Conscientious Objection to Gender-Affirming Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Plastic Surgery and Urology Residency Programs.

Objective: Medical conscientious objection is a federally protected right of physicians to refuse participation in medically indicated services or research activities that are incompatible with their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. Individual provider objections to gender-affirming surgery have been documented, however the prevalence of such objections is unknown. Our study aimed to characterize physician objections to gender-affirming surgery in plastic surgery and urology residencies and to assess related institutional policies.

An AUA Workforce Report: Data From the AUA Census Regarding Workplace Experiences Based on Gender.

Introduction: The AUA Workforce Workgroup contributes workforce-related questions to the annual AUA Census to better understand factors impacting the urologic community. This study aims to highlight pertinent gender differences potentially impacting career satisfaction and identify areas in which intervention could improve gender discrepancies. We hypothesize significant differences between males and females exist regarding responses to gender-related AUA Census questions.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Hydronephrosis on Prior Imaging-Unknown Cause.

Initial imaging evaluation of hydronephrosis of unknown etiology is a complex subject and is dependent on clinical context. In asymptomatic patients, it is often best conducted via CT urography (CTU) without and with contrast, MR urography (MRU) without and with contrast, or scintigraphic evaluation with mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) imaging. For symptomatic patients, CTU without and with contrast, MRU without and with contrast, MAG3 scintigraphy, or ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder with Doppler imaging are all viable initial imaging studies.

Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Urology Residency Recruitment: Recommendations From the Society of Women in Urology.

Objective: To provide a framework for diversifying the urologic workforce through residency recruitment by integrating principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into program mission and values, application review, and interview process.

Materials And Methods: For this narrative review, the Society of Women in Urology Advancing DEI in Urology Residency Recruitment Task Force identified 4 areas for incorporating DEI into residency recruitment: defining a residency program's mission and values, holistic application review, an objective interview process, and implementing DEI principles into a program. Using PubMed and Google Scholar, we performed a non-systematic literature search of articles from January 2014 to January 2024.

Exploring the Demands of Urology: On-Call Compensation, Frequency, and Variability.

Introduction: We investigate and analyze the available information regarding on-call patterns among urologists in the US.

Methods: The AUA Workforce Workgroup collaborated with the AUA Data Team to analyze information from the 2022 AUA Census. Extracted data were analyzed to identify variability across gender, subspecialty, hours worked per week, AUA section, salary, and practice setting.

Gender-based Disparity Exists in the Surgical Experience of Female and Male Urology Residents.

Objective: To determine if a discrepancy exists in the number and type of cases logged between female and male urology residents.

Materials And Methods: ACGME case log data from 13 urology residency programs was collected from 2007 to 2020. The number and type of cases for each resident were recorded and correlated with resident gender and year of graduation.

The Future is Female: Urology Workforce Projection from 2020 to 2057.

Multiple estimates have approximated a urologist shortage per capita of around 30% by 2030. In the context of the impending urologic workforce shortage, it is critical to have a nuanced understanding of the degree of workforce shortage in comparison with the US population to mitigate the negative downstream effects in the future. In continued growth and stagnant growth projection models, we found that female urologists make up a significant proportion of the workforce growth over the next four decades.

How Effective Was the 2014 AUA Cryptorchidism Guideline? A Multi-institutional Evaluation.

Introduction: In 2014, the AUA published guidelines regarding the evaluation of cryptorchidism. This multi-institutional study aims to determine if these guidelines reduced the age of referral and the utilization of ultrasound in boys with cryptorchidism. We hypothesize that delayed referral continues, and utilization of ultrasound remains unchanged.

Testicular catch-up growth in the non-operative management of the adolescent varicocele.

Introduction: Adolescent varicocele is a common urologic condition with a spectrum of outcomes, leading to variations in management. Testicular hypotrophy is a common indication for surgery Routine monitoring may be an appropriate form of management for many adolescents with testicular hypotrophy, as studies have shown that a large proportion of these patients may experience catch-up growth of the ipsilateral testis. Furthermore, there are few longitudinal studies which have correlated patient specific factors to catch-up growth.

Association of Gender and Operative Feedback Quality in Surgical Residents.

Objective: Feedback is critical for learning, however, gender differences exist in the quality of feedback that trainees receive. For example, narrative feedback on surgical trainees' end-of-block rotations differs based on trainee-faculty gender dyads, with female faculty giving higher quality feedback and male trainees receiving higher quality feedback. Though this represents evidence of gender bias in global evaluations, there is limited understanding of how much bias might be present in operative workplace-based assessments (WBAs).

Can you have it all? Parenting in Urology and Work-Life Balance Satisfaction.

Objective: To evaluate the association between work-life balance satisfaction for practicing urologists who have children <18 years compared to those who do not have children or have children ≥18 years.

Methods: We evaluated the association between work-life balance satisfaction based on partner status, partner employment status, child status, primary responsible party for family, total work hours per week, and total vacation weeks per year using 2018 and 2019 American Urological Association (AUA) census data with post-stratification adjustment methods.

Results: Of 663 respondents, 77 (9.

Burnout: A Call to Action From the AUA Workforce Workgroup.

Purpose: We hypothesize burnout has failed to improve and certain demographics may be disproportionately affected.

Materials And Methods: The AUA Workforce Workgroup examined work from the annual AUA Census over the past several years. Particular to this study, relevant burnout-related data were examined from the past 5 years.

Advancements in Surgical Performance Evaluation and Feedback.

Purpose Of Review: How today's urology trainees acquire surgical skills has changed dramatically due to multiple forces placing strain on the graduate medical education mission. The development of workplace-based assessments that deliver feedback while capturing performance data has led to a paradigm shift toward individualized learning.

Recent Findings: Delivering feedback that drives surgical skill development requires the educator to provide a meaningful assessment of the learner after an operative experience.

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Müllerian Outflow Tract Obstruction Associated with Cloacal Malformation and Cloacal Exstrophy.

People with cloacal malformation and 46,XX cloacal exstrophy are at risk of developing Müllerian outflow tract obstruction (OTO). Management of OTO requires expertise of many medical and surgical specialties. The primary presenting symptom associated with OTO is cyclical and later continuous pain and can be initially quelled with hormonal suppression as a temporizing measure to allow for patient maturation.

Virtual "Matchmaking": Stakeholder Perspectives on the Future of the Urology Residency Match.

Objective: To examine stakeholder perspectives regarding the lack of in-person externships and transition to a virtual urology residency interview format. The unprecedented disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic forced an abrupt pivot to a "virtual" Urology Match for the 2021 cycle. We aim for our study to inform ongoing deliberations on the future of the Urology Match.