Pediatric Urology Fellowship Training

Pediatric Urology Fellowships

Currently there are 26 fellowships accepting 27 fellows each year.  All programs take one fellow a year with the exception of Children’s Hospital Boston, which takes two fellows each year.  All fellowships are two years in length having one year of clinical work and one year of research, with the exception of Children’s Hospital Boston which is a three year fellowship requiring two years of research.  The clinical year is  ACGME accredited and fellowships must abide by the guidelines set forth by the ACGME with regards to duty hours, case logging, moonlighting, etc.  The research year is not an ACGME accredited year, and varies significantly from program to program, with some requiring basic science research, some clinical research and some a combination of both research and clinical duties as a ‘junior attending’.  Each program differs with regards to whether the clinical year or research year is first.  When applying to each program, it is important to ascertain how the program is structured with regards to the clinical and research year and what the expectations will be during each year. 

Pediatric urology is the only subspecialty that has a separate certifying examination, the CAQ (certificate of qualification) through the ABU.  In order to sit for this exam, one must complete 24 months of an accredited fellowship.  It also requires submitting case logs and paperwork similar to the ABU qualifying board examinations.  It is important to realize that the CAQ is not meant to prevent those trained in urology from see or treating pediatric urologic problems. It is designed for those whose primary practice is >75% pediatric.

The application process typically opens in November for registration and placement in a fellowship is by a “match” through the AUA.  Residents interested in applying should do so during their second to last year of residency.   Interviews are typically throughout the springtime and rank lists are due in early June.  The match date is typically the third Monday of June.  Most fellowships have a start date of July 1.  There is a universal application available on the AUA website.  The competitiveness of the pediatric urology match varies from year to year depending on the number of applicants.  In the last few years, there have been almost equal numbers of applicants to spots available.

Why do a pediatric urology fellowship?

Just as pediatricians say that children are not little adults, pediatric urology is not just adult urology in kids.  Many of the operations are reconstructive in nature and require intense attention to detail and knowledge of many different techniques that are less frequently utilized in adults.  The exposure to pediatric urology during residency can vary, but commonly only 6-8 months of 48 month residency is dedicated to pediatrics.  Thus, if one is considering a full time practice in pediatric urology, the experience of a fellowship is necessary to gain enough expertise to properly perform both the general and complex cases in the field. 

If one is considering an academic career, pediatric urology can also foster that goal.  Many institutions encourage faculty to have dedicated research time in the schedule, some up to 60%.  As most children’s hospitals are associated with large academic institutions, there are good resources available to burgeoning clinician-scientists or clinical researchers.

Why not do a pediatric urology fellowship?

It is often quite easy during residency, after years of training that seems to fly by to assume that another two years will not be a big commitment.  In the long run this is absolutely correct, however one should not take on a two year time commitment without serious consideration.  Fellowship can be at times more difficult than residency with greater expectations of you.  Treating and operating on children can be difficult for some as coping with a poor outcome in a child can be challenging.  If one wants to work specifically in a children’s hospital, then you may find yourself restricted in job placement to academic centers in larger cities.  Some fellowships are specifically looking to train academic pediatric urologists as well.  The expectation at most fellowships is that you will practice solely in pediatric urology after finishing.

Contributing writer is Beth A. Drzewiecki, M.D.

 

Society of Pediatric Urology Fellowship Programs:

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
John V. Kryger, MD
999 N. 92nd St, Ste. 330
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226
Phone: 414-337-7757
Fax:414-266-1752
Email: jkryger@chw.org
Charlotte Ricker
Fellowship Coordinator
Email: cricker@chw.org



Children's Hospital of Oklahoma
Bradley P. Kropp, MD
University of Oklahoma Health Science Center
920 Stanton L. Young Blvd., WP3150
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Phone: (405) 271-6900
Fax: (405) 271-3118
Email: brad-kropp@ouhsc.edu

Children's Medical Center and University of Texas Medical Center
Warren Snodgrass, M.D.
6300 Harry Hines Boulevard
Suite 1401
Dallas, TX 75235-9142
Phone: 214-456-2481
Fax: 214-456-2497
Email: warren.snodgrass@childrens.com or Duncan.wilcox@childrens.com

Stanford University School of Medicine
Linda M. Dairiki Shortliffe, M.D.
Stanford Hospital and Clinics
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford, CA 94305-5118
Phone: (650) 723-4537
Fax: (650) 723-4055
Email: urology@med.stanford.edu

UCSF Children's Hospital
Larry Baskin, M.D.
400 Parnassus Avenue, ACC 600
San Francisco, California 94143-0738
Phone: (415) 476-1611
Fax: (415) 476-8849
Email: lbaskin@urol.ucsf.edu
UCSF Pediatric Urology Fellow site

Vanderbilt University Medical Center
John W. Brock, III, M.D.
A-1302 Medical Center North
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN 37232-2765
Phone: (615) 936-1060
Fax: (615) 936-1061
Email: john.brock@vanderbilt.edu

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Thomas F. Kolon, MD
Division of Urology
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
34th and Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
Phone: (215) 590-4690
Fax: (215) 590-3985
Email: kolon@email.chop.edu

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Francis X. Schneck M.D.
Clinical Director
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
3705 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Phone: 412-692-7932
Fax: 412-692-7939
Email: schneckf@upmc.edu

Johns Hopkins Hospital
John Gearhart, M.D.
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Marburg 146
600 North Wolfe Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21287-2101
Phone: (410) 955-5358
Fax: (410) 955-0833
Email: jgearhart@jhmi.edu

Texas Children’s Hospital
Edmond T. Gonzales, Jr., M.D.
Director of Pediatric Urology
Texas Children’s Hospital
Clinical Care Center, Suite 660.0
6701 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas 77030
Phone: (832) 822-3173
Fax: (832) 825-3159
Email: gonzales@bcm.tmc.edu

Navy Regional Medical Center of San Diego
George W. Kaplan, M.D.
Navy Regional Medical Center of San Diego
7930 Frost Street, Suite 306
San Diego, California 92123
Phone: (858) 279-8527
Fax: (858) 279-8876

Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago
William E. Kaplan, M.D.
Children’s Memorial Hospital
2300 Children’s Plaza
Box 24
Chicago, Illinois 60614
Phone: (773) 880-4428
Fax: (773) 880-3339

Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Walid A. Farhat M.D. FRCSC, FAAP
Hospital for Sick Children
555 University Ave, M299
Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8
CANADA
Phone: (416) 813-6580
Fax: (416) 813-7869
Email: lisa.abreu@sickkids.ca

Emory University School of Medicine
Edwin Agan Smith M.D.
5445 Meridian Mark Road
Suite 420
Atlanta, Georgia 30342
Phone: (404) 252-5206
Fax: (404) 252-1268
Email: lynne.smallwood@gaurology.com

Nationwide Children's Hospital
Seth A. Alpert M.D.
Nationwide Children's Hospital
The Ohio State University
G280 Timken Hall
700 Children's Drive
Columbus, OH 43205-2696
Phone: (614) 722-6634
Fax: (614) 722-6627
Email: Seth.Alpert@nationwidechildrens.org

Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, Seattle
Richard Grady, M.D.
Associate Professor and Interim Chief
Division of Pediatric Urology
Children’s Hospital and Medical Center
4800 Sand Point Way, N.E.
P.O. Box 5371
Seattle, Washington 98105-0371
Phone: (206) 987-2130
Fax: (206) 527-3925
Email: richard.grady@seattlechildrens.org
Dora Miller
Fellowship Coordinator
Phone:(206) 987-1623
Email: doram@uw.edu

University of Tennessee - Memphis/ Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Dana W. Giel M.D.
49 N Dunlap, Suite 329
Memphis, Tennessee 38105
Phone: (901) 287-6665
Fax: (901) 287-6660
Email: danagiel@uthsc.com

Schneider Children's Hospital of North Shore
Lane S. Palmer, MD
Schneider Children's Hospital of North Shore
Long Island Jewish Health System
1999 Marcus Avenue, Suite M18
Lake Success, NY 11042
Phone: 516-466-6953
Fax: 516-466-5608
Email: lpalmer@nshs.edu

Children’s Hospital, Boston
Alan B. Retik, M.D.
Department of Pediatric Urology
Children’s Hospital Boston
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Phone: (617) 355-7796
Fax: (617) 730-0474

Indiana University Medical Center
Richard C. Rink, M.D.
Riley Hospital for Children
Indiana University Medical Center
702 Barnhill Drive, Suite 246
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
Phone: (317) 274-7472
Fax: (317) 274-7841
Email: rrink@iupui.edu

Children's National Medical Center, Washington DC
Hans G. Pohl M.D. FAAP
Children's National Medical Center
The A. Barry Belman Pediatric Urology Fellowship Program
111 Michigan Ave NW, Suite 4.400 West Wing
Washington, DC 20010
Phone: 202-884-5042
Fax: 202-884-4739
hpohl@cnmc.org

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Pramod Reddy, M.D.
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
3333 Burnet Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039
Phone: (513) 636- 7143
Fax: (513) 636-6753
Email: pramod.reddy@cchmc.org

duPont Hospital for Children
Julia S. Barthold M.D.
1600 Rockland Road, Dept of Surgery
Wilmington, DE 19803
Phone: 302-651-5986
Fax: 302-651-6410
E-mail: jbarthol@nemours.org

St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Douglas E. Coplen M.D.
4990 Children’s Place, Suite 1190
St. Louis, MO 63110
Phone: (314) 454-6034
Fax: (314) 454 2876
Email: coplend@wustl.edu

Miami Children's Hospital
Rafael Gosalbez M.D.
3200 SW 60th Court, Suite 104
Miami, Florida 33155
Phone: (305) 669-6448 ext. 0
Fax: (305) 663-8485
Email: rafaelgosalbez@hotmail.com

University of Connecticut / Connecticut Children's Medical Center
Christina Kim, MD
282 Washington Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860-545-9658
Fax: 860-545-8627
Program Coordinator: Veronica Tomlinson
Email: vtomlin@ccmckids.org

 

Other Links:

Society of Pediatric Urology