Urology Specialty Profile

Urology is the surgical specialty which deals with diseases of the urinary tract and male genitals. Aside from nephrologists, there are no physician counterparts to urologists and as a result these specialists will often administer both non-surgical and interventional therapy. Urology is considered one of the more lifestyle friendly options. A typical day may commence in clinic where both medical and surgical urological complaints are consulted on. The afternoon may be taken in theatre with cases ranging from relatively simple flexible cystoscopy to a more involved radical prostatectomy. This specialty requires a surgeon with particularly well developed people skills and sensitivity as patients are often faced with medical conditions which have a significant effect on their body image and sexual function.

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Urology Training Program

Training Program

Urology training is via the SET program which is completed over six years. Applicants are then eligible to undertake a fellowship upon completion of SET.... more

Application process

Applications are made via the SET framework. Prior to commencing the training program the following mandatory requirements must be met: Completion of at least 2 terms (min 10 weeks each) in surgical units. At least one of these must be... more

Length of Training

SET is a five year program with applicants being accepted either into SET 1, SET 2 or SET 3. Those accepted into more advanced levels of SET are more experienced. After completion of the SET program a fellowship year may... more

Cost of Training

See Surgery - Cost of Training... more

Availability/Competition for training positions

In 2007, fifteen trainees were appointed to SET 1 in Australia.... more

Flexibility in Training

See Surgery - Flexibility in Training... more

Urology Workplace

The workplace

Urologists treat both medical and surgical conditions which relate to the urogenital system. This includes diseases of the bladder, urethra, male genitalia, ureters, kidneys and adrenals. These specialists are involved in the care of men’s sexual and reproductive health. Disorders... more

The doctor-patient relationship

Urologists deal with a range of patients with both life threatening and benign conditions of all ages. On a given day they may consult a young man with testicular cancer, an elderly man with difficulty urinating and a middle aged... more

Intellectual content

Urological surgeons have an in depth knowledge of the anatomy of the abdomen, pelvis and external genitalia. As part of early training, basic physiology and pathology is taught. Advanced trainees focus on learning the specifics of medical and surgical urology.... more

Medical indemnity

Use our risk category tool to see what risk category is assigned to this specialty.... more

Lifestyle and Practice Options

Urology is often viewed as a more lifestyle orientated surgical specialty mostly due to the perception that many urological patients make a quick post operative recovery and there are few urological emergencies. As a result, on-call requirements for urologists are... more

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