Addressing Diverse Workforce Needs in Urology
Research shows that the number one predictor of matching into a urology residency program is having access to a home urology program.1 These programs offer invaluable advantages, including early exposure to the specialty, mentorship from practicing urologists, opportunities to build long‑term professional relationships, and access to research projects.
In conversation with Vice Dean Ana Núñez, MD, as part of the University of Minnesota Medical School's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lecture Series, Dr. Christopher Warlick emphasized that urology is not only highly competitive, but also facing a growing workforce shortage. As the population ages and the prevalence of urologic conditions increases, the demand for urologists continues to rise. At the same time, residency positions remain limited, intensifying competition and making early preparation increasingly important.
Unlike some medical specialties that are widely recognized early in training, urology is often under-recognized by students until later in medical school–sometimes too late to build a competitive application. Early exposure allows students time to explore the specialty, confirm their interest, seek mentorship, participate in research, and develop the professional relationships that are critical for success in the match. While valuable, most existing pipeline programs focus on students later in their careers, often when they are already preparing residency applications.
In response to these challenges, Dr. Warlick partnered with benefactors Drs. Aliabadi and Kazim to create the Aliabadi‑Kazim Scholars Program (AKSP). AKSP provides a weeklong immersive experience for first and second year medical students from programs without a urology residency, particularly those underrepresented in urology. Watch the webinar to learn how the program has made an impact over its first four years.
1Kim, Jeong Eun, Isaac E. Kim Jr., J. Lee, R. J. Salvatore, L. Khizir, R. Lee, Eric A. Singer, D. Velez, S. Ghodoussipour, and Timothy L. Jang. “Characteristics of Medical Schools in the United States Associated With Successful Match into Urology Residency Programs: Analysis of the 2016–2021 Urology Resident Cohort.” Urology 172 (October 2022): 33–43. Read the full article.
