The fellow must participate in basic science/translational research for a minimum of 12 months or receive an advanced degree. The 12-month research time can be non-consecutive, but a six-month minimal block is encouraged.
Fellows are required to have one published article in the Journal of Endourology, from work they performed during the fellowship with the fellow as the first author, to receive certification.
The fellow must also submit a paper to the annual essay contest of the Endourological Society during the first year of training before successful certification can be awarded. This paper must be either a translational or basic science investigation, or an original clinical study (reviews are not acceptable). Review of this paper by a panel of nine judges will assess quality. The review committee is divided into Basic/Translational Service and Clinical Research categories. If the majority of the judges believe that the essay is thought to be of insufficient quality to be submitted for publication, the fellowship committee will review the manuscript to determine if it is an advisable for certification. If not, the fellow will be given four weeks to submit a revised manuscript to the fellowship committee for review. If the committee determines that the revised manuscript is again deficient, the fellow will not receive a certification. The program will be given a warning if the majority of judges determine that the initial essay is not suitable to be submitted for publication. If this again occurs the following year, the program will be placed on probation, and if it happens a third year in a row, the program will lose its accreditation for at least three years.
Graduating fellows must submit an academic portfolio of works produced during their two years of training, including manuscripts, chapters, videos, lectures, poster presentations and abstracts (to national and international meetings) to the Society office.
The program director(s) must submit a letter of endorsement regarding the fellow’s progress and successful completion of their training program.
A certificate of completed fellowship training will be granted only to those who have completed the aforementioned requirements.
Evaluation
The endourology fellowship program must have an ongoing independent assessment of the following components of the education program: fellow performance (clinical judgement, management strategy, informed consent, operative ability, aftercare and management of complications, critical evaluation of journal articles and research domains), faculty performance, patient care, and program objectives. Well-defined mechanism for evaluation of each of these components must be implemented as well as methods for using the feedback gained for improvement of the program.
Each program must be subjected to external review by the Fellowship Review Committee. This external review should occur every five years and will ensure that all of the essential elements of the fellowship are available and adhered to by the trainee, the trainer and the host institution.
Match Process
Fellowship programs in the United States and Canada must participate in the match process, which is conducted by the AUA. A fee of $200 (US) is required for the applicants participating in the match.
Programs that did not match may enroll unmatched candidates or other individuals after completion of the match. These trainees will be eligible for certificates if they complete the necessary requirements.
All programs must submit match lists for each of the positions that they register for and are obligated to accept the applicant that they match.
If a program does not match and finds a fellow outside the match, a fellowship application needs to be completed by the fellow and reviewed by the fellowship committee. There will be a $200 application fee if the applicant has not already registered for the match. Trainees whose programs do not participate in the match will not receive a training certificate from the Endourology Society.
It is each respective program’s responsibility to determine whether a candidate has proper credentials to be a fellow at their respective institution. If they do not have proper credentials, the program should not list the candidate on their match list. If a candidate matches with a program, the program is obligated to provide training unless the candidate provided false information regarding the credentials. If the program refuses to train a matched applicant, they will lose their accreditation. They may reapply for fellowship accreditation three years later. If the candidate does not accurately disclose credentials, the matching program is not obligated to provide fellowship training. In addition, the individual will be banned from participating in the endourology match process.
Participants must submit a clinical, translational or basic science paper for the annual essay contest. These papers will be judged using the same process for the fellowship essay contests, but they will be recognized as a separate category. If the majority of the judges feel that the essay is not suitable to be submitted for publication, the previously outlined process for essays thought to be deficient will be enacted.
The trainees will need to actively participate in at least the following number of cases to obtain a certificate: 60 retrograde ureteroscopic cases and 30 percutaneous renal cases.
Director of OSU Comprehensive Kidney Stone Program
Associate Professor of Urology
Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs
Health System Director,
Outpatient Urologic Services
