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The McMaster University urology residency program is based at the three sites of the Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS): Juravinski Hospital (JH), Hamilton General Hospital (HGH) and McMaster University Medical Centre (MUMC), and at the main campus of St. Joseph’s Healthcare (SJH). Each of these facilities have subspecialty areas, including endourology, uro-oncology, andrology, pediatrics, neuro-urology, renal transplantation and general urology. The division of urology has an active interest in minimally invasive surgery and is linked to the Centre for Minimal Access at McMaster University.
There are ten faculty members in the division of urology and the ratio of residents to faculty is ten to four. A resident training program committee, consisting of three faculty members and one resident representative, will meet quarterly to discuss the development of the program and to provide feedback to the residents and faculty.
Regular in-training evaluation in the form of meeting with the program director (every six months) in-training examinations (oral and written) and meeting with individual supervisors will provide the resident with timely feedback as to their performance in the program.
Curriculum
Residents will advance through graded responsibilities combining care on the ward, emergency room and clinic with advancing responsibility in the operating room. By PGY-5, the resident will complete even complex operations in their entirety with supervision.
PGY-1
- Urology – 5 blocks
- General surgery – 2 blocks
- Nephrology – 2 blocks
- Vascular – 2 blocks
- Pediatric general surgery – 1 block
- Emergency – 1 block
PGY-2
- General surgery – 3 blocks
- Research – 1 block
- Intensive care – 2 blocks
- Uro-radiology – 1 block
- Urology – 6 blocks
During the first two years, residents will participate in a surgical foundations program with all surgical residents at McMaster, in preparation for writing the Principles of Surgery Examination at the end of PGY-2.
PGY-3
- Urology – 6 blocks – SJH
- Urology – 4 blocks- HHS
- Pediatric urology- 3 blocks -MUMC
This year will focus on the development of endoscopic skills and assessment and treatment of the urology patient in the emergency department and in the clinic.
PGY-4
- Pediatric urology – 2 blocks
- Urology community – 3 blocks
- Urology – 6 blocks
- Urology elective – 2 blocks
PGY-5
- St. Joseph’s Healthcare/Hamilton Health Sciences – six months each
This year will involve an intense exposure to operative urology, as well as supervision of an in-patient service and administrative responsibilities. The resident will attend clinics, where appropriate, in the pre-operative and post-operative management of surgical patients. They will also be responsible for the teaching of junior house staff.
Seminars
There will be an academic half-day each Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., which will incorporate didactic teaching session as well as interactive discussion and skills sessions. Weekly round will occur during this block and it will also be used for in-training examinations. During the first two years of the program, residents will attend the core surgical lectures to prepare for the Principles of Surgery Examination. There is a monthly journal club.
Research
Residents will be encouraged to participate in two research projects during their five year program and to present these at a resident research day. Time will be set aside to work on these projects and funding is available up to $1,000 per year. Residents who have papers accepted at national and international meetings will be supported to attend and present their results.
Selection Criteria
Candidates will be graded based on their letter of application, strength of their references, academic record in undergraduate work and during electives in urology, as well as demonstrating personal characteristics, which will be a strength in a career in urology.