Just some general stuff first:
DO programs don't look at USMLE scores just COMLEX scores, so do well on COMLEX if you can. Don't forget to study sacral/cranial OMT for that thing. Savarese (the big OMT Review green book) is the book of choice for that section.
As for board score competitiveness, just do the best you can on USMLE and shoot for above whatever number is considered "above average" this year.
I believe audition rotations are *THE* key to matching uro regardless of board scores. Set them up early and go for it!
As for rectal/genital exams: You get used to it. You do them in medicine also. If I don't do a rectal on someone who hasn't had one in awhile or is anemic, I'm not doing my job.
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As an aside.
Wow didn't realize this would start a mini flame war, of course I've gotten some correspondence from some friends I used to see at AUA meetings baffled by my decision. To each their own I guess.
As for the comment regarding the pyeloplasty, I didn't get the chance to reanastamose the ureter to the renal pelvis because I lacked the manual dexterity to do the fine suturing required. The senior resident ended up doing that and did a darn good job of doing so. Kinda shocked and scared the heck out of me also, but maybe they were rattling my cage to see if I had nerve. Who knows.
Let's get this straight now. Holy smokes, I'm not belittling surgical fields at all. It takes a hell of a lot of personal sacrifice to survive a 5 year surgical residency and if you have the motive and drive to go for it, I say go for it. Looking back at everything the past few months, I am definitely happy with my decision. My life is different now than it was in my 3rd year when I was single and driven to do whatever it took no matter the cost. Starting a family changed things for me personally, which may or may not for you.
Medicine and surgery are definitely two different worlds. But what it comes down to is what you are exposed to on a regular basis and how much you read about things you aren't exposed to. I could tell stories about a urology PD who didn't know how to work up a GI bleed or medicine attendings who couldn't work up an acute abdomen, but it just doesn't matter. I realize I could be in one of those situations myself someday due to getting academic "tunnel vision" but all I can do is try my best to read daily and continue lifelong learning. All that matters in the long run is that we work together as a team for the good of our patients.
So regardless, you can write me off as just a "bottom-feeding unintelligent Family Medicine doc" or understand why I pulled the plug on all surgical programs (not just uro) the day before the DO match. What is done is done. All I want to do is encourage people who want to do urology to keep on going. I've got nothing to hide, hence why I use my real name on the forums. Re-reading my post, I don't know how I could have been more honest and down-to-earth about things. I guess you can read into everything on the ole internet.
Urology is a fun field with lots of procedures, good money and a decent lifestyle once you get past residency. You also get to work with urological colleagues with alot of personality who are generally fun individuals. If you want it bad enough, go for it I say.
To all of the urologists I met during my years traveling to AUA meetings while developing vascenter.com and urostonecenter.com, thanks for your friendship and support. I'm truly glad I went to medical school. Hope you continue to receive patient referrals thru my previous efforts.
Blast a bladder stone for me, mmmkay?