Urology Residency Overview

The Urology Residency Program at SIU School of Medicine complies with the current and upcoming curriculum as set forth by the Residency Review Committee in Urology and the ACGME. All five years of training are now incorporated into the urology residency. This five-year program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. At the completion of the residency program, residents are eligible for certification by the American Board of Urology.

The first year of training (URO1) includes 4 months of urology, 6 months of general surgery and 2 months of approved elective rotations as identified by the American Board of Urology.

The next four years (URO 2- URO5) are dedicated solely to urology training. A month of training dedicated to research is incorporated into the URO 2, year of training. The clinical experience in all five years of training includes ambulatory and inpatient experience at all of the facilities that are affiliated with the training program. The faculty at all of the participating institutions and training locations are committed to resident training and the promotion of research in all aspects of urology. Resident participation is based on a graded system of training, where junior residents learn basic urological skills and then progress to more complex cases as experience is gained.

Supportive environment

Residents participate in clinics with faculty supervision during the 1st through 5th years of training. Residents will have the opportunity to follow patients that are of interest through the entire 5 years of their urology training.

Residents are required to participate in quality improvement research starting in their first year of training. Additionally, residents are encouraged to formulate and/or participate in ongoing research with faculty supervision, and to present and publish their findings at local and national urological meetings. Support is provided for residents to travel and present research at these meetings.

Fellowship-trained faculty include pediatrics, oncology, laparoscopy/endourology, Andrology, female/male reconstruction in addition to 2 full-time general urologists and one adjunct urologic oncologist. The urology division also has one PA and 3 nurse practitioners who partner with their specialty physician to create teams within the division. The adult and pediatric procedures performed encompass all current technology and represent the most contemporary methods in Urology today. The urology division has access to 7 robotic platforms including 3 Xi’s and 4 Si’s. 

Focus on research

There is a dedicated research lab with two full-time researchers specializing in oncologic research, specifically bladder and prostate. Ongoing clinical research in urologic oncology is conducted jointly with the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU Medicine, using nuclear scanning techniques and flow cytometry. Additionally, there is a complete treatment facility for calculus disease including laparoscopy, endoscopy and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Residents also have opportunities to work in our complete urodynamics lab, and in the areas of neurogenic bladder, urodynamics, fluoroscopy, prosthetic devices, endourology, microsurgery, and infertility.

The SIU Division of Urology covers two hospital systems: Springfield Memorial Hospital and HSHS St. John’s Hospital. These hospitals are located in downtown Springfield, Illinois, and are five blocks apart. Springfield Memorial Hospital is a 562-bed hospital and St. John’s Hospital is a 731-bed hospital. The hospitals each have their own Level I Trauma Center. The SIU Division of Urology is located in the Baylis Medical Building across the street from Springfield Memorial Hospital.

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Residency Program Mailing Address:
Attn:  Kara Pierson
SIU Department of Surgery
Division of Urology
Residency Program
P.O. Box 19665
Springfield, IL  62794-9665