Journal article
National Assessment of Urology Interest Groups: a cross-sectional study analyzing current practices and challenges
Urology (Ridgewood, N.J.), Vol.206, pp.246-252
12/2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2025.07.069
PMID: 40754022
Abstract
To understand the status of medical student-run Urology Interest Groups (UIGs) across the nation and identify their unmet needs.
Emails for leaders of UIGs were obtained through review of medical school websites and direct contact with institutions affiliated with accredited urologic training programs. A cross-sectional survey was developed using Qualtrics. The survey was created with 21 questions.
83 UIGs were identified across 116 medical schools, for which contact information was available for 62 programs. 93.5% responded to the survey. UIGs prioritized fostering interest and promoting opportunities in urology and building community amongst members. The greatest challenges for UIGs were lack of member engagement and time. Greater than 50% of responses indicated that increased centralization of information on opportunities for medical students interested in urology and increased networking with other UIGs would help them achieve their goals. 76% of respondents indicated that UIGs do not interact with other UIGs because they are not sure how.
UIGs offer an entry point into the field of urology. Despite their presence at most academic centers and their ubiquitous goal of fostering urologic interest, they traditionally function independently in a non-standardized manner and their support varies vastly across programs. Further resources and involvement in centralized organizations, such as the American Urological Association (AUA), are needed to support these programs and improve recruitment into the field of urology given the worsening shortage of urologists in the United States.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- National Assessment of Urology Interest Groups: a cross-sectional study analyzing current practices and challenges
- Creators
- Lola P Lozano - University of IowaJoanna Orzel - University of IowaJace Leininger - Department of Urology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 3251 Carver Pavilion (RCP) Iowa City, Iowa, 52242-1089. Electronic address: Jace-leininger@uiowa.eduRyan L Steinberg - University of IowaChad R Tracy - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Urology (Ridgewood, N.J.), Vol.206, pp.246-252
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.urology.2025.07.069
- PMID
- 40754022
- NLM abbreviation
- Urology
- ISSN
- 0090-4295
- eISSN
- 1527-9995
- Publisher
- ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
- Grant note
- University of Iowa Medical Scientist Training Program: T32 GM139776 Watts Family Fellowship in Urology
This work was supported by the University of Iowa Medical Scientist Training Program (T32 GM139776) as well as the Watts Family Fellowship in Urology.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 08/01/2025
- Date published
- 12/2025
- Academic Unit
- Radiology; Urology
- Record Identifier
- 9984944730302771
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