Essential Questions DO Graduates Should Ask Urology Residency Programs

Choosing a residency as a DO graduate in urology is not just about being selected—it’s about you doing the selecting as well. The questions you ask programs will strongly influence how well you understand their culture, training quality, and how DO-friendly they truly are. Thoughtful, targeted questions also signal maturity, insight, and genuine interest—especially important in a competitive field like the urology match.

Below is a comprehensive guide to the best questions to ask programs as a DO graduate in urology, organized by theme so you can adapt them to any interview or conversation with faculty, residents, or the program director.

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Understanding DO Friendliness and Program Culture

For a DO graduate, one of the first priorities is gauging how genuinely welcoming and supportive a program is to DOs—not just whether they “accept DO applications.”

Key Questions to Ask About DO Acceptance and Support

For the Program Director or Associate PD

• “How many DO graduates are currently in your program, and how have they integrated into your resident cohort?”
• “Have any recent DO graduates matched into competitive fellowships from your program (e.g., oncology, endourology, FPMRS, pediatrics)?”
• “Are there any differences in how DO and MD residents are viewed or evaluated here—formally or informally?”
• “How do you view osteopathic training, and what strengths do you typically see in your DO residents?”
• “Can you share examples of DO graduates who have excelled in your program and where they are now?”

Why this matters:
You’re trying to understand not only whether DOs are accepted, but whether they thrive. Programs that highlight DO success stories in the urology residency and beyond usually have a more genuinely inclusive culture.

For Current Residents (Especially DOs)

• “As a DO resident, have you ever felt treated differently—positively or negatively?”
• “Were there any hidden challenges you didn’t expect as a DO graduate here?”
• “Do you feel you had equal access to research, leadership positions, and letters of recommendation compared to MD colleagues?”
• “If you could go back, would you choose this program again as a DO graduate? Why or why not?”

Pay close attention not just to the content of the answer, but to hesitation, tone, and body language. Residents are one of your most valuable sources of truth about whether a program is genuinely DO-friendly.

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Clinical Training, Case Volume, and Operative Experience

As a future urologist, you want to graduate confident and autonomous in the OR. The questions to ask residency programs about clinical experience should go beyond “Is the training good?” and dig into how procedures are distributed and how early you operate.

Questions About Case Volume and Operative Autonomy

For Program Leadership or Faculty

• “Could you describe the typical progression of operative responsibility for residents from PGY-1 to PGY-5/6?”
• “By graduation, what are the average case numbers your chief residents log in core areas like endourology, oncology, reconstructive surgery, pediatrics, and female pelvic medicine?”
• “Are there any areas of urology where residents feel their case volume is weaker, and how are you addressing that?”
• “How do fellows (if present) impact resident operative opportunities in major cases like robotic prostatectomy or complex reconstructive surgeries?”
• “Do junior residents get hands-on experience in common procedures like cystoscopy, TURBT, ureteroscopy, and vasectomy, or is that primarily senior-level?”

For Residents

• “Can you walk me through a typical operative day for a PGY-2 vs a PGY-4?”
• “Do you feel ready to operate independently by the time you graduate?”
• “Are procedures ever ‘taken away’ from residents by fellows or attendings?”
• “How does the program respond if a resident is falling short in case numbers in a particular area?”

These questions give you insight into the real training environment, not just what’s listed in the program’s brochure.

Questions About Call Structure and Clinical Workload

For Any Interviewer or Residents

• “How is call structured for junior vs senior residents (home vs in-house, frequency, weekend coverage)?”
• “What does a typical call shift look like in terms of consult volume, emergent cases, and backup from seniors or attendings?”
• “How do you ensure continuity of care when residents are post-call or rotating off a service?”
• “Has there been any recent change to the call schedule based on resident feedback?”

These questions show that you’re thinking about both wellness and clinical learning. Programs that adjust schedules in response to feedback tend to have healthier cultures.

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Academic Environment, Research, and Career Outcomes

Urology is academic by nature, even if you plan to go into private practice. Asking targeted questions about research and mentorship shows that you’re serious about your long-term development.

Questions About Research Opportunities

For Program Director, Research Director, or Faculty

• “What are the primary research strengths of your department—oncology, endourology, men’s health, FPMRS, pediatrics, reconstructive, basic science?”
• “Is there a structured research curriculum or protected research time during residency?”
• “How many presentations or publications do graduating residents typically have?”
• “Are there ongoing projects that residents can easily join, especially as early as intern year?”
• “Are DO residents equally likely to participate in high-impact research or multi-institutional studies?”

For Residents

• “How did you find mentors for research, and was it easy to get plugged into projects?”
• “Do you feel pressure to publish, or is it well-supported and manageable?”
• “Have you had opportunities to present at regional or national conferences (e.g., AUA, SUO, subspecialty meetings)?”

Questions About Fellowships and Career Placement

For Program Leadership

• “Where have your graduates gone in the past 5–10 years in terms of academic vs private practice vs fellowship?”
• “For residents pursuing fellowship, what proportion match into their top choices?”
• “Are there any differences in fellowship outcomes for DO vs MD graduates from your program?”
• “How involved is the faculty in helping residents prepare for fellowship applications, mock interviews, and letters of recommendation?”

For Residents or Recent Alumni (if present)

• “How supportive is the program when you’re applying for fellowship—time off for interviews, connections, mentorship?”
• “Have you felt guided in understanding different practice models, compensation, and contracts after graduation?”

For DO graduates in the osteopathic residency match and beyond, programs that can proudly describe strong fellowship placements and balanced career outcomes are often the ones that invest thoughtfully in every trainee.

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Curriculum, Evaluation, and Support Systems

How a program teaches, evaluates, and supports residents can greatly affect your experience and trajectory. The best interview questions for them will uncover how transparent and responsive the system is.

Questions About Curriculum and Education

For Program Director or Education Leadership

• “What does your formal didactic curriculum look like—frequency, core topics, board review, morbidity and mortality conferences, journal clubs?”
• “How do you integrate hands-on learning, such as simulation for cystoscopy, laparoscopy, and robotic surgery?”
• “How is the urology curriculum structured across the PGY years, and how do off-service rotations complement that?”
• “Are there any unique educational features you’re particularly proud of (e.g., boot camps, wet labs, robotics training modules)?”

For Residents

• “Do you feel the didactics truly prepare you for the in-service exam and boards?”
• “Is education protected time, or is it often interrupted by pages, cases, or clinical duties?”
• “Have you seen real changes made to the curriculum based on resident feedback?”

Questions About Evaluation and Feedback

For Program Leadership

• “How are residents evaluated here—formally and informally?”
• “How often do residents receive written or face-to-face feedback?”
• “What systems are in place for residents who are struggling clinically, academically, or professionally?”
• “Could you describe how concerns about a resident are handled in a way that is supportive yet accountable?”

For Residents

• “Do you get actionable feedback on your operative skills and patient care, or mostly generic comments?”
• “Have you seen a co-resident improve significantly with program support?”
• “Do you feel that evaluations are fair and reflect your actual performance?”

DO applicants sometimes worry about being stereotyped as “less prepared.” These questions help you determine whether this program uses a fair, structured, and growth-oriented approach to evaluation for all residents.

Questions About Wellness and Support

For Any Interviewer

• “How does your program promote resident wellness in a realistic, day-to-day sense—beyond just policies?”
• “Have there been situations where a resident needed time off for health or personal reasons, and how did the program respond?”
• “What formal resources exist for mental health, counseling, or peer support?”
• “Is there a culture where residents feel comfortable asking for help?”

Urology training is intense. A program that can talk openly about burnout, wellness, and support typically provides a healthier learning environment.

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Program-Specific Fit: Culture, Location, and Lifestyle

Even if a program is strong on paper, you have to live there for 5–6 years. Your questions should help you understand how you would fit in as a unique individual and as a DO graduate in urology.

Questions About Resident Culture and Team Dynamics

For Residents (essential)

• “How would you describe the culture of the program in three words?”
• “Do residents spend time together outside of work? Is that encouraged or more optional?”
• “How do residents and faculty get along—more formal, or relaxed and collegial?”
• “Have you ever felt unsafe or unsupported in a clinical environment? How did leadership respond?”
• “What is the communication like between residents and the program director? Are you comfortable giving honest feedback?”

For Faculty or PD

• “What qualities do you value most in your residents?”
• “What kind of resident tends to thrive here, and what kind tends to struggle?”
• “How do you address conflict or unprofessional behavior within the team?”

Questions About Location, Lifestyle, and Cost of Living

For Residents

• “What’s it like living in this city as a resident—housing costs, commute, things to do?”
• “Do most residents rent nearby, or commute from further out?”
• “Is it realistic to have a partner, family, or kids during training here?”
• “How flexible is the schedule for major life events (weddings, births, family emergencies)?”

Urology residency is long; you want a place where your life outside the hospital is sustainable.

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Advanced, DO-Focused and Urology-Specific Questions

As a DO graduate pursuing urology, it can be useful to ask a few more advanced or specialized questions. These demonstrate insight into both the urology match and the realities of the field.

Questions to Ask Program Director as a DO in Urology

When considering what to ask a program director during your urology residency interviews, consider questions that show you are thinking long-term and strategically about your career:

• “From your perspective, what differentiates your strongest residents—especially those who came from osteopathic schools?”
• “If a DO applicant matches here and aims for a highly competitive fellowship, what should they be doing from intern year onward?”
• “Are there any implicit challenges DO graduates typically face in urology that you’ve observed, and how does your program help mitigate those?”
• “How is your program responding to changes in the urology match landscape and increasing competitiveness?”

These are not generic questions; they position you as someone who is self-aware, ambitious, and proactive.

Urology-Specific Clinical and Training Questions

Because urology spans oncology, endourology, reconstructive, male infertility, pediatrics, and female pelvic medicine, your questions can highlight where you might want to develop depth:

• “Which areas of urology are the strongest here in terms of volume and mentorship?”
• “Do residents have flexibility to tailor their training in the later years—for example, extra time in oncology, reconstructive, or men’s health if they have specific career goals?”
• “How much exposure do residents get to office-based urology—PSA counseling, LUTS, BPH management, in-office procedures, men’s health?”
• “How early do residents get exposure to robotic surgery, and what is the typical console time by PGY-3 or PGY-4?”

If you already know you’re interested in a niche (e.g., endourology, oncology, FPMRS), ask specifically:

• “What does mentorship and training look like for residents particularly interested in [subspecialty]?”

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Strategy: How to Use These Questions Effectively

Having a list of questions is helpful, but how you ask them matters just as much as what you ask.

Tailor Your Questions to the Person

• Program Director: Ask about vision, outcomes, culture, DO support, and higher-level structures (curriculum, evaluation, fellowship match).
• Faculty: Ask about mentorship, teaching style, operative autonomy, subspecialty strengths.
• Residents: Ask about lived experience—wellness, workload, fairness, DO friendliness, “would you come here again?”

Avoid Redundant or Easily Googleable Questions

If the answer is clearly listed on the website (e.g., “How many residents per year?” or “Do you have a robotics program?”), don’t spend your limited time on it. Instead, build on what you already know:

• “I saw on your website that you have a strong robotics curriculum. From the resident perspective, how does that translate into actual console time?”

Prepare 2–3 Priority Themes Per Program

Given how intense urology interviews can be, you won’t always have time to ask everything on your list. Before each interview, pick 2–3 priority themes, for example:

• DO support and culture
• Operative experience and autonomy
• Research and fellowship outcomes

Then select the 1–2 sharpest questions in each theme.

Take Notes Immediately After

You’ll likely have multiple interviews across several programs. As soon as you leave (or log off a virtual interview), jot down:

• Specific answers that stood out
• Any red flags or hesitations
• How you felt about DO friendliness, mentorship, and culture

These notes will be invaluable when you’re ranking programs after the urology match season.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. As a DO graduate, should I directly ask if a program is “DO-friendly”?

Yes, but phrase it constructively and specifically. Instead of asking, “Are you DO-friendly?” ask:

• “How have DO graduates done in your program historically?”
• “Can you share examples of DO residents here and their career paths?”

This approach invites concrete evidence and avoids putting the interviewer on the defensive.

2. What are the best questions to ask residency programs if I have limited time?

If you can only ask a few, prioritize:

1. “How have your DO graduates done in terms of fellowship placement and job opportunities?”
2. “Can you describe the progression of operative responsibility during training?”
3. “What kind of resident tends to thrive here, and what kind tends to struggle?”

These cover DO outcomes, clinical experience, and cultural fit in a compact way.

3. What should I ask a program director if I’m worried about being at a disadvantage as a DO in the urology match?

Consider questions like:

• “Do DO residents have equal access to mentorship, research, and letters for fellowship applications?”
• “Have you observed any differences in how DO residents are perceived externally, and how does your program advocate for them?”

These address your concern directly while also showing insight into broader professional dynamics.

4. Are there any “bad” questions to ask during urology residency interviews?

Avoid questions that:

• Sound like you haven’t done basic research on the program (e.g., “Do you have a urology residency?” or “Do you do robotic surgery?” when it’s clearly advertised).
• Focus exclusively on lifestyle or salary in a way that suggests you’re not invested in training.
• Put interviewers in an adversarial spot (e.g., “Why is your case volume lower than Program X?”).

Instead, ask balanced questions that show you value both training quality and resident well-being, and that you’ve done your homework.

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By approaching interviews with thoughtful, targeted questions, you transform the process from “trying to get picked” into a true two-way evaluation. As a DO graduate in urology, the questions you ask programs will help you identify where you’ll be valued, pushed to grow, and genuinely supported for the next five or more years of your life—and beyond.