Essential CV Building Tips for DO Graduates in Urology Residency

Understanding the CV Landscape for DO Graduates in Urology

Urology is one of the more competitive surgical subspecialties, and as a DO graduate, you’re competing in a space that still leans heavily allopathic. That does not mean the urology match is closed to you—but it does mean that every component of your application, especially your CV, must be intentional, strategic, and polished.

Your CV is not just a list of experiences; it is your professional story in structured form. It is often reviewed:

• Before offering you an interview
• Before or during your interview day
• In rank meetings when faculty compare candidates

For a DO graduate residency applicant in urology, the CV has three key jobs:

1. Demonstrate competitiveness in a historically MD-heavy specialty.
2. Highlight sustained interest and concrete experience in urology.
3. Show that you understand academic medicine and can contribute beyond the OR and clinic.

In this article, we’ll walk through how to build a high‑impact medical student CV specifically tailored to the urology match, with practical residency CV tips and examples geared toward DO graduates.

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Core Principles: What Makes an Excellent Urology CV?

Before breaking down sections, it helps to understand what program directors and faculty generally look for in a urology residency CV:

1. Evidence of genuine, sustained urology interest

   • Urology rotations, sub‑internships, and electives
   • Urology research, QI, and case reports
   • Urology interest group leadership, conferences, and workshops

2. Academic potential

   • Publications (any field, but urology preferred)
   • Presentations and posters
   • Involvement in scholarly projects, data collection, literature reviews

3. Operative and procedural comfort

   • Surgical exposure and OR experience (urology and general surgery)
   • Skills labs, simulation, and suturing experience

4. Professionalism and reliability

   • Leadership roles, longitudinal commitments
   • Teaching and mentorship activities
   • Evidence of teamwork, communication, and follow‑through

5. DO‑specific strengths

   • Osteopathic principles and practice applied to surgical care
   • Holistic and patient‑centered experiences
   • Clinical excellence on core rotations and sub‑Is

Your CV should be built to surface these strengths quickly. Assume program directors have limited time and dozens of applications to review. Clear formatting and a purposeful structure is critical.

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CV Structure & Formatting: Setting Up a Strong Foundation

Your medical student CV needs to be clean, scannable, and consistent. Think of it as a professional document you could hand to any attending without hesitation.

General Formatting Rules

• Length: 2–5 pages is typical for a graduating medical student, especially one with research. Avoid “padding” for length.
• Font: Professional and easy to read (e.g., 11–12 pt Times New Roman, Calibri, or Garamond).
• Margins: 0.5–1 inch all around.
• Consistency:
  • Dates aligned on the same side throughout (left or right, pick one).
  • Same verb tense and format for bullet points.
  • Same order of information in each section.

Recommended Section Order for a Urology Applicant

For a DO graduate residency applicant in urology, a strong order is:

1. Contact Information
2. Education
3. USMLE/COMLEX Scores (optional but increasingly common on a CV)
4. Clinical Rotations & Sub‑Internships (Urology and Surgery emphasized)
5. Research & Publications
6. Presentations & Posters
7. Honors & Awards
8. Leadership & Professional Involvement
9. Teaching & Mentorship
10. Work Experience & Volunteerism
11. Skills & Certifications
12. Interests (optional but recommended)

You can tweak this order based on your strengths. For example, if you have substantial urology research, move “Research & Publications” earlier, directly after Education.

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Section-by-Section Guide: How to Build a CV for Urology Residency

1. Contact Information

Include:

• Full name, degree (e.g., “Jane A. Smith, DO”)
• Professional email (avoid nicknames)
• Mobile phone
• City/State (full address optional)
• LinkedIn (optional, but only if updated and professional)

Avoid including: photo, date of birth, marital status, or other personal identifiers.

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2. Education

List in reverse chronological order:

• DO Degree

  • Institution, City, State
  • Expected or actual graduation date
  • Class rank or quartile (if available and favorable)
  • Distinctions (e.g., Sigma Sigma Phi, Dean’s List)

• Undergraduate Degree

  • Institution, degree, major, year

Example Bullets:

• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, XYZ College of Osteopathic Medicine, May 2025
• GPA: 3.72/4.00; Top 20% of class; Sigma Sigma Phi Honor Society
• Bachelor of Science in Biology, ABC University, 2019, Magna Cum Laude

As a DO graduate, if you took extra anatomy, OMM, or surgical skills electives, you can mention them briefly here or in a later section.

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3. Exam Scores (USMLE & COMLEX)

In the context of the osteopathic residency match and the ACGME urology match, programs may want to see both COMLEX and USMLE scores, but putting them on your CV is optional.

If your scores are competitive, you can list them succinctly:

• USMLE Step 1: Pass
• USMLE Step 2 CK: 247
• COMLEX Level 1: Pass
• COMLEX Level 2 CE: 640

If your scores are weaker or you’re unsure, it is acceptable to omit this section; programs will still see verified scores through your application.

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4. Clinical Rotations & Sub‑Internships

For a urology residency CV, clinical experiences need to clearly convey surgical readiness and specific exposure to urology.

Prioritize:

• Urology sub‑internships / audition rotations (home and away)
• General surgery and surgical subspecialty rotations
• Any urology‑adjacent experiences (oncology, nephrology, transplant, pelvic floor)

Format:

• Rotation Title — Institution, City, State | Dates
  • Brief bullets with responsibilities and highlight of urology relevance

Example:

Urology Sub‑Internship — University Hospital, Department of Urology, City, ST | Jul–Aug 2024

• Completed 4‑week sub‑internship with exposure to endourology, robotic surgery, and inpatient consults
• Actively participated in OR for TURBT, ureteroscopy, and robotic prostatectomy; assisted with suturing, Foley placements, and cystoscope set‑up
• Presented a case‑based topic on “Management of Obstructing Ureteral Stones with Infection” at resident conference

For a DO graduate residency applicant, it’s especially helpful to include away rotations at university or large academic centers to demonstrate that you’ve succeeded in diverse environments and are comfortable in higher‑acuity settings.

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5. Research & Publications

Urology is research‑aware, and programs value applicants who understand evidence‑based practice. You do not need dozens of papers, but you do need to show that you can see a project through.

What to Include

• Peer‑reviewed publications (urology and non‑urology)
• Manuscripts accepted or in press (clearly labeled “In Press”)
• Book chapters, review articles, and significant online publications (e.g., peer‑reviewed educational platforms)

How to List

Use a consistent citation style (e.g., AMA) and list urology‑related items first, even if the chronology is slightly altered within that subsection. Then, list non‑urology items.

Example Subsection Structure:

Peer‑Reviewed Publications – Urology

1. Smith JA, Patel R, Lee T, et al. Impact of stone size on emergency department revisits after ureteroscopy. J Endourol. 2024;38(5):555‑562.

2. Smith JA, Brown M. Osteopathic structural findings in patients with chronic pelvic pain: a pilot study. Urology Practice. In Press, 2025.

Peer‑Reviewed Publications – Other Specialties

3. Smith JA, Khan R, et al. COPD readmissions and primary care access in rural communities. Chest. 2023;164(2):211‑219.

If you don’t yet have publications, emphasize ongoing projects, but be honest:

• “Data collection ongoing; expected abstract submission to AUA 2025”
• “Manuscript in preparation; anticipated submission to Urology by Spring 2025”

Do not inflate your role; clearly state if you were first author, second author, or contributor.

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6. Presentations & Posters

For the urology match, conference activity—especially at urology‑specific meetings—is very helpful. It demonstrates early engagement with the field.

Include:

• Podium presentations
• Poster presentations
• Regional, national, and international conference activity

Example:

National and Regional Presentations

• Smith JA, Nguyen L, Patel R. “Rates of ED revisits after ureteroscopy in a community hospital system.” Podium presentation at the American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, May 2024.

• Smith JA, Brown T. “Osteopathic manipulative treatment for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a case series.” Poster presented at the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (ACOS) Clinical Congress, Chicago, IL, Oct 2023.

As a DO graduate residency applicant, highlight osteopathic‑related urology content where applicable—it shows how your training adds value to the field.

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7. Honors, Awards & Distinctions

This section allows you to demonstrate excellence and competitiveness quickly.

Possible entries:

• Alpha Omega Alpha or Sigma Sigma Phi
• Surgery or urology clerkship honors
• Research awards (best poster, travel grants)
• Scholarships related to leadership, service, or academics

Example:

• Excellence in Urology Award, XYZ College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2024
• Surgery Clerkship Honors, 2023
• Best Medical Student Poster, Regional Urology Society Meeting, 2023

If you received osteopathic‑specific distinctions (OMM fellowships, teaching awards), include them—they show dedication and discipline.

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Leadership, Teaching, and Service: Standing Out as a DO in a Competitive Field

Program directors repeatedly highlight leadership, teaching, and service as key differentiators in the urology match. For a DO graduate, these areas are often strong and should be clearly showcased.

8. Leadership & Professional Involvement

Urology appreciates applicants who will be good colleagues and future leaders. Focus on roles where you had responsibility and impact, not just titles.

Relevant entries:

• Urology interest group founder or officer
• Student government or class leadership
• Committees (curriculum, wellness, diversity, QI)
• Positions in national organizations (AUA Medical Student Section, ACOS, ACOI, etc.)

Example:

President, Urology Interest Group — XYZ College of Osteopathic Medicine | 2023–2024

• Coordinated 6 faculty‑led lectures and 3 hands‑on skills workshops (Foley placement, suturing, cystoscopy simulation)
• Organized a virtual panel with DO urology residents to discuss osteopathic residency match strategies

When describing leadership, use active verbs and quantify impact when possible.

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9. Teaching & Mentorship

Academically oriented urology programs especially value applicants who can teach students and peers.

Include:

• Peer tutoring (anatomy, OMM, surgery)
• Teaching assistant roles
• OSCE preparation sessions
• Mentoring pre‑medical or early medical students

Example:

Anatomy Tutor, XYZ College of Osteopathic Medicine | 2022–2023

• Provided weekly one‑on‑one and small‑group sessions for first‑year medical students; focus on pelvic and GU anatomy
• Developed review questions and dissection guides that increased exam scores for regular attendees by an average of 8%

Teaching experience aligns well with urology’s academic culture and helps interviewers see you as a future resident educator.

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10. Work Experience & Volunteerism

Programs want to know the kind of teammate and human being they’re adding to their service. For DO graduate residency applicants, community‑based or holistic‑care experiences are often a strength.

Include:

• Clinical employment (scribe, MA, EMT, nurse, research coordinator)
• Longitudinal volunteer work (free clinics, health fairs, patient advocacy)
• Non‑clinical jobs that show reliability, communication skills, or resilience

When possible, connect experiences back to skills relevant to urology: procedural comfort, end‑of‑life communication, chronic disease management, or comfort with intimate topics.

Example:

Volunteer, Free Men’s Health Clinic — City, ST | 2021–2024

• Assisted in coordinated care for underserved men with BPH, erectile dysfunction, and prostate cancer
• Provided patient education about PSA screening, vasectomy, and post‑operative care following minor urologic procedures

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11. Skills & Certifications

This section is brief but can be tailored to emphasize surgical readiness and professionalism.

Include:

• BLS, ACLS (with expiration dates)
• Procedural skills: basic suturing, knot tying, Foley catheter placement, bladder scanning, etc.
• Language skills (indicate proficiency level honestly)
• Data and research skills: REDCap, SPSS, R, Excel, basic coding (if applicable)

Example:

• Procedural: Independent with single‑handed and two‑handed knot tying, basic interrupted and running sutures; experienced with Foley catheter placement (male and female)
• Research: REDCap data entry, basic SPSS and Excel for descriptive statistics and figure generation
• Languages: Spanish (conversational, can conduct basic history and physical)

Avoid listing generic soft skills (“hard working,” “team player”) here—they should be demonstrated through your experiences and how you describe them.

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12. Interests

This is optional but can humanize you and serve as an interview icebreaker. Keep it concise and genuine.

Better Examples:

• Distance running (completed 3 half‑marathons)
• Home espresso and coffee roasting
• Electric guitar and blues improvisation
• Podcast production on physician wellness

Avoid cliché lists like “reading, traveling, music” with no detail. One or two lines are sufficient.

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Strategic Considerations for DO Graduates Targeting Urology

Beyond the structure itself, there are several strategic residency CV tips specifically for DO graduates in the urology match.

Emphasize Your Surgical and Technical Exposure

Because DO students sometimes face fewer home urology rotation options, your CV should clearly demonstrate surgical readiness:

• Multiple away rotations in urology or surgical subspecialties
• Skills labs, suturing workshops, simulation experiences
• Strong evaluations or honors in surgery clerkships

Show That You Can Succeed in Academic Environments

If your home institution is community‑focused, highlight any exposure to academic centers:

• Research projects with university‑based attendings
• Presentations at national meetings
• Elective rotations at large tertiary centers

This reassures programs that you’ll transition well into an academic or hybrid residency.

Lean Into Osteopathic Strengths—But Tie Them to Urology

Rather than hiding your DO background, integrate it strategically:

• Osteopathic manipulative treatment experience applied to pelvic pain, low back pain, and post‑operative recovery
• Higher comfort with whole‑patient conversations (sexual function, quality of life, mental health)
• Community health and prevention experience in men’s health or chronic conditions that intersect with urology (e.g., diabetes, kidney disease)

Be Meticulous: Typos and Inconsistencies Matter

Competitive fields like urology often use small details as proxies for professionalism:

• Run a spellcheck and grammar check on your CV.
• Ask at least two people—ideally including a urology resident or attending—to review it.
• Make sure your ERAS application, medical student CV, and LinkedIn (if used) are consistent with each other.

Discrepancies in dates or titles, or exaggerated roles, can raise red flags.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How is a medical student CV different from what I upload in ERAS for the urology match?

ERAS collects structured data, but many programs also appreciate a separately uploaded medical student CV. The CV:

• Allows you to organize content and emphasis (e.g., put urology sections first).
• Can be handed out to faculty on interview day or during away rotations.
• Often serves as a quick reference during rank meetings.

Your ERAS content and CV should be consistent, but the CV gives you more freedom in layout and emphasis.

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2. As a DO graduate, do I need urology‑specific research to match?

Urology‑specific research is ideal but not absolutely required. Many successful DO graduate residency applicants have:

• A mix of general surgery, internal medicine, or QI research plus
• One or two urology‑related projects (even if only posters or case reports).

On your CV, clearly highlight whatever urology‑related work you do have and demonstrate that you can follow through on projects. If you lack urology research, strengthen other pillars: clinical performance, strong letters, and away rotations.

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3. Should I include COMLEX and USMLE scores on my CV?

It’s optional. Some applicants include both COMLEX and USMLE scores on their CV; others leave them for the official application system only.

• Include scores if they are clearly competitive for urology relative to national benchmarks.
• If you are uncertain, you can omit them from the CV; programs will still see verified scores through ERAS.

If you list scores, be complete and accurate—do not list only your best exam and hide the rest.

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4. How early should I start building my CV for urology residency?

Ideally, start in your first or second year of medical school:

• Create a basic document and update it every few months.
• Add research, leadership roles, and experiences as they occur.
• By the time you’re ready to apply, your CV is simply being refined—not created from scratch.

Starting early also helps you see gaps (e.g., no leadership, no teaching, minimal urology exposure) with enough time to address them before the osteopathic residency match and urology residency application cycle.

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By applying these structured approaches and tailoring your document to highlight your urology‑focused experiences and osteopathic strengths, you can build a compelling CV that supports a strong urology match as a DO graduate.