Medical College of Wisconsin Urology Residency Program

Meghan Schaefer, MD Thank you for your interest in the ACGME accredited urologic surgery residency training program at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), an accredited five year curriculum (60 months total; 51 months of clinical urology). The Department of Urology supports four (4) residents per year with rotations at Froedtert Hospital, Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Children’s Wisconsin and two local community hospitals. Located in southeastern Wisconsin, MCW is the largest Urology residency training program in the state and covers a diverse population of urban, suburban and rural communities. Froedtert Hospital is the primary adult academic tertiary care facility affiliated with Medical College of Wisconsin. Children’s is the largest and only free standing pediatric hospital in the state. The VA Medical Center is one of the busiest referral VA hospitals in the region.

One of MCW’s strengths is employing nationally and internationally recognized, fellowship-trained experts in all areas of urology. The faculty consists of 19 urologists, eight physician’s assistants/nurse practitioners and four non-urologists with appointments to the Department of Urology. Our group of specialists provide team-oriented, state of the art instruction in urologic oncology, cryotherapy, endourology, robotics/laparoscopy, pediatric urology, female urology, sexual dysfunction, neurourology, reconstructive urology, voiding dysfunction, andrology/infertility, uropathology and uroradiology.

Additional highlights of the MCW Department of Urology residency training program include:

Community urology rotation
Dedicated research month in the PGY-4 year
Night float system
Dedicated elective time
International rotation opportunities in Mexico and Honduras
The Richard B. Bourne Award – an opportunity to spend two weeks pursuing advanced training at other academic institutions
Dedicated training in urodynamics
Robust research assistance
Department support for travel and participation in local, regional, and national urologic meetings

Upon graduation our residents are adequately prepared for careers in either academic medicine or private practice.

Meghan Schaefer, MD
Urology Residency Program Director

Residency Applicants

Thank you for your interest in applying for a urologic residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW).

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Program Description

We offer four (4) residency positions each academic year. The PGY-1 year is 4 urology rotations and 8 general surgery rotations. PGYs 2-5 are dedicated to education and training in Urology.

The Urology Residency Program participates in the AUA Residency Match; please see the Match Calendar for important dates and information. ERAS is used for all applications.

Length of Training

Urology is 60 months of clinical urology education

Program Mission & Program Aim

The Department of Urology at Medical College of Wisconsin is dedicated to the classic academic missions of clinical care, teaching and research. Urology boasts eighteen fellowship-trained physicians with specialty expertise in care across a spectrum of urologic disease processes. Our teaching and research activities are designed to both complement and support our clinical service mission.

Our program aims to:

Educate residents in all aspects of urology and urologic surgery
Mentor residents in clinical and basic science research
Prepare residents for a career in academic medicine or private practice
Teach residents to be physician educators

Overall Program goals and objectives:

Education: Educational activities of the residency program will instruct the trainee in the assessment and management of urologic disease.
Clinical Care: Clinical activities focus on secondary and tertiary care and will provide the trainee with a broad experience preparing them for the practice of urology.
Research: Clinical and basic research activities are ongoing in many areas in the department. There is ample opportunity for trainee participation in research.
Teaching Objectives: Humanistic and professional attitudes: To foster development in each trainee of positive humanistic and professional attitudes as essential ingredients of excellence in patient care. Technical skills - To assure acquisition by each trainee of appropriate technical skills and an appreciation of surgical anatomy and physiology.

Residency and the American Board of Urology Certifying Exam

Please see the The American Board of Urology for complete information on American Board of Urology certification examinations eligibility requirements, certification processes, certification components, and for other ABU certification information.

Successful completion of urology residency training which meets ABU expectations and requirements, such as the MCWAH Urology Residency Program, is one element of the ABU Qualifying (Part 1) Examination eligibility requirement. Each resident is responsible for monitoring and completing all requirements and processes necessary for obtaining an ABU Certification.

Our program participates in the American Urological Association Residency Match Program. Eligible residency candidates are those individuals who have:

Graduated from a medical school in the United States or Canada, accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME);
Graduated from a college of osteopathic medicine in the United States, accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA);

How do I apply to the MCW Urology Residency Program?

We utilize ERAS to manage the application process.

Applicants from US Medical Schools must:

Complete an ERAS online application

In your ERAS application, you must:

Provide three (3) Letters of Recommendation
Provide a Curriculum Vitae
Write a Personal Statement
Provide Medical Student Transcripts
Provide USMLE Step 1 Scores
Provide a Dean’s Letter
Prior GME Training

Failure to provide the above information may cause a delay in consideration or rejection of your residency application.

Visiting sub-intern students must apply via ERAS but will NOT be required to participate in a formal MCW urology residency interview

For IMG applicants

IMGs must provide the above information. In addition, among other qualifications, the following documentation must be provided and/or obtained:

Current ECGMG Certification
US Citizenship
US Permanent Resident
J-1 Visa
H1- B Visa

Benefits, Conditions & Terms of Employment

MCW Benefits, Conditions & Terms of Employment

Learn more about living in Milwaukee

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Program Contact

Keri Karnath
Department Administrator
kkarnath@mcw.edu

MCW Urology Residency Applicant Information Summary

MCW Urology Residency Applicant Information Summary (PDF)

Urology Resident Educational Conferences

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Urology Resident Educational Conferences

Three hours of protected time every Wednesday morning

Campbell’s Conference – Residents will discuss specific Campbell’s chapters
Pre-Op Conference – All patients scheduled for surgery for the following week will be discussed. The resident(s) should be prepared to discuss each case, including all pre-op labs and x-rays.
Pediatric Urology Conference
Urology/Radiology Conference – This conference is combined radiology and urology staff. IVP's, ultrasound evaluations, and CT scans will be presented and discussed.
Morbidity & Mortality Conference – The specific cases will be discussed by the resident who assisted at the time of the surgical procedure.
Journal Club – This conference is intended to deal with a critical evaluation of clinical and research studies. Discussion will include content, scientific method, and related articles.
Grand Rounds
Board Prep
Pathology/Tumor Board – Held in conjunction with Hematology Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Pathology and Radiology. The junior residents are expected to prepare and present the cases.
Research Conference
Faculty Led Didactic Conference

FAQs

Frequently asked questions about the Urology Residency Program

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Is the program accredited?

The MCW Urology residency program is fully accredited by the ACGME without any compliance violations or citations.

How do the graduating residents score on the written boards?

Since 1999, 100% of MCW urology residency graduates passed the written boards on their first attempt.

Parking?

Hospital parking is free and on-site.

Meals?

On call meal vouchers are provided.

Night float?

Call is a night float system for Froedtert, the VA, and CHW, and home call for community sites. Weekend call is a home call system.

Vacations?

3 weeks/year

Housing?

Most residents buy or rent within 15 miles of the hospital.

Gym?

Discounted gym memberships are available at the Wisconsin Athletic Club (WAC)

Current Residents

Click on each person's profile card for more personal information.

Arya Anvar, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 5

Kwesi Asantey, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 5

Carissa Battle, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 5

Thomas Barefoot, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 4

Sarah Erpenbeck, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 4

Madelyn Flitcroft, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 4

Sarah Kodres-O'Brien, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 4

Leah Ashton, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 3

Benjamin Bonebrake, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 3

Casey Norton, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 3

Daniel Reich, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 3

Jonathan Hjelmgren, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 2

Sukhjeevan Nijhar, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 2

Isis Sweeney, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 2

Abbygale Willging, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 2

Jason Koehler, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 1

Mackensie Koellermeier, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 1

Ruben Mercado Santos, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 1

Elizabeth Welsch, MD

Urology Resident, PGY 1

Urology Alumni

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Where did they go?

Since 2008, approximately half of our graduating residents joined private practices and half pursued fellowship training/academic urology positions

Fellowships

Urology oncology, Laparoscopy/Robotics, Infertility and Andrology, Pediatric urology, Benign Prostate Diseases, Urologic reconstruction, Endourology, and Sexual dysfunction

Fellowship Institutions

University of Chicago, Washington University (St. Louis), Virginia Mason Medical Center, University of Illinois – Chicago, Cleveland Clinic, Medical College of Wisconsin, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Children’s Wisconsin, Indiana University, Boston Children’s Hospital, University of Connecticut, Children’s National Medical Center, University of Colorado, Loyola University Medical Center

Faculty positions

Johns Hopkins University, Washington University (St. Louis), University of Michigan, Baylor Scott & White, University of Iowa, University of Kansas, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin, University of Tennessee - Chattanooga, Children’s National Medical Center, Geisinger