With the growing competitiveness in the field of urology, aspiring medical students who wish to pursue the specialty often find themselves adrift in a vast sea of information, grappling with the intricacies of the application process and the demands of the discipline.¹ The absence of a dedicated home program intensifies this challenge, leaving these medical students to seek guidance from outside institutions independently.²

Recognizing the crucial need to increase access and interest within the field, the Department of Urology at the University of Michigan created the Michigan Urology Academy (MUA). Since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, MUA has nurtured a sense of belonging, community, and mentorship for trainees within the urology community through a virtual curriculum accessible to medical students at every training stage across the country.³ Over the past 3 years, the MUA has hosted 208 students from 104 medical schools. Notably, one-third of MUA participants have had no home urology program. This year, in addition to its regularly scheduled virtual curriculum, MUA hosted its first in-person program offered to students without a home program to address this disparity.

Twelve prospective urology applicants without home programs participated in the first in-person MUA event in June 2023 (Figure 1). The 2-day program included presentations from urology program directors across the country on successful application preparation (Figure 2), a personal statement workshop, the logistics/finances of applying, and a discussion on the hidden curriculum of a successful subinternship rotation. Students also participated in a hands-on simulation lab taught by faculty and residents, which included learning the basics of robotic and laparoscopic surgery (Figure 3). The program was designed to dovetail with the virtual MUA program that followed the in-person event.

Programs like MUA serve as networking hubs, enabling students to forge connections beyond the program itself, ultimately contributing to the broader urology community. As students immerse themselves in a structured curriculum at a critical point in their training, they engage with peers, discover mentors, and participate in meaningful conversations. In doing so, they become better equipped to navigate the challenges of urology training.

Some of the attendees of the inaugural in-person MUA program outline their experience below.

“After hearing about MUA on X/Twitter, I signed up for the virtual workshop in the summer of 2021. At this point, I had recently decided to pursue urology, so my exposure to the process was limited. However, after the sessions, I came away with valuable perspectives, especially from new interns who had recently matched. Hearing their candid insights about their journeys, navigating ‘sub-Is,’ and the application process was unique to the urology tales I had heard from past applicants. Being invited and attending the inaugural in-person MUA workshop allowed me to feel less isolated as an applicant without a home program. Most attendees were from racial and ethnic backgrounds historically underrepresented in medicine, so seeing prominent physicians who embrace and encourage a diverse working/learning environment reaffirmed that urology is a specialty I want to be a part of. Receiving advice and coordination from international medical, osteopathic, and nontraditional medical graduates gave me solace that there are esteemed faculty truly ‘walking the walk.’ From the [curriculum vitae] structuring and personal statement writing guidance to learning how to dock the da Vinci XI robot arms—this workshop was a worthwhile experience I am grateful to have had before sub-Is started.”

“The saying ‘it takes a village’ also applies to competitive specialties like urology, and MUA has stepped up to fulfill this responsibility. Many medical students, myself included, often feel lost during the transition from medical school to residency, especially without a home program. We are bombarded with logistical questions, and while everyone says mentorship is the key, finding those answers can be challenging. MUA has taken the lead in addressing this issue by organizing its first in-person urology academy. This event provided a judgment-free space for students like me to ask questions, interact with urologists from diverse backgrounds, and gain insights into the complexities of the residency match. We had a great time engaging in activities like playing the board game ‘Operation’ with the da Vinci robot and fantastic dining experiences that encouraged socializing. I am immensely grateful for the experience because it allowed me to connect with exceptional students, residents, and faculty members while refining my approach to the application process.”

“Until I attended MUA, the prospect of successfully applying for urology seemed like an impossible goal. When applying for medical school, students are not considering which schools have affiliated residency programs and what specialties are available for students to rotate through. However, that decision can greatly impact your experience as an applicant. Interacting with the faculty and residents at the University of Michigan made me feel like I have a home program. Not only did the presentations at the MUA answer many of the pertinent questions every fourth-year medical student has, but they also provided a lifeline for the questions that came after I returned home. I have continued to reach out to faculty, residents, and other students I met at MUA for continued advice and mentorship. With the knowledge and encouragement I received at MUA, I feel prepared and certain of my decision to apply to urology.”

Common themes from these participants include the sense of belonging to a community and the importance of ongoing mentorship. Particularly for urology, the significance of in-person networking and mentorship cannot be overstated, especially for those who come from medical schools without urologists on faculty. Through its comprehensive approach, MUA has successfully empowered medical students to embrace the challenges of this specialized field, demonstrating the pivotal role of dedicated programs in shaping the future of urology. MUA and other programs, such as Urology Unbound, the R. Frank Jones Urological Society, and the UReTER Mentorship Program, are just a few of the necessary structured mentorship and community-building programs that help discover, encourage, and guide the next generation of urologists. Due to its positive feedback from faculty and students alike, the University of Michigan will host its second in-person MUA event in the spring 2024.

For medical students or others who wish to learn more about the program, please visit the MUA website (https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/urology/education/medical-students/michigan-urology-academy-mua) for up-to-date details. For mentors interested in participating in MUA, please email mgoh@med.umich.edu.