University recognized for sending students into urology specialty

March 31, 2011 | News, UToday
By Sarah Ritenour



Each spring, medical students learn where they will train for their residencies on Match Day, and that annual event has led to the recognition of The University of Toledo’s Urology Program in The Journal of Urology.

The article in the national publication titled “The Gatekeeper Disparity: Why Do Some Medical Schools Send More Students Into Urology?” covered the reasons behind the interest of students in urology at certain schools.

UT was ranked fifth for matching 19 medical students in the specialty from 2005 to 2009. The University was on the list with prestigious medical schools, including Columbia, Baylor, Northwestern, the University of Michigan and the University of California at Los Angeles.

On the most recent Match Day, held March 17, three students in the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences were matched with urology residency programs.

“I was pleasantly surprised to see the article and its recognition of our institution as one of the leaders in leading students into a career in urology,” said Dr. Steven Selman, professor and chair of urology, director of urological research, and director of the residency program.

According to the article, the most prominent reasons for choosing the urology program at institutions include medical school faculty size and class size, a six-year versus five-year program length, and the important roles of the program director, chair and faculty members.

The study shows that medical students want staff members who are supportive, charismatic, available, and have prominent reputations.

“In my mind, faculty and residents dedicated to and enthusiastic about the clinical practice of urology surely are primary in influencing medical student career decisions,” Selman said.

The UTMC Urology Program is a six-year program with six full-time academic faculty members, many of whom have been published many times, Selman said. The class size is limited to 12 residents in the program at one time, though the total class size at UTMC has grown.

“I am extremely proud of my department’s residency and student education program and am equally proud of the national attention the journal’s article brings to the department and the College of Medicine,” Selman said.

Read the article here.

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