Description of the Fellowship
The Fellowship in Endourology provides specialized, comprehensive training in all aspects of endourologic Urologic Surgery under the mentorship of four fellowship trained Endourology Faculty: Drs. Nicole Miller, Jennifer Robles, Nicholas Kavoussi and Duke Herrell. This fellowship uniquely provides a breadth of exposure to holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), medical and surgical management of complex stone, as well as advanced laparoscopic/robotic surgery for reconstructive and oncologic applications. The fellowship is a one- or two-year program, including clinical and focused laboratory research.

Effective January 1, 2022, the Department of Urology will not sponsor H1-B or O-1 visa applications for fellows. All applicants must be able to obtain a full medical license in the state of Tennessee.

Clinical
Fellows will meet the standard requirements for certification by the Endourological Society. Typically, fellows participate in at least 150 endourologic procedures during each fellowship year, including > 50-60 percutaneous renal procedures, > 75 - 100 HoLEP procedures, and > 150 flexible or rigid ureteroscopy procedures. Additionally, fellows will have the opportunity to participate in ~ 50 laparoscopic and robotic urology procedures annually. The fellow will have, approximately, 1-2 days per week for research activity and 2-3 days per week for clinical experience. The fellow will be exposed to a variety of cutting-edge techniques, including percutaneous access to the kidney (fluoroscopic and ultrasound-guided), HoLEP, ureteroscopy with various laser modalities and novel sheaths, as well as advanced robotic reconstruction and retroperitoneal surgical approaches.

Research
Research projects are varied and include both basic science and clinical research opportunities. Fellows will be mentored to publish manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and present research at meetings. Ongoing collaborative research is conducted through a variety of advanced collaborations including work with Vanderbilt University Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Biomechanical Engineering and Chemical Engineering. Additional research opportunities include outcomes and clinical research, epidemiologic and bioinformatics projects, quality improvement with extensive collaborations across Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Nashville VA Medical Center. Several ongoing projects are supported by NIH funding. Fellows can also access resources aimed at the development of entrepreneurship and intellectual property knowledge.

Education:
The fellow will also be responsible for preparation of teaching conferences for residents and staff. The fellow will participate in teaching residents and medical students in the evaluation and management of endourologic and laparoscopic urology patients.

Past Fellows