How to Become An Urologist In South Africa

An Urologist :They are physicians who specialize in the genitourinary tract the kidneys, urinary bladder, adrenal glands, urethra and male reproductive organs and male fertility. Urologists are also trained in the surgical and medical treatment of diseases that affect these organs.

Why would you need to see a urologist?

A urologist might treat bladder problems, urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder and kidney cancer, kidney blockage, and kidney stones. Men might also see them for: Erectile dysfunction (ED)

When should I see a urologist?

When to seek help from a Urologist? 1) Urinary difficulties: This could be frequent urination during day or night time, burning or pain while urinating, difficulty in initiation of urine, poor stream of urine or a sensation of incomplete voiding.

Can I go straight to a urologist?

You Generally Need a Referral to See a Urologist

Patients may also choose to skip their GP and come direct to a specialist. In most cases other than acute emergencies (ie: kidney stones, testicular torsion, priapism), a direct referral may be necessary.

How to Become An Urologist In South Africa

Career Description

Urologist is a Medical Doctor responsible for treating patients with disorders of the genitourinary tract, adrenal glands, female pelvic floor muscles and male reproductive system. Many Urologists work in private practice as sole owners or as part of a group practice. Some Urologists will also work in hospital or educational settings alongside other Surgeons.

These specialty Physicians will examine patients, and formulate diagnosis and treatment plans. Necessary interventions may include both minimally invasive office procedures or major surgical operations.

Interventions performed by Urologists include removing a blockage within the urinary tract, treatment of a recurrent bladder infection, taking a post-void residual urine test and performing uro-dynamic testing.

In addition to interventions, all Urologists must maintain detailed health records, participate in departmental activities and potentially manage the business aspects of their practice. Do note that there is are significant variations in clinical practice within this career.

Education & Training

To become a Urologist, learners must complete a Bachelor’s Degree in a related-science, followed by a Medical Degree (MD) from an accredited medical school (four years). The first two years of Medical School consist of a mixture of classroom and lab time.

During this time students learn how to examine a patient after gaining an appreciation for the basics in core topics like anatomy, chemistry, pathology and pharmacology. The final year involves the direct experience of patient care through clinical rotations. At this point, students will also gain insight into the many different sub-specialties involved in healthcare.

After obtaining a medical degree, graduates must pass the SA Medical Licensing Examination to become a Registered Doctor. They must then also complete a residency in urology to formally adopt the specialty practice.

A residency involves one to two years of supervised general surgery rounds at a hospital followed by three to four years of urology-specific rounds. A fellowship, which is a one to two year specialty training program, may also be pursued following a residency to obtain even higher credentialing.

“I spent 4 years completing my undergraduate degree, four years in medical school, five years as a urology resident and one to two years completing a fellowship,” Thrill explained. “In order to match in urology, you need to be near the top of your medical school class. My residency looked at 250 applications and only took two residents.”

Clearly the competition is tough and the educational requirements extreme, so only those with a true passion for the urology field should consider this challenging career in healthcare.

Advancement

The most effective way to advance in a career as a Genitourinary Physician is to open a private practice. All Urologists must consistently pursue continued education to ensure that they are up-to-date on the latest technological and medical advancements. Therefore, continued education does not necessarily guarantee advancement, but rather helps a Urologist maintain their knowledge and skill set.

“To advance in a career as a Urologist, I would suggest first completing a fellowship and starting a residency program,” Thrill advised. “Doing research in an office or hospital can also help, as would volunteering to serve on hospital committees. Professionals should also consider joining state and local societies.”

Experience & Skills

To be successful as a Urologist, professionals must possess strong attention-to-detail and have the ability to problem solve. These skills assist a Urologist when they are listening to patient concerns, conducting an examination and determining a diagnosis.

“Urologists need to have a ‘presence’ when dealing with patients and families,” Thrill explained. “They need to be able to relate to babies as well as 100-year-olds. They must also be able to articulate short-term and long-term treatment plans to challenging patients.”

Personality

First-and-foremost, a professional who is determined to become a Urologist should be passionate about learning. This is because advancements in medicine and technology are constantly impacting practice in this field.

As continued education is required in this career, a love of learning becomes increasingly important in this role. Furthermore, Urologists need to be able to offer compassion and make patients feel comfortable – even when talking about “embarrassing” topics.

“Urology is an ‘intimate’ specialty, so this surgical career requires empathy and compassion,” Thrill stressed. “Being outgoing and funny also helps when relating to patients.”

Other careers in surgery include that of an Anesthesiologist, Podiatrist, Surgical Assistant and Surgical Technologist.

Lifestyle

Employment as a Urologist can mean long and irregular work hours. However, these professionals normally work only two to four days per week. Genitourinary Physicians typically see between 50 and 100 patients per week.

Aside from regularly seeing patients, a Urologist’s workday will vary greatly depending upon whether they are scheduled to be in the operating room. Days spent in the operating room tend to be longer.

“Usually half of my day is spent in surgery, and the other half in the office,” Thrill said. “Sometimes I will be given big cases, and other times perform office procedures. Occasionally I will also take emergency room calls.”

Thrill explained that during any given week, he may also be called to the emergency room to treat a number of serious conditions. Treatments can involve placing catheters for blocked urinary tracts, treating testicular torsions or helping patients with kidney stones.

“A lot of consults can wait until the end of the day or next day for a procedure,” Thrill noted.

Employment

Employment for surgeons, such as Urologists, is expected to grow 7 percent over the next decade. The majority of Urologists are employed within clinics, outpatient centers or hospitals, or have their own private practice. However, Urologists can also find employment through academic settings or research facilities.

“There are so many opportunities for employment in urology right now. I would suggest that a professional choose their practice location wisely,” Thrill recommended. “There are more openings in rural areas than in places like San Diego or Hawaii.”

Earnings

A career as a Urologist is one of the most lucrative medical specialties, and the median annual wage in this career is R 3865763.94 Most commonly, a Urologist will make up to R 6486719.37per year.

“In healthcare, there are only a few specialties that pay more than urology,” Thrill explained. “These specialties would include orthopedic, cardiac, dermatology and some oncology careers.”

How many years does it take to be a urologist in South Africa?

The programme extends over five years.

How do I become a urologist in South Africa?

Registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is mandatory for this occupation.

MBChB degree at UP, UCT, UFS, Wits, US, UL, UKZN:

Theoretical training: 6 years.

Student internship: 1 year.

Internship: 2 years.

Community Service: 1 year at an approved medical faculty.

Where can I study Urology in South Africa?

Welcome to the University of Pretoria’s Department of Urology

The Department of Urology at the University of Pretoria is involved in the training of both under- and postgraduate students.

Research in the Department of Urology is important with emphasis on four major areas:

How much do urologist earn in South Africa?

R2,692,666 (ZAR)/yr.

Which type of doctor gets paid the most in South Africa?

Trauma Surgeon

Trauma surgeons are some of the biggest contributors to society and to the advancement of the medical field. Trauma surgeons are one of the highest paying jobs in South Africa, typically earn around 111,000 ZAR.

What is the highest paying job in the medical field in South Africa?

Specialist doctors

Specialist doctors are currently the highest-earning professionals. They are highly skilled individuals who usually specialize in a particular medical field. These can include Neurology, Cardiology and Urology.

What is the fastest growing career in the medical field In South Africa?

Nurse practitioners, occupational therapy assistants and physical therapy assistants top the list for the fastest growing health-care jobs of the next decade, with home health and personal care aides following close behind.