Urology Residency
(PGY-2 through PGY-6)

The urology residency program at Madigan Healthcare System was created in 1971 by COL (retired) John N. Wettlaufer, M.D. We have a proud history of fostering academic excellence and the program has enjoyed an exceptionally high pass rate on the American Board of Urology’s Certifying Examination. Graduates and faculty from this program have gone on to become leaders in Army medicine and the Urology community. Our faculty has expertise in all areas of Urology to include Pediatrics, Reconstructive Urology, Female Urology, Laparoscopy, Robotics, Endourology and Oncology. Our faculty is actively involved in teaching and research. Our program is looking for motivated physicians who desire a well-rounded urology residency grounded in academics, surgical experience, and clinical research. Research and leadership experience are desirable in applicants, but are not requirements to apply.

The Madigan Urology Clinic is a fully staffed, state-of-the-art, 13,400 square foot facility with the capability to perform the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic urologic procedures. Three urology procedure tables and four cystoscopy suites with full video capability allow us to perform procedures and surgery in our clinic to include extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, laser lithotripsy, flexible cystoscopy and ureteroscopy, transurethral surgery, urodynamics, and biofeedback. Each resident is provided with his/her own office that is equipped with a personal computer.

The urology service is well supported by administrative personnel, nurses, urology technicians, social workers, and research staff. The Madigan Urology Service accepts one applicant a year for the fully accredited six-year residency program. Applicants must graduate from an accredited school of medicine in the US or Puerto Rico. The Joint Service GME Selection Board meets annually in November to select applicants. Information about eligibility and applications can be found at www.mods.army.mil/medicaleducation under GME/DELAY.

The first two years of urology training (PGY-1, or internship, and PGY-2) are spent on the General Surgery Service at Madigan. Residents must successfully complete internship (PGY-1) and obtain a medical license during the PGY-2 year. During the PGY-1 and PGY-2 years the resident will receive exposure to a broad range of surgical skills important to urology and Army medicine. Residents are expected to incorporate themselves into the general surgery service and learn the critical aspects of general surgery, bariatric surgery, vascular surgery, critical care, trauma and cardiothoracic surgery.

The PGY-3 resident joins the urology service and begins full-time training in urology. During the ensuing years of training, residents receive an intensive exposure to adult and pediatric urology and are expected to demonstrate increasing clinical and surgical acumen and accept increasing responsibilities. The PGY-3 resident will, under the supervision of the faculty, manage his/her own clinic patients, learn procedures, perform endoscopic and open surgery, and will take primary call for the Urology Service.

The PGY-4 year begins with a dedicated research rotation that is 6 months in length either at Madigan Healthcare System or at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA. At Madigan, they will have the opportunity to perform basic science or animal research in the laboratory supported by the Department of Clinical Investigation and/or clinical projects as part of the Urology Service. At the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, they will have the opportunity to do a bench research elective. The resident would be working alongside graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and other residents in the field of prostate cancer research. After completion of the research rotation, the resident will spend the next three months with the transplant service at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, WA. During this rotation, the PGY-4 will learn the principles of transplantation and immunosuppression. The resident will gain exposure to organ harvest as part of the transplant team and participate in renal transplants (living and cadaveric) as well as donor nephrectomy. The last three months of the PGY-4 academic year are spent on a rotation in pediatric urology which is performed at Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle, WA.

In the PGY-5 year, eleven of the twelve months are spent rotating at affiliate hospitals. The PGY-5 resident will spend the first two months at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA completing a trauma rotation. New for the 2013-2014 academic year, the PGY-5 will return back to Virginia Mason Medical Center to complete a three month Female and General Urology Rotation to increase knowledge in the principles of female urology and voiding dysfunction. The following six months will be spent at Tacoma General Hospital doing a rotation in general urology and minimally invasive urologic oncology and the last month is spent back at Madigan where the PGY-5 will begin the transition to becoming the Chief Resident.

The PGY-6 resident is the Chief Resident. The Chief Resident spends the entire year at Madigan where he/she assumes the responsibility for running the inpatient and outpatient services, coordinating the operating room schedule, and mentoring and supervising the junior residents, rotating interns, and medical students. It is during this year that the Chief Resident will refine his/her clinical and operative skills in anticipation of becoming an independent provider and in preparation for the American Board of Urology’s Certifying Examination.

Urology is a challenging and rewarding surgical specialty. We look forward to seeing you at Madigan!

For additional information please contact:

Program Director, Urology Residency
Madigan Healthcare System
ATTN: MCHJ-CLS-U
9040 Jackson Avenue
Tacoma, Washington 98431-1100
(253) 968-2417 or DSN: 312-782-2417