Urology
Urology is the branch of medicine that deals with diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to urinary tract of male and female, as well as male reproductive system. Urology comes under surgical specialty, however a urologist must also have some knowledge of internal medicine, gynecology, pediatrics and other fields of medicine, as most urological problems may be related to some other problem in the body. In all there are seven sub-specialties of urology, as set by American Urological Association. These are:
(a) Urologic Oncology
(b) Male Infertility
(c) Renal Transplantation
(d) Calculi
(e) Neurourology (deals with impotence, erectile dysfunction and other related disorders
(f) Female Urology
(g) Pediatric Urology
Urologists are involved in treating several disorders related to the urinary tract system. These include stones in the urinary tract, congenital anomalies, end-stage renal disease and renal insufficiency, malignant disease, urinary tract infection, urethral diverticuli, interstitial cystitis, stress urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction in males and trauma suffered by the genitourinary system.
To become a urologist a doctor must complete four years in a recognized medical school, followed by a residency program spanning five years or more, depending on the specialty opted. Of these 12 months are required to be spent studying general surgery, followed by 36 months in clinical urology. Remaining one year is required to be spent studying urology or other specialties related to urology. A urologist, who successfully completes medical school as well as the residency program, qualifies for the certification awarded by American Board of Urology, once he passes the oral and written examination set by the board.
The process of selection for a residency program is very rigorous, where the program directors consider not only the national board marks, rank in medical school and other scoring methods for the selection procedure, but also the quantity and quality of electives opted for in the senior year. For the purpose of residency, students can take up electives in different medical sub-specialties such as cardiology, nephrology, infectious disease, gastroenterology, pulmonary medicine and hematology. Apart from this, one may also opt for radiology or sub-internship in surgery or medicine.
The first qualifying examination for a board certification must be attempted within the first three years of completing the residency program. Once a doctor clears the first examination, he must take the second certification exam within the first five years of passing the first exam. The exams consist of uroradiology, pathology as well as an oral examination. A urologist would require recertification after a period of every 10 years of getting certified.
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