Strategies to Encourage Medical Student Interest in Urology

Abstract

Purpose of Review Urology residency positions have steadily increased but applications have remained stagnant. This is an alarming trend given the aging general population and thus increased need for urologists. The purpose of this review is to describe barriers and suggest strategies to encourage medical students to pursue urology. Recent Findings Barriers to interest in urology include educational factors, such as timing of exposure to urology in medical school, USMLE scores, research experience, and deciding in time for an early match, as well as socioeconomic barriers, such as cost, being underrepresented in medicine, and gender. Steps the urological community can take include increasing involvement in medical school curricula, increasing faculty mentor availability, and broadening students’ range of urological experiences. Summary Strategies to encourage interest in urology fall into three categories: creating interest, supporting interest, and removing barriers for students considering urology. Ultimately, the goal is to garner excellent residents in a field that must expand to meet the needs of a growing and aging population.

Medical student perceptions of urology as a specialty: who chooses to be a urologist?

“…Conversely, medical student exposure to urology in Australia is greater, with 82% of surveyed students exposed to urology during clinical placement. Studies outside Australia have shown duration of urology placement is predictive of selection of urology as a specialty 4,5 but we did not find this to be the case. However, significantly more students in our study wanted more exposure to urology.…”

“…Studies outside Australia show exposure to urology is the most significant predictor for medical students selecting urology as a specialty but other factors such as gender, presence of a mentor and perceptions of urology training and practice may play a part. 4,5 Few medical students in Australia have formalized urology rotations 6 and there have been no Australian studies on factors that influence their decision to consider urology.…”

Gender and Racial Diversity among U.S. Urology Residency Programs and Efforts to Improve It: You Can’t Be What You Can’t See

“…Early exposure to urology requires preclinical exposure to urology, such as urology faculty involved in teaching first- and second-year students and supporting urology interest groups. 6 It has been shown that mentors and medical teachers were among the most important influences in a URiM student’s decision to pursue urology, 7 but URiMs only make up 3.9% of medical school faculty 8 and are less likely to be in a subspecialty or participate in research.…”

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Medical Student Timing and Perceived Quality of Exposure to Urology

“…This knowledge would enable the urology IG to fulfill its purpose for all students-to create interest, support that interest, and remove barriers for students considering urology. 22 Possible avenues of recruitment could involve collaboration between IGs and student groups like Student National Medical Association, Latino Medical Student Association, and Association of Native American Medical Students.…”