Urology Residency Program (2023)

Message from Program Director

On behalf of the Faculty of the Department of Urology of New York Medical College/Westchester Medical Center, we welcome you to the candidate evaluation process and to learn about our department, its goals and missions for education and training. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected so many aspects of our lives in medicine that it is challenging to consider any aspect, from patient care to education to research that will emerge untouched. The pandemic has also illustrated, however, the great commitment and compassion of all in health care to overcome hardship, suffering, and difficulties to greet a better tomorrow. In many ways, this has always been the goal of the consummate physician, and it is with that vision we hope to contribute to the training of our community's next generation of urologists.

The practical implications of the COVID-19 pandemic have also affected the day-to-day planning of medical students including the desire to have hands-on experience with prospective programs through visiting sub-internships. Medical students have long relied on sub-internships as an integral component of their learning, their exposure to the many outstanding urologic leaders in the US, and of their residency application process.

As visiting sub-internships are not currently possible, we rededicate ourselves to providing you with web-based information about our program as well as a scheduled Town Hall style meeting with our Faculty and current residents.
Please contact our Program Coordinator to be placed on a list of those wishing to participate in a Town Hall meeting soon as well as to receive timely mailings or emails about our training program. Select the “How to Apply” Tab above for more information.

The match process is certainly one that generates anticipation about beginning a career, but we also understand that the match process, its interviews, and commitments are also associated with considerable expense and anxiety. We hope that we can still provide you with an outstanding, holistic, and informative experience using virtual, web-based information. Our goal as faculty and mentors is to provide you with the support, guidance, and information required to make the most of your experience in a fulfilling, healthy, and enjoyable learning environment.

Email: John_Phillips@nymc.edu

Overview and Curriculum

The Urology Residency Training Program at Westchester Medical Center is a structured five-year post graduate curriculum designed to produce a practitioner of the highest caliber who espouses the professionalism, rigor, and tenets of the ideal physician in the urologic domain, promoting excellence in their health care environment, in the field of urology, and in their community. The program accepts two residents a year through the American Urological Association (AUA) match who have fulfilled all the necessary medical school requirements leading to the achievement of a Medical Degree (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO). The Sponsoring site of the program is Westchester Medical Center; three additional ‘Participating’ sites, Metropolitan Hospital Center (MHC), Lincoln Medical Center (LMC), and Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) provide unique learning experiences.

Each rotation is designed to occur at specific points along the educational pathway and provide surgical training consummate with certain residency years. All rotations are designed so that a junior and senior resident are assigned together in rotations to ensure each having a unique role, exposure, and experience at each site. Rotations on the Urology service are typically three months in duration. A research rotation is three months and is an expected component of urology training. Residents are paired with a clinical or basic science mentor to provide guidance in manuscript publication. Publication is strongly encouraged, support is provided to the residents for attendance at the national meeting of the AUA when a resident’s abstract is accepted for presentation at the meeting or other domestic meeting of the resident’s choice.

The Program is Full Accredited by the ACGME. Resident feedback, input, and design are solicited to optimize the residency educational training environment. Four one-week vacations are provided each year. Benefits are provided by Westchester Medical Center.

Over the course of the five year program Residents’ encounters are as follows:

• Participate in safe, compassionate, and cost-effective patient care under a level of supervision commensurate with their achieved cognitive and procedural skills
• Participate fully in the educational activities of their program and, as required, assume responsibility for teaching and supervising other residents and students
• Fulfill the educational requirements of the training program established for Urology and demonstrate the specific urology knowledge, skills and attitudes to demonstrate the following:
  • Patient and family-centered care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health.
  • Medical knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and cognate (e.g., epidemiological and social-behavioral) sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care.
  • Practice-based learning and improvement that involves investigation and evaluation of their own patient care, appraisal and assimilation of scientific evidence, and improvements in patient care.
  • Interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, their families, and other health professionals.
  • Professionalism, as manifested through a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population.
  • Systems-based practice, as manifested by actions that demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system for health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value.
• Participate in institutional programs and activities involving physicians, and adhere to applicable laws, regulations, rules, policies, procedures and established practices of the sponsoring institution and all other institutions to which they are assigned.
• Participate in institutional committees and councils, especially those related to patient care review activities and residency education.
• Learn and apply reasonable cost-containment measures in the provision of patient care.
• Policies and Procedures: In addition to program specific policies, residents are employees of WMC and are subject to all policies and procedures set forth by those entities including the GME Office of the WMC. Residents are expected to familiarize themselves with applicable policies available in the resident manual and the hospital intranet site.
• A supervising urologist is responsible for every urology patient. The supervising urologist will either see the patient or discuss the case with the resident and write or co sign/attest all notes.
• Urology residents are provided with rapid, reliable systems for communicating with supervising residents and faculty. Supervising physicians or supervising residents with appropriate experience for the severity and complexity of the patient’s condition are always available on site or by phone.
• The responsibility or independence given to urology residents in patient care depends on each resident’s knowledge, manual skill, experience, the complexity of the patient’s illness, and the risk of the operation in accordance with the Clinical Competencies – Delineation of Privilege (DOP).

Program Components

Urology Residency Training

Five Years of Clinical Urology - Categorical Program

The first level of training as a Program Level 1 (PL1) resident will be in General Surgery for six months and Urology for six months. Our program is approved for a complement of two residents per year.

Block Schedule By Level

4 - one (1) week block vacations per year

Sponsoring Institution

Westchester Medical Center (WMC)

The primary site exposes the Urology year-1 (PL2) and Urology year-4 (PL5) resident to advanced trauma, transplantation, robotic surgery, pediatric urology, and advanced endourology. The primary site is also the location for weekly Grand Rounds, didactic conferences, semi-annual evaluations, workshops and surgical skills labs, meetings with mentors, and the basic science research lab.

Metropolitan Hospital Center (MHC)

MHC serves as the major participating site for the Urology year-1 (PL2) and -3 (PL4) resident to learn excellent systems-based care in a busy urban and New York State DOH-designated ‘underserved’ medical environment. The residents are trained in urodynamics, ultrasound and prostate biopsy, and have their first exposure as a 1st and 2nd assist in major 'open' urologic and endourologic procedures.

Lincoln Hospital Center (LHC)

LHC serves as a participating site for the Urology year-2 (PL3) and -4 resident (PL5) and where they are exposed to open cancer surgery, laparoscopic techniques, and major pelvic reconstruction. The rotation blocks are organized such that the Urology year-2 resident has a three-month experience with the Urology-4 resident and a second three-month experience as the only urology resident at LHC. The schedule provides the unique opportunity for the 'junior' resident to be the ‘first assist’ resident under attending supervision.

Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC)

The resident spends three months during their 3rd and 4th (PL4/PGY4 and PL5)/PGY5 years at HUMC where they gain a unique exposure to robotic surgery, female urology and incontinence surgery, and sexual dysfunction and andrology.

Didactic Experience

The residency reserves Thursday mornings for formal academic didactic exercises in a Grand Rounds environment. All residents are expected to attend Grand Rounds in person except where personal or clinical extenuating circumstances preclude such attendance. Conferences allow Zoom capability for residents to attend if unable to commute to the participating site. The year’s Grand Rounds calendar follows a 2-year schedule in which all 16 Core Curriculum domains of the American Urology Association Educational Program are covered. A one-hour lecture by Faculty or invited speaker is arranged; PowerPoints used are saved on the Departmental shared drive. Grand Rounds is also the forum for the presentation of retrospective or prospective cases by Faculty or residents followed by a domain- or disease-centered synopsis of the known literature on the subject. A monthly Morbidity and Mortality Conference, with mandatory attendance by all Faculty, is held where Quality and Improvement (QI) opportunities are identified for further research. The ‘5th Thursdays’ are devoted to basic science and resident research updates and presentations. Monday morning ‘Breakfast Club’ is used for the discussion of AUA updates under supervision of the Department Chair.

Program Level of Training

PGY-1/PL1

The resident will rotate through a variety of General Surgery rotations with the expectation of learning the perioperative management of complex surgical patients. Typical rotations include: Trauma, ICU, Surgical Oncology, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Vascular Surgery, General Surgery, Transplant Surgery, and Urology.

PGY-2/PL2

The resident will spend six months each as the junior resident at Westchester Medical Center and Metropolitan Hospital Center. At Metropolitan Hospital the resident learns to manage a busy inner-city clinic and develop the knowledge base to perform appropriate preoperative evaluation of presenting symptoms and postoperative follow up. The clinic has its own dedicated cystoscopy, urodynamics, and prostate biopsy procedure rooms. At Westchester Medical Center the junior resident is actively involved in working up complex consultations and gains significant exposure to ureteroscopy, inguinal/scrotal cases, and assisting in robotic surgeries. All Urology-1 residents are sent by the program to the AUA Basic Sciences Course in Charlottesville, Virginia.

PGY-3/PL3

The resident spends three months at Lincoln Hospital as an Acting Chief Resident learning to run a service. During this rotation the resident is primarily in the operating room gaining significant exposure to open and endoscopic surgical techniques as either first assistant or surgeon for radical prostatectomy, nephrectomy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, slings, sphincters, and penile prosthesis. A three-month rotation in the laboratory setting helps to begin a research interest and topic for publication. A second, three-month rotation at Lincoln Hospital provides a unique opportunity for the Urology-2 resident to work with the Urology-4 resident. The goal of this second block is to provide a venue for soon-to-be graduates to have dedicated time to take junior residents through a variety of cases. An additional three months is allotted for additional research, clinical float, or, if arranged at least six months ahead of time, an outside rotation at a recognized training center. Mentors are provided to allow for a productive experience in both clinical and basic science (bench and animal) projects.

PGY-4/PL4

Six months are spent at Metropolitan Hospital as Chief Resident. As Chief Resident, the resident is expected to be exposed to all areas of urology. The Chief Resident is expected to oversee the service, overseeing the management of each case and discussing surgical modalities or alternatives with the patient and faculty in order to provide the optimal care. A three-month rotation dedicated to robotic and laparoscopic surgery is spent at Hackensack University Medical Center. Three months are dedicated to one of the largest pediatric urology practices in the country. The pediatric urology rotator will gain high volume experience in all areas of pediatric urology from hypospadias to robotics to exstrophy. All URO-3 residents are sent by the program to the entirety of the American Urological Association Annual Meeting.

PGY-5/PL5

Six months are spent at Westchester Medical Center as Chief Resident. The Chief Resident is expected to coordinate educational conferences, teach junior residents in addition to gaining significant exposure as the surgeon to complex open, laparoscopic/robotic and endourology cases. Three months are spent on a dedicated laparoscopy/robotics rotation at Hackensack University Medical Center. Three months are spent at Lincoln Hospital Center with the expectation of taking the junior resident through cases involving all areas of urology from vasectomy to prostatectomy.

Program Outcomes

The program has had a 100% board pass rate since 2003 producing 25 of 25 residents who became board-certified by the American Board of Urology (ABU). Of the 25 residents, 12 have had additional training in fellowships. Since the graduating class of 2000, residents have practiced in 14 states including: California (7); Colorado (1); Connecticut (1); Illinois (2); Massachusetts (1); Minnesota (1); Nevada (1); New Jersey (3); New York (10); Pennsylvania (1); North Carolina (1); South Carolina (1); Texas (2); Utah (1).

Two residents are in full-time faculty positions, 22 in full-time community or non-teaching positions, and one in part time academic/teaching positions.

Graduates have written or co-written: 41 Peer Reviewed Publications; 14 Book Chapters; 7 publications in non-print media; 2 nationally distributed surgical videos; for the national meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA), 62 meeting abstracts and videos; and 13 manuscripts at 53 national and international meetings since 2008.

Three graduates hold current leadership positions in the American Urologic Association and one graduate is a chairman of a urology residency program.

Current Residents

Akhil Saji, MD (PL4 – PGY5)
BA: Boston University
MD: New York Medical College
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2023

Rogerio Huang, MD (PL4 – PGY5)
BS: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
MD: University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2023

Eitan Glucksman, MD (PL4 – PGY4)
BS: Touro College, Flushing
MD:New York Medical College
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2024

Vincent Wong, MD (PL4 – PGY4)
BS: University of California, San Diego
MD: Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2024

David Ambinder, MD (PL3 – PGY3)
BS:Touro College, Queens
MD: University of Maryland, School of Medicine
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2025

Evan Spencer, MD (PL3 – PGY3)
BS: Pennsylvania State University
MD: Geisinger Commonwealth, School of Medicine
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2025

Jack Barnett, MD (PL2 – PGY2)MD: SUNY Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2026

Kelvin Zheng, MD (PL2 – PGY2)MD: New York Medical CollegeAnticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2026

Daniel Bassily, MD (PL1 – PGY1)
MD:New York Medical College
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2027

Charles White, MD (PL1 – PGY1)
MD: New York Medical College
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2027

Program Alumni as of June 30, 2022

2022 Graduates

Ashley Dixon, MD
Jason Elyaguov, MD

2021 Graduates

Feng Guo, MDNikhil Gopal, MD
Sameh Naim, MD (Endourology Fellow)

2020 Graduates

Dr. Michael Stern
Dr. Michael Zhang

2019 Graduates

Dr. Cristina Fox
Dr. Neel Patel

2018 Graduates

Dr. Joel Hillelsohn
Dr. Roger Yau

2017 Graduates

Dr. Jonathan Bloom
Dr. Mark Ferretti

2016 Graduates

Dr. Amul Bhalodi
Dr. Vladimir Valera Romero

2015 Graduates

Dr. Dawud Lankford
Dr. Eric Moskowitz

2014 Graduates

Dr. Derek Prabharasuth
Dr. Drew Freilich

2013 Graduates

Dr. Erin Grantham
Dr. Bobby Alexander

2012 Graduates

Dr. Andrew Fishman
Dr. Alexandria Lynch

2011 Graduates

Dr.EmadRizkala
Dr.DavidGreen

2010 Graduates

Dr.CathyAlonzo
Dr.SrinivasRajamahanty

2009 Graduates

Dr.BrandonLouie
Dr.PaulPyo

2008 Graduates

Dr.MichaelHoffman
Dr.MauricioDavalos

2007 Graduates

Dr.PaulGrewall
Dr.RobertSimon

2006 Graduates

Dr.WeiweiXu
Dr.KeithTracy

2005 Graduates

Dr.LoriLandau Dyer
Dr.Gary BlakeJohnson

2004 Graduates

Dr.ShahradAynehchi
Dr.VanceMoss

2003 Graduates

Dr.DanieleDolin
Dr.Alexander (Alec)Schwartz
Dr.Janaka (John)Hettiarachchi

2002 Graduates

Dr.SophiaDrinis
Dr.DeanTortorelis
Dr.MichaelFinkelstein

2001 Graduates

Dr.FarshadNowzari
Dr.AlbertSamadi
Dr.SeanFullerton

2000 Graduates

Dr.DanMilanesa
Dr.JohnWon
Dr.ScottDavidson

1999 Graduates

Dr.JohnChapman
Dr.AntoinetteBerkeley
Dr.JamesCherry

1998 Graduates

Dr.SteveGallo
Dr.JohnMordente
Dr.EricDarby

1997 Graduates

Dr.SuelynHall
Dr.LouisFaiella, III
Dr.MelanieAmster

1996 Graduates

Dr. Timothy Schneidau
Dr. Mark Kolligian
Dr. Barry Lifson

1995 Graduates

Dr.TimothyAverch
Dr.LouisD'Agostino
Dr.TimothyDuffin

1994 Graduates

Dr. Nick Stroumbakis
Dr. Bennett Scaglia
Dr. Mariano Tolentino

1993 Graduates

Dr. Mark Christ
Dr. Kathleen Latino
Dr. Daniel Melamed

1992 Graduates

Dr. Jeffrey Proctor
Dr. Mitchell Efros
Dr. Thomas Spears

1991 Graduates

Dr. Joseph Camilleri, Jr.
Dr. Emilio Lastarria
Dr. Joel Fischer

1990 Graduates

Dr. James Cord
Dr. Richard Evans
Dr. David Schwalb

1989 Graduates

Dr. Howard Goldberg
Dr. Gene Braga
Dr. Israel Franco

1988 Graduates

Dr. Anthony Fiore, Jr.
Dr. Andrew Simon
Dr. Jack Bruder

1987 Graduates

Dr. Jose Hernandez
Dr. Michael Budin
Dr. William Tuong

1986 Graduates

Dr. Anthony Arciola
Dr. Lawrence Sigler
Dr. Ashok Bhalodi

1985 Graduates

Dr. Bruce Houman
Dr. Hany Oghia

1984 Graduates

Dr. Robert Calciano
Dr. Naeem Samad
Dr. Nabil Sayegh

1983 Graduates

Dr. Sobhy Shehata
Dr. Bharat Shah
Dr. Alexander Bernath

1982 Graduates

Dr. Nayel Sayegh
Dr. Ramarao Denduluri
Dr. Parikshit Pandya

1981 Graduates

Dr. Leonard Silber
Dr. Barry Sonkin
Dr. Varon Alexander Garcias

1980 Graduates

Dr. Stanley Hartanowitz
Dr. Muhammad Choudhury
Dr. David Nachamie

1979 Graduates

Dr. George Klafter
Dr. Mark Vine

1978 Graduates

Dr. Bechara Tabet
Dr. Naeem Pervaiz

1977 Graduates

Dr. Francisco Recalde
Dr. Robert Berson

1976 Graduates

Dr. Farsaii Asghar
Dr. Iradj Ansari
Dr. Steven Katz
Dr. Louis Gennarelli

1975 Graduates

Dr. Peter Albert
Dr. Donald Rudick

1974 Graduates

Dr. Sheldon Kappor
Dr. Dennis Nugent
Dr. Elliot Louis Cohen

1973 Graduates

Dr. Paul Ziegler
Dr. Sheldon Rosenthal

1971 Graduates

Dr. Martin Reichgut
Dr. Oscar DeLaPaz
Dr. Donald Balaban

1970 Graduates

Dr. Peter Livingston
Dr. Jack Vitenson

1969 Graduates

Dr. Ira Raff
Dr. Raymond Craven

1968 Graduates

Dr. Noriyoshi Miyazaki
Dr. David Minninberg
Dr. Julio Castellanos

1967 Graduates

Dr. Mark St. Pierre
Dr. Nader Sadoughi

1966 Graduates

Dr. Robert Green
Dr. Joseph Rapuano

1965 Graduates

Dr. James Stewart
Dr. Allesandro Colalillo
Dr. Joseph Karp

1964 Graduates

Dr. Stuart Kass
Dr. Aldo Mazzarino

1963 Graduates

Dr. Joseph Addonizio
Dr. Noriyoshi Miyazaki

1962 Graduates

Dr. Camille Mallouh

1961 Graduates

Dr. Terence Fitzpatrick
Dr. Roberto Lopez-Mendoza

1960 Graduates

Dr. Lester Felton

1959 Graduates

Dr. David Argiriou
Dr. Lowell Kane
Dr. Vincent Palumbo

1955 Graduates

Dr. Paul Tucci

1945 Graduates

Dr. German Bouchard

1944 Graduates

Dr. Joseph Andronaco
Dr. Harry Bergan

1942 Graduates

Dr. Frances Beneventi

1941 Graduates

Dr. Samuel Wilkins

1940 Graduates

Dr. Jesse Hymes

1938 Graduates

Dr. Alfred Goldfarb

1937 Graduates

Dr. Jesse Keshin

1936 Graduates

Dr.RichardPaneblanco

1934 Graduates

Dr. George Nagamatsu

1930 Graduates

Dr.DavidLieberman

Core Adult Urology Faculty at WMC

Core Pediatric Urology Faculty at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital

Faculty at Lincoln Hospital Center

Faculty at Metropolitan Hospital Center

Faculty at Hackensack University Medical Center

These faculty members listed above, along with over 50 other urologists, are involved with the teaching of our urology residents.

Match Information

WMC Urology Open House: Thursday, October 6, 2022

Time: 7:00–8:00 p.m.

Please contact Cindy Christiano to register for Open House and to receive Open House Zoom link:

Cindy_Christiano@nymc.edu

Match Timeline

Interviews

Invited applicants will be offered a comprehensive interview via the video conferencing platform, Zoom. The interview will allow the applicant to meet individually with each of the faculty members, with the residents, and, in the meeting room, with other applicants if desired. The interview process is intended to allow the applicant to learn as much as possible of the residency training program, our department, and our mission, while minimizing the time and effort, hassle and economy required of in-person interviews during the COVID-19 era.

Interview Dates For WMC/NYMC Urology

• Thursday, November 10, 2022 – a.m. and p.m. session for West Coast applicants
  
• Friday, November 11, 2022
  
• Thursday, November 17, 2022

The prospective applicant must submit the following via AMC – ERAS

• Application
• United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) certification
• Two Letters of Recommendations
• Medical Score Grades – Transcripts Personal Statement
• Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE)

Program Requirements

USMLE test scores for USMLE Step 1 and 2 for consideration of interview is:

• Step 1: Pass
  
• Step 2: Must Pass Step 2 at graduation from Medical School. The passing of each step of USMLE should be done on the first attempt.
  
• Research experience is helpful and considered important.
  
• The candidate must possess strong motivation and commitment to Urology as evidenced by background education, personal statement, and letters of recommendation.
  
• The candidate must have personality traits such as emotional maturity, warmth, and compassion as well as good communication skills.

Useful Resources and Information

AUA – Residency Website

Contact Us

The Department of Urology at Westchester Center / New York Medical College is located at 19 Skyline Drive Suites 1S-B45 – 54 in Hawthorne, New York. Our staff coordinates the many different rotations, clinical experiences, and educational opportunities that are a part of your training; we will help you with your transition to WMC/NYMC in the year leading up to your urology residency and thereafter. Our department is dedicated to your well-being and learning, and is here to help in all aspects of the administrative component of your training.

Department of Urology-School of Medicine

Skyline, 1S-B48
Phone: 914.594.2440
Phone: 914.493.7684

Muhammad Choudhury, MD
Professor and Chairman
Department of Urology
Phone: 914.594.2440
muhammad_choudhury@nymc.edu

John L. Phillips, MD
Residency Program Director and Associate Professor of Urology
John_Phillips@nymc.edu

Cindy Christiano
Administrator, Department of Urology
Urology Residency Program Coordinator & Endourology Fellowship Coordinator
Cindy_Christiano@nymc.edu

Shea Dixon
Administrative Secretary
Department of Urology
shea_dixon@nymc.edu