Program Overview

Message from the Chair

Application

Applications are submitted during the fourth year of medical school and are completed through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) system. ERAS software opens for applicants to build and develop their applications in early July, and those applications are released to the programs for review in mid-September. Our program participates in the American Urological Association (AUA) Match Program. The AUA is an “early” Match program, and those results are announced in January.

USC Urology maintains its commitment to ensuring equity in the admissions process by conducting interviews via virtual platforms.  An interview free-of-cost will be accorded every applicant as interviews are held on Zoom.

Application Requirements:

  • Electronic Residency Application (pdf file)
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • USMLE (Step 1 score)
  • Personal Statement
  • Medical School Transcripts
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Registration with the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP)
  • Dean’s Letter (MSPE)

Need help applying?

Contact

Shannon N. Piazza
Program Coordinator
shannon.piazza@med.usc.edu

Please contact Shannon Piazza to inquire about deadlines for submitting applications and required documentation through ERAS to USC. In general, ERAS applications are released to the programs mid-September and most of our interview spots are filled within a couple of weeks. The AUA Residency Matching Program ID Number is: 4800521021.

Rotation Schedule Overview

Research opportunities are encouraged and supported during all clinical rotations, with increased opportunities during the PGY 3 Rancho Los Amigos rotation.

  • Surgical internship under the direction of General Surgery. This includes 3 months on the urology service (two months at Los Angeles General Medical Center, one month at Keck Hospital of USC).

  • First full dedicated year of urology. The goal of this year is to learn basic general urology, while also being exposed to urologic trauma at Los Angeles General Medical Center, the largest trauma center in California and pediatric urology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). Most of the year is spent at Los Angeles General Medical Center on two separate services. The USC 1 service focuses on general urology. The USC 3 service focuses on managing stone disease and learning complex endourologic procedures. Both are under the mentorship of a chief resident, minimally invasive fellows and faculty attendings.

    Los Angeles General Medical Center: USC 1 — 4 months
    Los Angeles General Medical Center: USC 3 — 4 months
    Children’s Hospital Los Angeles — 4 months

  • Part of this year is spent at Los Angeles General Medical Center on the USC 2 service, which focuses on urologic oncology and pediatric urology. At Keck Hospital of USC, the resident will rotate on the oncology and minimally invasive services (MIS) responsible for managing each service. In addition, at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, a national rehabilitation hospital, the resident gains exposure to the work up and management of the neurogenic bladder.

    Keck: Oncology — 2 months
    Keck: MIS — 2 months
    Los Angeles General Medical Center: USC 2 — 4 months
    Rancho Los Amigos — 4 months

  • This year continues the pediatric urology experience, where the PGY 4 will mentor the PGY 2 and work directly with the pediatric urology faculty at CHLA. The remainder of the year is spent at Keck Hospital with rotations on the Female Urology/Reconstruction service and MIS service learning the robotic and laparoscopic surgical techniques.

    CHLA — 4 months
    Keck: Female/Reconstruction — 4 months
    Keck: MIS — 4 months

  • The chief residency and final year focuses on solidifying surgical techniques and providing mentorship to the junior residents. The majority of the year is spent overseeing the urology services at Los Angeles General Medical Center. One chief directs both the USC 1 and 3 services, mentoring both junior residents. The other chief runs the USC 2 service, managing the complex urologic cases and running the pediatric service with a PGY 3. The remainder of the year is spent at Keck Hospital running the oncology and MIS services.

    Keck: Oncology — 2 months
    Keck: MIS — 2 months
    Los Angeles General Medical Center: USC 1/3 — 4 months
    Los Angeles General Medical Center: USC 2 — 4 months

Residency Interview Process

All applications submitted through ERAS are reviewed by our residency selection committee utilizing pre-determined criteria, which include analysis of USMLE scores, transcripts, curriculum vitae, letters of recommendation, your personal statement and your research record. The best applicants will be selected for a personal interview, which is held on one of three weekend dates. We will receive more than 200 applications for three positions, and every application will be screened by hand and given individual consideration. We are looking for bright, educated and well-rounded applicants to join our Trojan residency team.

Interview Day

If you are selected for an interview, you will be forwarded a specific itinerary for your interview day. In general, you will meet the program director in the morning with a brief overview of the residency program during which time he will also introduce the faculty to you. Next, you will participate in back-to-back interviews. You will interview with all core residency faculty. In between interviews, you will have an opportunity to speak with our current residents. The interview portion will end after all interviews have been conducted (early afternoon) and you will be served lunch and participate in a guided tour of the campus. An evening reception will be held either the night before or night of your interview.