Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida Program

Program Overview

The Urology Residency Program at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach is a fully ACGME-accredited five-year residency program that was established in 2011. The program offers extensive training in urology, featuring a balanced curriculum that includes six months of urology electives and six months of general surgery and critical care in the first year. The subsequent four years are entirely dedicated to clinical urology, enabling residents to develop substantial expertise in this field. The program currently offers two resident positions each year.

Educational Structure

Didactic Sessions

The educational framework is designed to focus primarily on resident education, ensuring comprehensive exposure to all facets of urology. Weekly didactic sessions are a key component of the program, aimed at preparing residents for urology in-service exams and the American Board of Urology certification upon graduation. The didactic schedule includes:

• AUA Guidelines/Case Conference (Mondays, 7 – 8 a.m.)
• Grand Rounds (Thursdays, 7 – 9 a.m.), which feature monthly morbidity and mortality conferences, journal clubs, and guest lectures
• GU-Radiology conferences (monthly)
• Tumor Board meetings (Fridays, noon)

These conferences represent “protected time” for residents to prepare and engage fully.

Clinical Rotations

Clinical exposure is extensive due to the busy nature of the department and the diverse clinical practices of its faculty. Residents are expected to gain hands-on experience in various urologic subspecialties, including:

• Urologic oncology
• Robotic surgery and laparoscopy
• Complex endourology
• Female urology and pelvic reconstruction
• Pediatric urology
• Male voiding dysfunction
• Prosthetics
• Urethral reconstruction

On average, each resident spends at least one day per week in outpatient clinics, allowing for direct patient interaction under faculty supervision.

Research Opportunities

The program actively engages residents in clinical research, offering them chances to participate in projects, many of which are associated with the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Mount Sinai. Each resident is expected to initiate and complete a research project during their training, with anticipated presentations at regional and national conferences such as the American Urologic Association Annual Meeting.

Application Process

Sub-Internship Rotation

The program also offers a sub-internship rotation, allowing prospective residents to gain first-hand experience at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Rotating students can engage deeply with the urology team for one month, participating in patient care and academic conferences.

Application Requirements

Applications are solely accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Important documents include:

• At least three letters of recommendation, including one from the Urology Department Chair or Urology Clerkship Director.
• Transcripts from medical school.
• Copies of USMLE scores.

Notably, the program does not impose a cap on the number of failed attempts for Step exams.

Visa Support

Mount Sinai Medical Center supports J-1 visa sponsorship for international medical graduates, facilitating their training in the residency program.

Competitiveness and Selection Criteria

The program is regarded as competitive, seeking candidates with strong academic backgrounds and clinical skills. In addition to the required documentation, candidates should demonstrate an interest in urology and a commitment to clinical excellence.

Unique Aspects of the Program

One distinctive feature of the Urology Residency Program at Mount Sinai is its affiliation with Columbia University, which adds a prestigious academic dimension to the training experience. This affiliation allows residents access to additional educational resources, including lectures and workshops led by distinguished urology faculty from Columbia.

Training Sites

The primary training occurs at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach and includes experiences at Miami Children's Hospital where residents encounter a diverse range of pediatric urology cases, gaining invaluable insights into the complexities of this subset of care.