Fellowships
The Department of Urology offers three fellowships, all lasting 12 months. The fellows gain graduated responsibility throughout the year in both the clinic and the operating room. A structured curriculum, weekly conferences, and close interaction with urology residents is provided. One day per week is protected as research time. A research meeting is held for 1-2 hours each week on the research day where research group members review progress on our clinical and/or outcomes research. The fellow is expected, with the help of residents and our team, to complete multiple research projects in the course of the year.
Eligibility Requirements/Criteria (When Applicable):
- Admission is contingent upon completion of an ACGME-accredited urology training program.
- The applicant must be a US citizen.
- The applicant must have three letters of support
- The applicant must have passed all 3 steps of USMLE before the match date and be eligible for a Minnesota State medical license prior to starting fellowship.
Contact
Please contact the Education Administrator, Liz Mayock, with any questions.
Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery (GURS) Fellowship
Our one-year fellowship program emphasizes male urethral reconstruction, male urinary incontinence surgery, ureteral stricture repair, genital reconstruction including skin grafting, gender affirmation surgery and has a major emphasis in complex neurogenic bladder management. Robotic and laparoscopic techniques are used increasingly often.
The program is led by Dr. Sean Elliott was started in 2013. Since then, the fellowship added Dr. Joe Pariser as an addtional faculty member in 2018. The fellow has hospital staff privileges and takes call on the same schedule as the faculty (approximately 1 week in 8). He or she has a clinic of his/her own at the University for 0.5 to 1 days a week and at our affiliated Gillette Lifetime Clinic where we care for adults with congenital urologic issues, such as spina bifida and cerebral palsy. The fellow participates in the operating room with Dr. Elliott or Dr. Pariser at least 3 days per week. The fellow gains graduated responsibility throughout the year in both the clinic and the operating room.
Duration
The clinical portion of the experience is 12 months in duration. For those with a particular research interest, accommodations can be made for a two-year fellowship that would include a master’s degree in clinical research. The fellow gains graduated responsibility throughout the year in both the Gillette clinic and the operating room.
Curriculum & Research
A structured curriculum, weekly conferences, and close interaction with urology residents is provided. One day per week is protected as research time. A research “lab” meeting is held for 1-2 hours each week on the research day where research group members review progress on our outcomes research projects. The fellow is expected, with the help of residents and our team, to complete multiple research projects in the course of the year.
Funding
Our group is funded by nationally competitive grants and includes PhD health services researchers, biostatisticians and MPH research associates. Dr. Elliott is a founding member of TURNS and NBRG. Support is provided for travel to the annual meeting of the American Urological Association to present one’s research findings.
Case Mix
After completing a one-year fellowship, the graduate should be proficient in the following:
- Clinical management of men and women with neurogenic bladder secondary to spinal cord injury, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, etc.
- Surgical creation of continent and non-continent diversion and management of complications of such diversion (e.g. Mitrofanoff stenosis or leakage), including laparoscopic and robotic techniques where appropriate.
- Urethroplasty and rectourinary fistula repair.
- Male incontinence surgery including slings and artificial sphincters, particularly complex and re-do cases.
- Ureteral stricture management including reimplantation, buccal ureteroplasty, Boari flap and ileal ureter - using robotic techniques whenever possible.
- Buried Penis Repair including panniculectomy and skin grafting.
- Gender Affirmation Surgery including phalloplasty, vaginoplasty, and revisions of both (prosthesis, urethroplasty, robotic peritoneal vaginoplasty).
- Counseling patients about the risks, benefits and alternatives to reconstructive options.
- Contributing to the scientific literature through original research, particularly through an advanced understanding of epidemiological methods, biostatistics and database design and management.
Training Sites
As a fellow in the Department of Urology, you'll have a variety of training opportunities at two hospitals in the Twin Cities metropolitan area: University of Minnesota Medical Center and Gillette Lifetime Clinic.
How to Apply
To apply for a Urology fellowship position, first submit an online application by clicking here.
In addition to applying online you must also send the following to Dr. Sean Elliott:
- Copy of your application
- Current CV
- Personal Statement
- 3 Letters of Recommendation (including one from your program director)
Dr. Sean Elliott
University of Minnesota
Department of Urology
420 Delaware St SE, MMC 394
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Endourology Fellowship
Our fellowship program emphasizes minimally invasive urologic surgery with an emphasis on kidney stone disease as well as management of benign prostatic hypertrophy. The fellow will participate in providing comprehensive kidney stone management including gaining fundamental understanding and being able to provide treatment for metabolic stone disease, outpatient clinical stone care, and endoscopic surgical treatment of all stone types. Endourologic techniques including retrograde ureteroscopic renal surgery as well as percutaneous renal surgery including directed percutaneous access will be emphasized.
This fellowship program is led by Dr. Michael Borofsky. Affiliated faculty that will participate in fellowship education include fellowship-trained endourologists Dr. Kyle Anderson and Dr. Andrew Portis.