Department of Urology

Faculty of Medicine

Curriculum

Preparing for your career

The Dalhousie urology residency program is a five-year program, fully accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

As a resident, you'll train in a collegial environment with some of the most prominent urologists in the field. You'll also be exposed to a wide range of clinical settings, research opportunities and a high surgical volume. And you'll join a collegial group with a broad range of interests in and outside of urology.

The residency program consists of two years in our core surgery program, followed by three years of comprehensive urological training in a wide range of areas. Each year is specifically tailored to your individual educational and research interests. The ratio of residents to faculty is 1:1.

PGY-1

PGY-1 includes three months of urology, including experiences in ambulatory and inpatient care. You'll also be exposed to general surgery and electives in emergency medicine, anesthesia, various medical rotations (like nephrology and cardiology) and other surgical specialties.

PGY-2

PGY-2 consists of three months of inpatient and surgical urology, six months of general surgery, two months of surgical intensive care unit and one month of uropathology. The PGY-1 and PGY-2 years are designed to prepare you for the principles of surgery examination, provide learning opportunities in other specialties and help you maintain contact with your home program.

PGY-3

This year will introduce you to urology in greater depth and allow you to further develop your clinical judgment and endoscopic skills. There's a major emphasis on ambulatory care and outpatient procedures. You'll perform minor urological procedures under supervision of both senior resident staff and attending staff and will assist at major surgical cases.

You'll be expected to demonstrate the competent early management of urological emergencies and uncomplicated pre- and post-operative care. Rotations are usually three months in length and provide exposure to different hospitals, services and academic staff. A rotation in pediatric urology often occurs during PGY-3.

PGY-4

This year will extend and further refine your urological surgical skills. You'll be expected to develop and demonstrate sound clinical judgment with the efficient initiation and organization of appropriate investigations and management of more complex urological problems.

During this year, you'll frequently manage a clinical service, with responsibility for consultations off-service. Your responsibility in the operating room will increase and teaching and supervision of junior house staff is required. Opportunities to pursue subspecialty interests through elective experience are often available. A community rotation at Saint John Regional Hospital, in New Brunswick, occurs this year.

PGY-5

The chief resident year involves significant clinical, administrative and academic responsibilities. You'll be expected to efficiently run the clinical unit and perform major surgical procedures in their entirety. You'll organize and coordinate rounds, seminars, vacation schedules and attendance at meetings. At the end of this year, you'll be expected to be able to function independently, efficiently and safely as a fully trained urologist.