University of Washington: New Split Track Training Programs

Candidates who are applying for start date July 1, 2014 (Academic Year 2015) will be offered two tracks for residency training at the University of Washington Department of Urology. The first track will be a 6-year residency training program for which 2 positions per year will be available. The 6-year program will include a dedicated year of research. The second track will be a 5-year residency training program which will not have a dedicated research year. There will be only 1 position available for the 5-year track. (The total number of positions per year = 3). Both tracks will have equivalent training, including exposure to the most innovative clinical practices, incorporation of quality improvement projects, and participation in small research projects during their residency program. Those residents in the 6-year track will have the opportunity to develop larger research projects during the PGY-4 year.The 6-year track has a rich history in our department, one that we consider central to the development of surgeon-scientists and future academic leaders. This track will include 1) one-year of internship with the University of Washington General Surgery program, 2) four years of clinical urology training (PGY-2, 3, 5 and 6) and 3) one-year of research training (PGY-4).This track will require residents to perform 12 months of substantial research in urology in one of our laboratories. Research projects are typically presented at regional and national conferences and are required to be presented at the Annual Urology Research Day in the spring. In addition to experiencing a collegial research environment and conducting specific research projects, all residents are expected to participate in didactic courses such as statistics, clinical trial design, or molecular biology. These courses not only assist residents in their ability to evaluate journal articles critically but they also promote effective writing and communication of their projects. It is expected that several papers of publishable quality will be generated throughout the residency.During the research year, residents are required to participate in a weekly continuity clinic and share in the call schedule on an infrequent basis. The 5-year track provides more stream-lined clinical training, recognizing that the time in residency influences fellowship and subsequent career choices. In addition to demonstrating our strong commitment to training more clinical urologists for the Pacific Northwest, the Department anticipates that this option may be attractive to individuals who already have decided on a future fellowship. This track will include 1) one-year of internship with the University of Washington General Surgery program and 2) four years of clinical urology training (PGY-2, 3, 4 and 5).Residency training in the UW Urology residency program is very competitive. Applicants who apply for either of the training options will be reviewed and considered based on their merits, letters of recommendation and interview.