Department of
Surgery

Urology

Aims

  1. To become familiar with the recognition, natural history, and general and specific treatment of those urologic conditions that one would expect to encounter in a primary care practice in a community lacking the immediate availability of a urologist.

  2. To familiarize oneself with the pathophysiology of urologic conditions.

Educational Objectives

Clinical Skills

Given a patient with a urologic disease, the clerk will be able to do the following to the satisfaction of his/her supervisor(s):

  • Take a relevant history.
  • Perform an acceptable physical exam concentrating on the relevant areas.
  • Arrive at an appropriate differential diagnosis.
  • Learn how to perform urethral catheterization.

Cognitive Knowledge

The clerk will be expected to demonstrate a fundamental knowledge and understanding of the following general areas and disease processes. The clerk’s knowledge base must be adequate to permit appropriate assessment, investigation, diagnosis, and treatment. Specific areas students should focus on are listed below:

  1. Evaluation of hematuria (gross and microscopic)
  2. Understand how to evaluate a renal mass
  3. Learn the differential diagnosis of the acute scrotum
  4. Understand the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment options for BPH
  5. Understand the pathogenesis of nephrolithiasis and appropriate treatment options.
  6. Understand the workup and treatment of common genitourinary malignancies such as: renal cell carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, prostate cancer, testicular cancer.
  7. Learn the differential diagnosis and evaluation of male and female urinary incontinence.
  8. Understand the pathophysiology and treatment options for interstitial cystitis and chronic prostatitis.
  9. Formulate a diagnostic algorithm for genitourinary trauma involving the kidneys, bladder and urethra.
  10. Understand the pathophysiology of neurogenic voiding dysfunction.