Minimally Invasive Urologic Surgery (Endourology)
The University of Minnesota, Department of Urology offers a 1-year clinical fellowship in minimally invasive urologic and endourologic surgery. This fellowship program is led by Dr. Michael Borofsky.
Our fellowship program emphasizes minimally invasive urologic surgery with an emphasis on kidney stone disease as well as the management of benign prostatic hypertrophy. The fellow will participate in providing comprehensive kidney stone management including gaining a fundamental understanding and being able to provide treatment for metabolic stone disease, outpatient clinical stone care, and endoscopic surgical treatment of all stone types. Endourologic techniques including retrograde ureteroscopic renal surgery as well as percutaneous renal surgery including ultrasound and fluoroscopic guided percutaneous access.
The fellow will also participate in the outpatient workup and management of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). There will be an opportunity to gain expertise in complex BPH surgery with an emphasis on holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP).
The fellow has hospital staff privileges and takes call on the same schedule as the faculty (approximately 1 week in 8). They will be expected to participate in all aspects of patient care and function independently in surgical cases. They will be adequately supervised at all times for surgical cases and are primarily responsible for the perioperative management of all surgical and hospitalized patients.
He or she will primarily be based at the University where they will have a clinic of his/her own for 0.5 to 1 day a week. While there, the fellow will participate in the operating room with endourology faculty. The fellow will also have opportunities to spend time in the operating room at our affiliated Kidney Stone Institute in St. Paul (formerly HealthEast hospital system). The fellow gains graduated responsibility throughout the year in both the clinic and the operating room.
DURATION
The clinical portion of the experience is 12 months in duration. The fellow gains graduated responsibility throughout the year in both the clinic and the operating room.
CURRICULUM & RESEARCH
A structured curriculum, weekly conferences, and close interaction with urology residents are provided. One day per week is protected as research time. A research meeting is held for 1-2 hours each week on the research day where research group members review progress on our clinical and/or outcomes research. The fellow is expected, with the help of residents and our team, to complete multiple research projects in the course of the year.
CASE MIX
After completing a one-year fellowship, the graduate should be proficient in the following: Retrograde ureteroscopic stone treatment, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate. Typical case volumes across the medical system provided by participating faculty for the aforementioned procedures in a calendar year are as follows:
-Retrograde Ureteroscopic Stone Treatment. 650 cases
-Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy 125 cases
-Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate 100 cases
EVALUATION
To ensure the fellow gains proficiency and develops the corresponding technical skills, supervising faculty members monitor performance throughout this program. Supervising faculty completes competency-based electronic evaluations after each quarter. The fellow will then meet with the program director to review these evaluations on a quarterly basis or more frequently if necessary. In addition, they will have the opportunity to evaluate the faculty to ensure educational goals are being met.
Eligibility Requirements/Criteria:
Admission is contingent upon completion of an ACGME-accredited urology training program.
The applicant must be a US citizen.
The applicant must have three letters of support
The applicant must have passed all 3 steps of USMLE before the match date and be eligible for a Minnesota State medical license prior to starting fellowship.