Ochsner’s urology residents spend the majority of their time at the main campus on Jefferson Highway. There is a community urology rotation that occurs at Ochsner Baptist which is in close proximity to the main campus. The urology call includes a junior resident coupled with a senior resident. Call coverage occurs at the main campus hospital only where residents evaluate and treat both adult and pediatric patients. The PGY-1 residents, while on the urology service for 6 months, are not included in the overnight call pool.

The level of residency supervision varies across rotations and level of training. In the operating room, the residents are supervised in all operative procedures. The complexity of the procedure, the resident's previous experience with similar procedures, and the level of training determine the level of supervision.

PGY 1

The objective of the PGY 1 year is to learn how to manage surgical patients. This includes post-operative care as well as acute surgical issues. The resident should also become familiar with the basic principles of urology.

PGY 2

The Educational Objectives of the PGY 2 are to learn the elements of office urology, skills of urological diagnosis, pre-and postoperative care, radiologic imaging including ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, radionuclide studies of the genitourinary tract, and neuro-urologic and urodynamic assessment of the lower urinary tract under the direction of the staff and senior residents. At the conclusion of this year, the resident should master the evaluation of all urgent and emergent urological consultations as well as develop a strong base in endoscopic urologic surgeries. The PGY 2 resident also assists in major urologic surgeries and works closely with the other residents and staff in preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care.

PGY 3

The third year in urologic training is designed to provide six months of exclusive pediatric training and education. In addition to pediatrics, the PGY 3 year includes an enhancement of the goals and objectives of the second year of training with more responsibility in the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative management of all urological cases. The resident performs more difficult endoscopic and open surgical procedures under staff supervision. This resident may serve as the first assistant to the chief resident in the major urological surgical procedures.

PGY 4

The PGY 4 year includes an enhancement of the goals and objectives of the first three years of training with more responsibility in preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative management of all urological cases. The resident should perform procedures in the outpatient clinic, endoscopy department, and in the ambulatory outpatient surgical and endoscopy center with staff supervision. The resident enhances his surgical judgment and operative skills performing major urologic cases with staff supervision and functions as a chief resident when the chief resident is on vacation or on educational leave. This year of training provides the resident with an opportunity to help educate the younger residents and medical students. Opportunities for developing leadership skills will be present throughout the year.

PGY 5

The fifth year of training in the program involves being chief resident with the opportunity to exhibit leadership skills and assist the staff with coordination of didactic and educational courses within the department. This year is designed to enhance the diagnostic ability, surgical judgment and operative skills as outlined in the goals and objectives for the first four years of urologic training. The chief resident is given responsibility in such areas as patient care, teaching, organization and administration based on their skill and experience. The chief resident is coordinator of all surgical schedules and is the surgeon on all major cases and may elect to be an assistant to younger residents after consultation with appropriate staff regarding the complexity of the procedure. The goal of the chief resident is to enhance his or her surgical skills and decision making along with leadership qualities in order for the resident to practice independently upon graduation.