Educational Resources

Weekly resident teaching conferences, led by the urology faculty, encompass the major urologic conditions and accompanying research. Faculty prepare lectures and assign reading materials for these resident-focused conferences. These conferences take place on Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Grand rounds conferences include faculty presentations, resident case presentations, morbidity and mortality, and guest lectures. These conferences take place on Fridays from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m.

During pre-op conference, the residents and faculty discuss operative cases for the upcoming week at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Jesse Brown Veterans' Administration Hospital. Pre-op conferences take place on Fridays from 7:00 to 7:30 a.m.

During M&M conferences, residents and faculty discuss recent complications at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Jesse Brown Veteran’s Administration hospital. M&M conferences take place during one grand rounds conference per month, on Friday from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m.

Specialists from the urology, medical oncology, radiation oncology and pathology services present and discuss interesting oncology cases from Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Each case receives a comprehensive overview, including review of x-rays and pathology slides. They take place every Thursday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

At least one time per year, the urology faculty conduct surgical simulation labs with the residents. Typically, these labs occur in two half-day sessions attended by all of the residents. The labs take place in the state-of-the art Northwestern Simulation Center.

Past labs include:

• Placement of transobturator slings, retropubic and fascial pubovaginal slings
• Vascular anatomy of the pelvis and anatomic lymph nodes
• Anatomic approach for radical cystectomy/pelvic exenteration
• Prolapse repair surgeries
• Artificial urinary sphincter and prosthesis placement
• Retroperitoneal anatomy and laparoscopic procedures (nephrectomy and pyeloplasty)
• Open abdominal surgery, bowel handling, stapled bowel anastomosis and formation of complex urinary reservoirs

New residents participate in the Department of Surgery Boot Camp during orientation, the first week of residency and intermittently through the academic year. In addition to Boot Camp, Department of Urology faculty and residents conduct a lab with the new residents to practice suturing and using a cystoscope.

Every year,the residents invite a urologist to visit Northwestern for two days. This educational and social event includes activities from surgical labs to bowling.

The Chicago Urological Society meets on the second Wednesday of the month from November to April. These topical meetings feature a nationally renowned speaker and provide residents with the opportunity to interact with urology residents from other training programs as well as other with academic and private practice urologists in the Chicago area. Participation by residents is encouraged and supported by the department.

Residents are encouraged to submit research abstracts for presentation during the American Urological Association annual meeting. Residents whose abstracts are accepted attend the meeting, supported by the department.