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The Department of Urology at Stony Brook University Hospital provides a wide range of general and tertiary urological care. Subspecialty services include urologic oncology, female urology, prostate diseases, infertility and Men’s Health, kidney stone disease and Endourology, pediatric urology, reconstructive urology, sexual dysfunction, kidney transplantation and minimally invasive surgery via laparoscopy and robot-assisted surgery using the Da Vinci® S HD™ Surgical System.
The majority of the Department’s faculty are fellowship trained at elite institutions. They offer a wide array of experience in all aspects of urological procedures. The department has a five-year ACGME accredited program and works in conjunction with the School of Medicine to educate medical students.
The department participates in the second-year medical student curriculum. In the Introduction to Clinical Medicine course, students are taught the male genitourinary physical examination. Following the study of the exam techniques utilizing audiovisual aids and models, small groups of students spend a session with the instructing physician and professional patients, who assist the student in conducting the physical examinations.
Stony Brook medical students may elect a clerkship during the third-year or a sub-internship during the fourth year. During this rotation, emphasis is placed on the urologic history, physical examinations, and differential diagnosis of urologic problems. The basic pathophysiology of urologic disease is emphasized and the rationale for medical and surgical intervention is reviewed. The sub-internship consists of a four-week rotation, which gives a more in-depth exposure to urology. Students are expected to give a presentation at the end of their rotation. Research-based electives are also available to medical students within the Department of Urology.
All students are taught directly by the attending faculty and urology residents. The residents are responsible for orienting the medical students to the day-to-day activities of the service. This gives the residents a chance to exhibit their teaching, professionalism, communication, and system-based practice skills. Activities include morning rounds, selection of participation in specific surgical cases performed within the department, and participation in the outpatient clinic. The residents are also directly responsible for assisting the medical students with history and physical examinations and other clinical patient care activities. The chief resident participates with the Urology faculty in evaluating all medical students while on their Urology rotation.
Residency Program
The educational philosophy of the Department of Urology is to provide the urology resident with an in-depth understanding of the practice of urology, including, but not limited to, patient care, communication skills, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, professionalism, and system-based practices. In addition to the six competencies, the department provides a strong understanding of the basic scientific, medical, and surgical principles of urology. The department believes that basic and clinical sciences should be integrated into the residency in order to cultivate a physician/urologic surgeon who is well versed not only in the technical aspects of the specialty, but also in a fundamental understanding of the disease processes which affect the urinary tract and the male genital system. The objectives of the urology resident education at Stony Brook are to:
- Provide a strong didactic, educational environment focused on the six competencies listed above;
- Provide a supervised surgical education with the appropriate evaluative tools;
- Reinforce the concept of self-motivated education, which will serve the resident well in his/her practice in the community, in research, or in academics; and
- Provide a strong understanding of the six competencies and emphasize how they are important to the functioning of the physician in today’s complex healthcare environment.
Fellowship Programs
The Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS) fellowship at Stony Brook Medicine is a two-year ACGME-accredited fellowship that includes a comprehensive clinical experience and dedicated research time.
The fellowship offers extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of female urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and female pelvic floor reconstruction. It provides comprehensive, multi-disciplinary training in female urology, pelvic floor reconstruction (vaginal, open, laparoscopic, and robotic), neuro-urology, neuromodulation, urinary diversion, and urodynamics. The fellow will participate in all aspects of care including outpatient evaluation, diagnostic testing, outpatient procedures, ambulatory surgery, and in-patient surgery. There will be ample protected research time for the fellow with resources including a research coordinator and research nurse.
The fellowship faculty consists of 6 FPMRS-certified urologists and urogynecologists who specialize in urinary incontinence and female pelvic floor reconstruction. Fellows will also have rotations with colorectal surgeons and gastroenterologists who specialize in fecal incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction.
The Department of Urology will also be starting a one year unaccredited Male Infertility and Sexual Medicine Fellowship in 2025.
In summary, the overall emphasis of our program is to provide residents with a well-rounded educational experience that will prepare them for a productive and satisfying career in urology. Since the career goals of individual residents may differ, it is our goal to provide a broad base of urologic education from which any career path in urology can be achieved.
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