The Path to Becoming a Urologist
Urologists are actually professionals who gives the treatment process for people who have diseases or injuries which involves the urinary tract. They likewise treat conditions which are associated with the disorder of the male reproductive system and the female pelvic floor muscles. But, they don’t treat the female’s reproductive issue because it is the field of a gynecologist. Urology is a specialty which will allow physicians in using both their medical management knowledge as well as their surgical skills in caring for their patients.
Their Responsibilities
Urologists will likewise diagnose and treat various medical conditions that includes having prostate cancer, urinary incontinence, recurrent bladder infections and also having weak pelvic floor muscles. They could also treat conditions like male infertility and problems like kidney stones. There are also some urologists who chose to specialize further and to also narrow more their focus in the field. Three subspecialties in urology are the female urology, oncology urology and pediatric urology.
An addition to completing a physical exam or medical history as part of the diagnostic process, the urologist also may perform certain tests. Once that the diagnosis have been made, the urologist will determine the appropriate kind of treatment. The kind of treatment being recommended depends on the condition of the patient.
Urologists are surgeons as well, so they will perform different surgical procedures as a part of the treatment. There are actually some conditions which may need surgery, medication or both of it.
To become a urologist, one needs to have a four-year college degree, which is essential before you can apply for medical school. There’s also the need for a medical college admission test as a requirement to get into the medical school.
Once that you are accepted in med school, you will then undergo a four year training. In that time, you will undergo classes in medical ethics, genetics, neuroscience and in biochemistry. In your third and fourth year of med school, you will then need to apply your knowledge gained in the real world when starting clinical rotations.
Also, there are mandatory clinical rotations like internal medical and psychiatry as well as elective rotations. The fact that urology is not a required rotation, you can actually choose it as an elective during the time of your fourth year in medical school in order to get a better understanding in such field.
After you have graduated from medical school, urology residency would be the next one. For those who have the interest in a subspecialty of urology, a one to two year post residency fellowship would be needed. When all of the training and educational requirements are completed, physicians will be eligible in taking the exam for one to become board certified in urology.