Residency > Chair's Statement

Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to provide an overview of the Urology Residency Program at Thomas Jefferson University. The Urology Residency training program is a six year program that provides a well balanced experience in all major disciplines of Urology. Two residents are accepted each year through the National Urology Match Program. Upon completion of the program, the individual is equally well prepared to enter private practice, academics or seek competitive fellowship training. Our program was reviewed in 2004 by the Urology Residency Review Committee of the ACGME.  I am pleased to report that we have received full accreditation until 2009. The 5 year approval represents the maximum that can be granted to a training program, attesting to the outstanding quality of our educational program.

Jefferson Medical College was founded in 1824 and has more living physician graduates than any other medical school in the country. The Department of Urology was founded in 1904 at Thomas Jefferson University, making us one of the oldest Departments in the United States. While many physicians were traditionally trained in “Genito-urinary Surgery” in the early 1900's, the Urology residency was formally established at Jefferson in 1946 by Dr. D.M. Davis, one of the well known figures in modern urology. Almost 100 physicians have completed formal Urology residency or fellowship training since that time. Through 2004 we will mark our centennial year with a variety of special events including the dedication of the “Jefferson Urology Museum”.

We are pleased with the organization of the urology residency training program at Jefferson. Eighteen months of preliminary general surgery is completed at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital that includes exposure to all surgical disciplines including transplantation. The urology residency combines exposure to a variety of practice settings: an academic medical center (Thomas Jefferson University Hospital), a community hospital (Bryn Mawr Hospital), the Wilmington Veterans Administration Hospital, and the Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children. In addition to a comprehensive conference and grand rounds schedule, the program also incorporates dedicated research time and ongoing involvement with translational research and clinical trials. Departmental resources are designed to enhance the learning of our house-staff while providing state of the art care for our patients.

The urology faculty consists of 14 clinical physicians and 3 basic science researchers based at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Our pediatric staff includes 3 full time attendings who practice at both AI Dupont Childrens Hospital and at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Additional affiliate factuly maintain practices at Bryn Mawr hospital and at the Wilmington VA medical Center. Our Department features nationally and internationally recognized faculty in all major disciplines including endourology, laparoscopy, urologic oncology, neurourology, female urology, andrology, and pediatric urology. Basic science efforts include focused research programs in urologic oncology, neurourology, and bladder infection and inflammation. Translational research correlations are stressed in all areas of clinical activity.

Jefferson University Hospital over the years has been ranked as one of the best hospitals in the nation. U.S. News & World Report named Jefferson University Hospital among America's Best Hospital's for urologic care and has been recognized as one of the leading centers for prostate cancer care. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is a 927 bed acute care facility with 180 sub-acute and long term care beds. There are over 40,000 admissions a year and almost 500,000 outpatient visits annually, providing a significant experience for all Jefferson training programs.

Clinical resources include four state of the art voice activated minimally invasive surgical suites for laparoscopic interventions, dedicated endourology suites with full standard and digital imaging capabilities, a full complement of lasers and dedicated in-patient and outpatient urodynamics facilities. Additional resources include prostate thermotherapy and cryotherapy units, the Prostate Diagnostic Center and the GU Multidisciplinary Cancer Clinic of our NCI designated Kimmel Cancer Center. Residents fully participate in all of these areas of clinical care during training.

The Philadelphia region provides a wealth of professional and recreational opportunities. Our city's heritage includes significant contributions to both American and medical history. I thank you for your interest in our Urology Residency Program.

Leonard G. Gomella, MD

Chairman, Department of Urology