Open Access

ARTICLE

Educational value of the transplant experience in urology residency

Da David Jiang^1,2, Nicholas H. Chakiryan^1,2, Kyle A. Gillis^1,2, Jason C. Hedges¹, John M. Barry¹

1 Department of Urology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
2 O’Brien Research Group, Portland, Oregon, USA
Address correspondence to Dr. Da David Jiang, Department of Urology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3303 SW Bond Avenue, CH10U, Portland, OR 97239 USA

Canadian Journal of Urology 2021, 28(4), 10783-10787.

Abstract

Introduction: To evaluate the educational value of transplant rotation in urology residency. In the United States, exposure to kidney transplantation during urology residency has declined significantly over the past few decades. At our institution, transplantation has been a core component of urology residency since its inception in 1959.
Materials and methods: A 15-question anonymous survey was developed. The first 8 questions queried demographics, and the last 7 were a set of questions with a Likert Scale response. The survey was electronically mailed to past and current urology residents who had completed the transplant rotation, dating back to 1972.
Results: A total of 61 out of 98 (62%) individuals responded. The majority (59%) were general urologists, and one (2%) had completed a transplant fellowship. In their practices, 17% performed kidney transplants, and 28% performed donor nephrectomies. Overall, 100% responded that the skills learned on the transplant rotation were beneficial for urology training, 100% had learned valuable vascular surgical techniques, and 93% felt that urology residents should have clinical transplant experience during their training. There was no statistical difference between the younger and older graduates in Likert scale responses.
Conclusion: The majority of graduates did not perform transplants in their practice, yet all responders agreed that the skills learned on the transplant rotation were beneficial, and 93% expressed that urology residents should have clinical transplant experience during residency. Kidney transplantation should be an integral part of urology residency training.

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