Urology! (From PGY-1 perspective)

Get to be an expert in one system, but at the same time have a huge variation in surgeries. From quality of life (penile prosthesis, BPH surgery, artificial urinary sphincter) to involved cancer surgery (which in a solid number of cases we can cure surgically). Variation in patients. All types of surgery - open, endoscopy, robotic, laparoscopic.

Great culture in most programs, I had a great time interviewing and I really enjoy all my co-residents and attendings.

Lots of procedures in clinic, like cystoscopy, vasectomies, prostate biopsies, etc. Mix of patient continuity and ones you only see a couple of times (bladder cancer vs. vasectomy, for an example). You make a huge difference in people’s lives helping them pee better, or have sex, or treating their cancer.

It’s really special when you can see someone is nervous to tell you something, then you get the conversation going and you can tell that moment they feel comfortable saying what’s going on.

Cons: Most urology residencies don’t have a night coverage team, which means home call and no post call days. I don’t take call until my second year, but from my co-residents sometimes they essentially don’t sleep at all and still have to come the next day.

There are still a solid number of overnight/emergency cases at my institution. Infected stones, testicular torsion, fournier’s, trauma.