title: Bringing excellence into urology: How to improve the future training of residents?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The demographic development of society leads to an increased demand for physicians. Particularly in the surgical disciplines, there is a noticeably declining interest among graduates from medical schools worldwide. For reasons discussed in detail, this applies especially to urology.
  
  
  METHODS
  We indicate possibilities on how to counteract this trend, by improving the training for urology residents. Whereas some major changes for the better have already been introduced into the curricula in some countries, others will have to be further specified in the future. This article gives an overview of the requirements of a specific training programme, from a planning phase to its certification. Aspects such as the selection of candidates, the goals of a good training programme, and an implementation strategy are presented. Essential elements of a urology resident programme for effective coaching, improving medical skills (e.g. in surgical laboratories), knowledge revision, progress evaluation, and retrospection are discussed critically, giving an understanding of the crucial requirements of a good and attractive education in urology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A structured and well organised training programme might attract additional medical students towards urology and contribute significantly to the further development of the speciality. This can be seen as an initiative to counteract the decline of urology as an attractive field of interest to upcoming generations of physicians, and therefore to ensure urological care of the highest quality that patients deserve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Medical Centre Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Arkadiusz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miernik
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sevcenco
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Franklin Emmanuel
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Kuehhas
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Endourology & Stone Services, The Royal London Hospital, Bartshealth NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Noor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buchholz
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Medical Centre Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Medical Centre Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Medical Centre Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schoenthaler
keywords: Dry laboratory; Fellowship; Medical education; Residents; Skills assessment