Department of Urology
Jefferson Urology Society
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Members of the Jefferson Urology Society |
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Urology Society -- Labor Day 2009 |
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Jefferson Urology Society at the annual Avalon Symposium in Avalon, NJ |
The Jefferson Urology Society is a student-run organization that provides medical students with the opportunity to learn more about the exciting and dynamic field of Urology. The goal of the society is to promote interaction among students, residents and faculty via informational sessions, research, shadowing opportunities and charitable events. The organization also works to provide interested students with faculty mentors who serve as role models and advisors for students who are interested in pursuing a career in urology.
The Jefferson Urology Society has become increasingly active and popular among students since its “revitalization” in 2003 under the presidential leadership of Dr. Mark Pe and faculty advisor Dr. Costas Lallas, Co-Director of Medical Student Education. Changes included regular meetings on technical advances in the field of urology, “The Match,” and general informational sessions on choosing urology as a career. Moreover, an important priority of the society is to introduce first and second year students to urology prior to their clinical rotations. Current residents play an active role involving medical students in both the clinical and academic aspects of the field.
The Jefferson Urology Society has continued to grow currently boasting 30+ active members. In addition to our regular meetings and informational sessions, we are constantly looking for new ways to improve our organization. We have recently expanded our role to include taking an active part in charity events- such as Jefferson Hospital’s yearly prostate cancer screening held at the Kimmel Cancer Center.
Current officers recently met to discuss the future of the Jefferson Urology Society. Specifically, we would like to increase our role in community outreach, organize trips to Urology conferences for interested students, and begin to invite guest lecturers to campus to discuss new “hot topics” in urology.
Recent Jefferson Urology Society Events
Robotics in Urology
On February 7th, the Urology Society was fortunate to have Dr. Costas Lallas lead an informal discussion and demonstration on the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System to over 30 Jefferson students interested in Urology. After discussing the history of robotics in medicine, the role of robotic surgery in the field of Urology, and the future of this technology, Dr. Lallas gave a demonstration on basic surgical techniques with the robot. Students were then given the opportunity to individually demo this machine, as Dr. Lallas guided them through basic surgical maneuvers.
The evening continued with an informal dinner/ discussion with Dr. Gomella, the chair of the Department of Urology, regarding choosing Urology as a career. Several attendings and residents, including Dr. Lallas, Dr. Edouard Trabulsi, Dr. James Johannes, Dr. Mark Pe, and Dr. William Merriam also joined in the discussion.
Match Meeting
On May 9th, the Jefferson Urology Society held an informal panel discussion to help interested medical students navigate through the upcoming “match” process. Dr. Patrick Shenot, director of the residency program at Jefferson, began by discussing the interview process as well as qualities that he looks for in prospective residents. Students were then given the opportunity to ask specific questions of Dr. Shenot, as well as the Jefferson attendings and residents who attended, including Dr. Costas Lallas, Dr. Brent Yanke (fellow), Dr. Rob Ramey, Bill Merriam, Mark Pe, and Joseph Zola (residents) and Addrienne Heckler (current Jefferson student who successfully “matched” in January). Students found the meeting to be very informative and helpful.
We encourage any recommendations or comments from students, faculty and staff on how we can improve our organization. Please feel free to contact any of the officers listed below or the faculty advisor at their respective e-mail addresses with your comments or suggestions. Also, let us know if you would like to become more involved with research, shadowing, or mentorship opportunities. We look forward to your participation in the years to come.
The Jefferson Urology Society has gained increased interest and attention in recent years, as the popularity of Urology as a surgical speciality continues to grow. We plan to find new ways to add exposure for interested students in the next year, including interactive tutorials in specific "hot" areas of urology, most notably robotic laparoscopic surgery.
We are always looking for new ideas to expand this society, and welcome any input from Jefferson medical students as to ways to achieve this goal. Please feel free to contact either the society president or faculty advisor at their respective e-mail addresses with your comments or suggestions, and we look forward to your participation in the year to come.
Urology Interest Form
If you are a medical student curious about the field of urology, please download and complete the brief Urology Interest Form. Both the society and the department keep your form on file to better track students who are interested in urology as a specialty. We will then be able to contact students when research projects become available within the department. Download the Jefferson Urology Interest Form.
