Charlie and Pat Devine, pioneers in reconstructive urology, founded the Urology Residency Program in 1965, prior to the start of EVMS; it became a program of EVMS when it started operations in 1974. Past chairmen include Charlie Devine, M.D. (1965-1990), Paul F. Schellhammer, M.D. (1990-2000), and Gerald H. Jordan, M.D. (2000-2003). Donald F. Lynch, M.D., was appointed chairman in January 2004. Kurt McCammon, M.D., is the program director of the residency, appointed July 1, 2006.

The Urology Residency of Eastern Virginia Medical School follows a one-plus-four format—one year of general surgery followed by four years of urology. The program is fully accredited by the ACGME. One position per year is available through the American Urological Association match program, and one position from the Department of Defense. Fellowship programs are available in Adult and Pediatric Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery and Endourology/Laparoscopy.

The Urology program at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital has been ranked in the Top 50 programs the last 3-4 years by U.S. News & World Report and is the only urology program in Virginia to make the Top 50 last year.

General Description

The Department of Urology is under the direction of 20 attending staff urologists, of whom four are fellowship-trained in oncology, two in endourology/laparoscopy, four in reconstructive/female urology, three in pediatric urology, and one in male infertility. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital (SNGH) and the adjoining Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD) serve as the primary teaching centers for surgery, inpatient care and conferences. Residents rotate through Portsmouth Naval Hospital, which is a new facility and currently has four full time staff, one fellowship-trained in oncology, and one in renal transplantation.

With the large faculty of 20 active teaching members, plus six community faculty members, residents have access to the full array of urologic procedures. Residents generally finish well above the 50 percent in index procedures, and for over 20 years have had a 100 percent pass rate for the American Board of Urology.

In addition to general urologic surgery, residents receive significant exposures to laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, radical cystectomy with continent diversion, laparoscopic radical and donor nephrectomy, pelvic reconstruction for incontinence/prolapse, urethral reconstruction, and microscopic infertility procedures. Recent chief resident case logs are provided for review during interviews.

Please see the Teaching Hospitals page for more information.

Clinical research is encouraged and available for all residents. We maintain an active oncology database program. All residents present research topics at the Spring Tidewater Urology Meeting. We support travel to regional and national meetings to present abstracts accepted for presentation. Other meetings supported include the Basic Science Review in Charlottesville for PGY3 residents, and the AUA review courses for chief residents preparing for Part I Board examinations.

There is no allotted time for resident basic lab research. However, the department has an active affiliation with the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology and has a multidisciplinary prostate cancer center—the Virginia Prostate Center. Three previous residents have taken time before or after residency to perform basic science research in these laboratories.

Residents receive the standard EVMS stipend and benefits for their PGY- level, and three weeks leave plus holidays. General surgery call is in-house, while urology call is from home, covering SNGH, Sentara Leigh Hospital and CHKD. We are in full compliance with the 80-hour work week requirements and are phasing in the competency requirements from ACGME.

Rotations

If you are interested in applying for a urology position at the Eastern Virginia Medical School, we suggest you come for a fourth-year rotation. This will provide you with a realistic vision of our program, as well as let us get to know you personally and professionally. For more information, please visit our Clerkships/Visiting Students page.