How to become An Urologist

Funny jokes aside, Urologists make a substantial positive difference to the flow of their patients’ lives when they help them deal with issues of genitourinary organs, tissues, and tracts. 

• Genitourinary Physician
• Genitourinary Doctor
• Genitourinary Surgeon
• Urological Consultant

What do Urologists do? 

A Urologist would typically need to:

• Examine, diagnose and treat patients suffering from disorders of the reproductive organs, urinary tract, bladder and kidneys
• Examine the patient; document and review the patient’s past medical history
• Order blood/urine tests and use various diagnostic tools to arrive at a reasonable idea of the issue
• Analyse and interpret test results and patient symptoms before prescribing requisite treatment and medication to treat the patient
• Prescribe and administer antibiotics, antiseptics or compresses to treat infections or injuries
• Recommend medications to patients with erectile dysfunction, infertility or ejaculation problems
• Perform testing and treatment procedures such as vasectomy, prostate biopsies and cystoscopies
• Perform abdominal, pelvic or retroperitoneal surgeries, if essential; treat lower urinary tract dysfunctions
• Conduct surgeries on the urinary tract and male/female reproductive system
• Collaborate with other healthcare professionals in implementing proper patient diagnosis, testing and procedures
• Record information regarding patient symptoms, tests and treatment plans
• Review patient medical history while monitoring their diet and symptoms on an ongoing basis to allow for changes, if required, in the patient care plan
• Refer the patient to other specialists when necessary; offer expert advice to other physicians when needed
• Ensure complete and continuous adherence to healthcare laws, rules and regulations

Urologists can work in a variety of healthcare settings, from hospitals to the private offices of physicians. They consult with patients in the office, perform surgeries in the operating room and perform testing and nonsurgical treatments, including X-rays and urinalysis in their designated locations.

Urologists usually work more than 40 hours a week, but their work schedule varies depending on whether they perform surgery, see a patient, or are on call.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Urologists can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting employers directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Urologists are generally employed by:

• Hospitals
• University Medical Centres
• Urology Clinics
• Physicians’ Offices 
• Outpatient Clinics
• Research Facilities
• Teaching Hospitals

Professional associations and organisations, such as the Société Internationale d'Urologie (SIU), are crucial for a Urologist interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation.

Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Keeping distressed patients calm and relaxed during a test or procedure
• Physically challenging work due to long periods of standing or sitting as well as handling heavy equipment
• Unpredictable work schedule; staying on-call for emergencies at different times

Any academic program that a potential Urologist takes up typically requires a period of supervised experience, such as an internship.

To show their commitment to the long qualifying period, every applicant to a medical program needs work experience in their local hospital, doctor's surgery, nursing home, or mental health trust. It will help them understand some of the physical and emotional demands of a career in medicine.

Aspiring Urologists should receive five more years of training after medical school, including a one-year surgical internship and four years of a urology internship. Look for programs that include an additional year focused on research to better prepare yourself for the possibility of branching into research at some point in your career.

Invest in a shorter fellowship program that will give you additional knowledge about and further your interests in a research-based career in male reproductive health, female pelvic medicine & reconstruction, oncology, paediatrics, trauma & reconstruction, endourology, minimally invasive surgery and transplant.

As in any career, reading as much as possible about the profession, talking with a high school coun­selor, and interviewing those working in urology are other important ways to explore your interest.

Urologists need a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree from an accredited medical school.

Some locations offer you the option to do a pre-med course or study subjects such as biology or chemistry at college. 

Medical school typically takes four years to complete. Urologists spend their first two years of medical school studying anatomy, pathology, patient care, microbiology, and biochemistry in the classroom and the lab. They begin obtaining hands-on experience through hospital and clinic rotations in the last year or two.

Armed with an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), the aspiring Urologists go through five-year-long residencies that will qualify them as Urologists. 

You will learn basic operating room skills in the first year of residency but spend a significant time studying how to manage floor patients. The second and third years will have you see urology patients from the emergency room, manage patients on the urology floor, and work on minor cases. 

It is time to execute kidney transplants alongside reconstructive and oncologic cases in your fourth and fifth years. You will also learn how to use a surgical robot to resect malignancies of the kidney, bladder, and prostate. In addition, there will be administrative responsibilities to ensure that the urology service runs efficiently. Some locations provide for an additional sixth year dedicated to research. 

Fully qualified Urologists who wish to gain more training and research opportunities follow up the residency with a one- to three-year fellowship in a subspecialty area such as urologic oncology, male infertility or pediatric urology.

Take college preparatory courses in biology, chemistry, physics, psychology and sociology while in high school. English and speech classes will help you develop your research, writing, and oral communication skills.

Despite being fully trained in urology after their residency, aspiring Urologists complete a qualifying exam to obtain board certification and provide direct patient care.

License to practice is mandatory; board certification is usually the only prerequisite to acquire licensure.

Depending on your location, if you are already placed on a specialist register, you may apply for sub-speciality registration after fulfilling the requirements and following the prescribed process.

Performance, significant experience in diverse aspects of the profession and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Urologists who can take on various roles as they go up the career ladder.

Most Urologists land a job in upcoming uro and kidney stone centres or become a part of the healthcare team in reputed hospitals. Some Urologists go on to teach at various medical schools and colleges, passing on basic techniques and treatments to their students. Urologists that are more entrepreneurial can also open their own clinic.

The job competition for Urologists is high due to the incidence of more applicants than positions. Relevant work experience and a fellowship will increase your job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Urologist build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning.

Many Urologists pursue fellowships in a specific subspecialty of urology such as pediatric urology, renal transplantation, urologic oncology, male infertility, calculi (stones, including kidney stones), female urology and neurology.

Although not mandatory, completing a fellowship may improve your chances for a position in academia or help you carve out a niche for yourself. Fellowships that include research and multidisciplinary didactic components might give you a better insight into this field’s significant concerns and limitations.

After completing their formal education, practising Urologists are obliged to attend periodic continuing education courses to stay up to speed on the newest surgical and diagnostic techniques and learn about novel treatment options.

Find Your Niche

There is more than one super speciality in which you can pursue a fellowship and find your particular niche.

Urologists that specialise in andrology are experts in male infertility and sexual dysfunction. You will learn to perform surgical sperm extraction, penile prosthetics and even reverse a vasectomy during a one-year clinical fellowship with the possibility of an additional year for research.

A two-year fellowship in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery for women (FPMRS) will make you an expert in urogenital reconstructive surgery - fixing fistulas, reconstructing urethras and treating vaginal prolapse among others. You will also learn to perform gender-affirming surgery for transgender individuals.

Urology’s perfectionists hone in on the two-year urological transplant fellowship, which will empower you to harvest an organ at a moment’s notice and transplant it to a matched recipient without delay.

If you have a passion for technology as it impacts urology, look no further than a one-year fellowship in endourology and robotics that will teach you to use minimally invasive techniques such as lasers and water vapour to deal with tough medical conditions.

Uro-oncology is a two- or three-year fellowship that focuses on the intricacies of urological cancers, often with an additional year dedicated to research.

Urologists who can combine perfect meticulousness with compassion for children take up the two-year fellowship in pediatric urology that enables them to deal with not just circumcisions but also issues such as hypospadias repairs wherein the urethra is on the underside of the penis rather than at the tip. 

Tools of The Trade

Urologists often use state-of-the-art equipment such as lasers, laparoscopes, x-rays, fluoroscopes and catheters.

Drinking pomegranate juice regularly may help prevent prostate cancer from forming or recurring.

With the latest technology giving them increased options to help their patients, whether they are new-borns or seniors, lead a life of increased comfort and quality, Urologists find their jobs rewarding and satisfying.

Medical school training does not prepare you for how you will take care of yourself. Develop a self-care routine to help you cope with stress, which is unavoidable in this line of work. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to self-care. You must ultimately nourish your own resilience in order to contribute to your well-being and avoid burnout.