - 3 Months
The resident concentrates primarily on trauma, general urology, cystoscopy, transrectal ultrasound, and endourology. During this rotation, second year residents develop open, endoscopic, and laparoscopic surgery skills.
UCSF Health Float Rotations
- Night Float Rotation - 2 Months
Based at the Parnassus, ZSFGH, and MB Adult Services, covering care for UCSF Health inpatiernts, answering service calls, and emergency room consults.
- Day Float Rotation - 2 Months
Based at Parnassus, Mission Bay, and Bayfront where residents are exposed to subspecialty outpatient and operative care in infertility, endourology, and neuro-urology with one-on-one apprenticeship.
UCSF Health Pediatric Urology - 2 Months
The resident learns Pediatric Urology in the inpatient, outpatient, and operating room environments based at the Mission Bay Campus.
Third Year Urology Resident (PGY3)
San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center (SFVAMC) - 3 Months
Residents expand and refine their knowledge in general, oncologic, reconstructive, and endourology through outpatient, inpatient, and operating room experiences. Residents will improve upon clinic-based procedures such as transrectal ultrasound, cystoscopy, and fluoroscopy imaging and interpretation. Residents during this rotation will refine their open, laparoscopic, robotic, and endourologic skills.
Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFGH) - 3 Months
The resident focuses on trauma, general urology, cystoscopy, transrectal ultrasound, and endourology and residents work on refining their open, endoscopic, and laparoscopic surgery skills.
UCSF Health Rotations - 6 Months
- Night Float Rotation - 1 Month
Based at the Parnassus, ZSFGH, and MB Adult campuses, residents will cover care for UCSF Health inpatients, answering service calls, and emergency room consults.
- Day Float Rotation - 1 Month
Based at Parnassus, Mission Bay, and Bayfront where residents are exposed to subspecialty outpatient and operative care in infertility, endourology, and neuro-urology with one-on-one apprenticeship.
- Pediatric Urology Rotation - 1 Month
Based at the Mission Bay and the Children's Benioff Hospital in Oakland, where resident expands upon pediatric knowledge in the inpatient, outpatient, and operating room environments.
- Endourology Rotation - 1 Month
Resident learning focuses on sub-specialty care in the inpatient, outpatient, and operative settings including clinic-based care and procedures, laparoscopic skills and endourologic skills.
- Female/Neuro-Urology Rotation - 1 Month
Resident learning focuses on sub-specialty female pelvic medicine and neuro-urology related to both pediatrics and adults. This is a clinic and operative-based rotation.
- Male Reconstruction Rotation - 1 Month
Resident learning focuses on sub-specialty male reconstructive care including clinic-based procedures and evaluation, inpatient care, and learning complex operative skills including genital and abdominal reconstruction and implants.
Fourth Year of Residency (PGY4)
During the fourth year of residency, residents focus on refining their surgical and urologic skills, while also enhancing their ability to mentor junior residents and demonstrate leadership. The PGY4 will spend the entire year rotating at several different UCSF Health rotation Sites and services:
UCSF Health Rotation Sites
- UC Chief Rotation - 3 Months
During this rotation, PGY4 residents focus on running the inpatient/consult service and team at Parnassus. They will also learn transgender outpatient, operative, and inpatient care as well as refining their endoruologic techniques.
- Endourology Rotation - 2 Months
The resident focuses on refining sub-specialty care in the inpatient, outpatient, and operative setting. This also includes: clinic-based care and procedures, laparoscopic skills, and endourologic skills.
- Female/Neuro-Urology Rotation - 2 Months
During this clinic and operative-based rotation, the PGY4 focuses on refining sub-specialty female pelvic medicine and neuro-urology related to both pediatrics and adults.
- Male Reconstruction Rotation - 2 Months
The rotation focuses on refining sub-specialty male reconstructive care including clinic-based procedures and evaluation, inpatient care, and learning complex operative skills including genital and abdominal reconstruction and implants.
- Oncology Rotation - 3 Months
Based at the Mission Bay Campus, this rotation focuses on urologic oncology in the outpatient, inpatient, and operative room setting. During this rotation residents will learn sub-specialty care focusing on urothelial cancer, prostate cancer, renal cancer, and penile cancer.
Fifth Year of Residency (PGY5)
Residents spend one year dedicated to research. This may include basic science, translational, clinical or outcomes research. Some residents elect to pursue advanced degrees during this year. Often residents explore advanced training in statistics, trial design, international and public health depending upon their interests and career goals. They lead the quality improvement initiatives for the department.
Sixth Year of Residency (PGY6)
The Chief Resident year is dedicated to:
- Developing leadership skills
- Advancing surgical technique
- Perfecting patient care
- Deciding upon future career goals
Furthermore, the chief resident runs the service at each location and acts as a primary surgeon for major cases and as a teaching surgeon for minor cases with junior residents.
Additionally, Chief Residents also, direct management for inpatient and outpatient care and Work with an increasing degree of independence throughout the year as they prepare for the transition to fellowship or independent practice.
During their chief year, their rotation sites are spent at the following sites:
- San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center (SFVAMC) - 3 Months
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFGH) - 3 Months
- UCSF Health Sites: Parnassus and Mission Bay - 3 Months