The Department of Urology offers medical students and visiting medical students a wide range of clinical learning experiences in adult and pediatric urology.
Our selective two-week clerkship is consistently ranked in the top surgical clerkships at the University of Iowa.
Although urology is classified as a surgical specialty, you will see a broad expanse of urologic conditions and have the opportunity to develop your technical and diagnostic skills, interview, examination, and referral skills, and knowledge of internal medicine, pediatrics, and gynecology. Students work alongside our faculty, residents, and advanced care providers on diagnosis, non-operative management, surgical treatment, and postoperative care and routinely participate in endoscopic, laparoscopic, oncologic, and reconstructive adult and pediatric surgery.
Scholarships for Visiting Medical Students
The Department of Urology offers two scholarships for visiting medical students. To learn more, see The Burr H. Perrin Scholarship for Visiting Students in Urology and Diversity Scholarship for Visiting Students in Urology.
Why You Should Choose Urology
Urology brings together medicine, surgery, and advances in technology in a way that is unique among medical specialties. Some of the most exciting new minimally invasive techniques and technologies have been developed by urologists, and the field allows physicians to bring advances made in the lab straight to the clinic, with an immediate impact on their patients.
Watch a group of experienced urologists explain what excites them about the field in this brief video prepared by the American Urological Association.
Advanced Clerkships
For a full description of URO:8301, please review the Core/Required Clerkship descriptions.
An advanced clerkship in urology is recommended for those wishing to pursue urology as a career. Available two-week or four-week-long advanced clerkships include general urology, pediatric urology, urologic oncology, and independent research. Our advanced clerkships allow for immersive training in urology, including the option to work closely with faculty in your specific interest areas, pediatrics, and oncology. Additionally, our four-week clerkships are open to visiting students planning to become career urologists. For a full description of our advanced clerkships, please review the Advanced Clerkship descriptions. Please also note the URO:8401 will increase its cap in the summer months for students interested in urology who are seeking to do an elective.
URO:8401 Advanced General Urology
The student will become an integral member of the team, functioning at the PGY-1 level (i.e. responsible for histories and physicals on admission, daily inpatient rounds, attending surgery, and seeing patients in the urology clinic). The student will be given graded responsibility for as much as possible in surgical cases. Four weeks; open to visiting students.
URO:8402 Pediatric Urology
Under the direction of the urology resident assigned to the pediatric service as well as the pediatric urology faculty, the senior student is expected to participate in the evaluation of clinical patients and the care of selected surgical patients, including preoperative evaluation, intraoperative assistance, and postoperative care. The student is encouraged to work under a close mentor-student relationship to develop skills in pediatric urology. Two, four weeks; open to visiting students.
URO:8403 Urologic Oncology: Multispecialty Approach
The student will have a multispecialty exposure to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with current and newly diagnosed urologic malignancies. The student will spend on average one to two days per week in either medical oncology or radiation oncology and the remainder of the time in either the urology oncology clinic or operating rooms. The student will attend the urology conferences, specifically indications, radiology, and pathology, in addition to the bi-monthly multispecialty tumor board. This course is designed for students planning to enter into primary care and have an interest in oncology or men’s health issues and for students with an interest in urology. Two, four weeks; open to visiting students.
URO:8497 Research in Urology
Clinical research projects will be undertaken by the student, under direction by a faculty member. Residents may be part of the team. Upon completion of the project, it is expected the student will prepare an abstract for submission to a regional or national conference. If accepted to a conference, a paper is anticipated. Four-week minimum.
URO: 8499 Urology Off-Campus
Individually arranged by student with approval of the department. Four weeks.