A Novel Urology Preliminary Residency Curriculum Within a Department of Surgery for Unmatched Applicants.

OBJECTIVE: Traditional options for unmatched applicants in urology include pursuing a research fellowship or completing a preliminary general surgery training year. We aimed to create a novel urology-focused preliminary curriculum. DESIGN: The general surgery program commits three preliminary positions for urology-focused interns. These interns complete six months of urology rotations and six months of general surgery rotations. Additionally, they are paired with a urology faculty member to participate in a longitudinal coaching and mentorship program. SETTING: The curriculum is situated within a Department of Surgery, which includes the Division of Urology, at one academic institution. PARTICIPANTS: Eight residents have completed the urology-focused preliminary curriculum in three academic years (2022-2023). RESULTS: Six residents have obtained categorical urology positions. Four matched via the American Urological Association Urology Match into a post-graduate year 1 (PGY1) position, and two matched outside of a formal matching process into a PGY2 position. CONCLUSION: This urology-focused preliminary curriculum presents a novel strategy to address the growing number of unmatched applicants in competitive surgical subspecialties such as urology.

This Surgical Life - An Exploration of Surgical Department Podcasting.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical departments are increasingly utilizing media to disseminate knowledge, discuss ideas, and mentor future surgeons. Podcasts are a form of media where digitally recorded content can be downloaded or streamed. This study aims (1) to describe the audience reached by a single surgical department podcast and (2) to evaluate what sources of information surgery residency applicants use to formulate a rank list. DESIGN: In Fall 2017, the Rocky Mountain Surgery Podcast (RMSP) was created, produced, and edited by 2 general surgery (GS) residents at a large academic training program. Each episode discussed a topic within GS training and/or educational experiences specific to the program. Interviewing GS applicants for the 2019 match were asked to complete an anonymous voluntary survey on their familiarity and opinion of RMSP and the role of podcasts in the application process. RESULTS: Twenty-two episodes were completed over a 16-month period (October 4, 2017 - February 11, 2019). A total of 7002 individual listens occurred in 644 cities across 46 states. Ninety-eight interviewing applicants responded to the survey (99% response rate), and one-fourth had previously listened to the RMSP. Only half felt that the traditional interview experience provided enough information about a GS program, and a significant majority (97%) stated they would listen to one or more podcast episodes to gain information regarding a GS residency program. CONCLUSIONS: Applicants to GS residency commonly feel inadequate information is gained during the interview process. Podcasts are a tool familiar to applicants that allow for exploration of topics which cannot be adequately addressed in a typical interview day, thus expanding an applicant's knowledge of a GS training program.