Message from Program Director
On behalf of the faculty of the Department of Urology of New York Medical College/Westchester Medical Center, we welcome you to our candidate evaluation process where you can learn about our department, its goals, and its missions for education and training.
The great Columbia University classicist, Moses Hadas, once described how Greece and Hellenistic societies changed subsequent cultures. He described processes of “conscious imitation” and “unconscious assimilation,” which I believe also lay as seminal foundations of surgical learning. After all, we hope that our faculty, our educational program, and surgical training will provide fertile ground for “conscious imitation” as you develop your own career, expertise, and pathway. On the other hand, we believe that an environment of inquiry, our outstanding hospital staff and services, our dedication to our patients, and the priority we place on reciprocal and mutual respect, will become unconsciously assimilated as part of your professional development. Our training program is a mere five years; your career may be 50. While our time together may be short, we believe it is the beginning of a lifelong process of learning and professional growth.
The match process is certainly one that generates anticipation about beginning such a career, but we also understand that the match process, its interviews, and commitments are also associated with considerable expense and anxiety. We hope that we can still provide you with an outstanding, holistic, and informative experience using virtual, web-based information. Our goal as faculty and mentors is to provide you with the support, guidance, and information required to make the most of your experience in a fulfilling, healthy, and enjoyable learning environment.
John L. Phillips, MD, FACS
Urology Residency Program Director
Professor Department of Urology
New York Medical College
19 Skyline Drive 1S-B45a
Phone: 914.493.7684 or 914.594.2440
Fax: 914.594.2431
Email: John_Phillips@nymc.edu
Overview and Curriculum
The Urology Residency Training Program at Westchester Medical Center is a structured five-year post graduate curriculum designed to produce a practitioner of the highest caliber who espouses the professionalism, rigor, and tenets of the ideal physician in the urologic domain, promoting excellence in their health care environment, in the field of urology, and in their community. The program accepts two residents a year through the American Urological Association (AUA) match who have fulfilled all the necessary medical school requirements leading to the achievement of a Medical Degree (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO). The sponsoring site of the program is Westchester Medical Center and two additional "participating" sites: Metropolitan Hospital Center (MHC) and Lincoln Medical Center (LMC), which provide unique learning experiences.
Each rotation is designed to occur at specific points along the educational pathway and provide surgical training consummate with certain residency years. All rotations are designed so that a junior and senior resident are assigned together in rotations to ensure each having a unique role, exposure, and experience at each site. Rotations on the Urology service are typically three months in duration. A research rotation is three months and is an expected component of urology training. Residents are paired with a clinical or basic science mentor to provide guidance in manuscript publication. Publication is strongly encouraged. Support is provided to the residents for attendance at the national meeting of the AUA when a resident’s abstract is accepted for presentation at the meeting or other domestic meeting of the resident’s choice.
The Program is fully accredited by the ACGME. Resident feedback, input, and design are solicited to optimize the residency educational training environment. Four one-week vacations are provided each year. Benefits are provided through Westchester Medical Center.
Over the course of the five-year program, residents should expect to:
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Participate in safe, compassionate, and cost-effective patient care under a level of supervision commensurate with their achieved cognitive and procedural skills
- Participate fully in the educational activities of their program and, as required, assume responsibility for teaching and supervising other residents and students
- Fulfill the educational requirements of the training program established by the American Board of Urology (ABU) to become candidates for the ABU certifying exam.
- Demonstrate specific urology knowledge, skills and attitudes, including:
- Patient and family-centered care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health.
- Medical knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and cognate (e.g., epidemiological and social-behavioral) sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care.
- Practice-based learning and improvement that involves investigation and evaluation of their own patient care, appraisal and assimilation of scientific evidence, and improvements in patient care.
- Interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, their families, and other health professionals.
- Professionalism, as manifested through a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population.
- Systems-based practice, as manifested by actions that demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system for health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value.
- Participate in institutional programs and activities involving physicians, and adhere to applicable laws, regulations, rules, policies, procedures and established practices of the sponsoring institution and all other institutions to which they are assigned.
- Participate in institutional committees and councils, especially those related to patient care review activities and residency education.
- Learn and apply reasonable cost-containment measures in the provision of patient care.
Program Components
Urology Residency Training
Five Years of Clinical Urology - Categorical Program
The first level of training as a Program Level 1 (PL1) resident will be in General Surgery for six months and Urology for six months. Our program is approved for a complement of two residents per year.
Block Schedule by Level
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PL1
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PL2
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PL3
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PL4
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PL5
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URO (6 Blocks)
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MET
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WMC RESEARCH
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WMC PEDS
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WMC
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SURGERY
(6 blocks)
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LHC
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LHC
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MET
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HUMC
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MET
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WMC RESEARCH
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HUMC
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WMC
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WMC
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LHC
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MET
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LHC
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4 - one (1) week block vacations per year
Sponsoring Institution
Westchester Medical Center (WMC)
The primary site exposes the Urology year-1 (PL2) and Urology year-4 (PL5) resident to advanced trauma, transplantation, robotic surgery, pediatric urology, and advanced endourology. The primary site is also the location for weekly Grand Rounds, didactic conferences, semi-annual evaluations, workshops and surgical skills labs, meetings with mentors, and the basic science research lab.
Metropolitan Hospital Center (MHC)
MHC serves as the major participating site for the Urology year-1 (PL2) and -3 (PL4) resident to learn excellent systems-based care in a busy urban and New York State DOH-designated ‘underserved’ medical environment. The residents are trained in robotics, urodynamics, ultrasound and prostate biopsy, and have their first exposure as a first and second assist in major "open" robotic and endourologic procedures.
Lincoln Hospital Center (LHC)
LHC serves as a participating site for the Urology year-2 (PL3) and -4 resident (PL5) and where they are exposed to open cancer surgery, robotic and laparoscopic techniques, and major pelvic reconstruction. The rotation blocks are organized such that the Urology year-2 resident has a three-month experience with the Urology-4 resident and a second three-month experience as the only urology resident at LHC. The schedule provides the unique opportunity for the 'junior' resident to be the ‘first assist’ resident under attending supervision.
Didactic Experience
The residency reserves Thursday mornings for formal academic didactic exercises in a Grand Rounds environment. All residents are expected to attend Grand Rounds in person except where personal or clinical extenuating circumstances preclude such attendance. Conferences allow Zoom capability for residents to attend if unable to commute to the participating site. The year’s Grand Rounds calendar follows a 2-year schedule in which all 16 Core Curriculum domains of the American Urology Association Educational Program are covered. A one-hour lecture by Faculty or invited speaker is arranged; PowerPoints used are saved on the Departmental shared drive. Grand Rounds is also the forum for the presentation of retrospective or prospective cases by Faculty or residents followed by a domain- or disease-centered synopsis of the known literature on the subject. A monthly Morbidity and Mortality Conference, with mandatory attendance by all Faculty, is held where Quality and Improvement (QI) opportunities are identified for further research. The ‘5th Thursdays’ are devoted to basic science and resident research updates and presentations. Monday morning ‘Breakfast Club’ is used for the discussion of AUA updates under supervision of the Department Chair.
Program Level of Training
PGY-1/PL1
The resident will rotate through a variety of General Surgery rotations with the expectation of learning the perioperative management of complex surgical patients. Typical rotations include: Trauma, ICU, Surgical Oncology, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Vascular Surgery, General Surgery, Transplant Surgery, and Urology.
PGY-2/PL2
The resident will spend six months each as the junior resident at Westchester Medical Center and Metropolitan Hospital Center. At Metropolitan Hospital the resident learns to manage a busy inner-city clinic and develop the knowledge base to perform appropriate preoperative evaluation of presenting symptoms and postoperative follow up. The clinic has its own dedicated cystoscopy, urodynamics, and prostate biopsy procedure rooms. At Westchester Medical Center the junior resident is actively involved in working up complex consultations and gains significant exposure to ureteroscopy, inguinal/scrotal cases, and assisting in robotic surgeries. All PL2 residents are sent by the program to the AUA Basic Sciences Course.
PGY-3/PL3
The resident spends three months at Lincoln Hospital as an Acting Chief Resident learning to run a service. During this rotation the resident is primarily in the operating room gaining significant exposure to open and endoscopic surgical techniques as either first assistant or surgeon for robotic radical prostatectomy, nephrectomy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, slings, sphincters, and penile prosthesis. A three-month rotation in the laboratory setting helps to begin a research interest and topic for publication. A second, three-month rotation at Lincoln Hospital provides a unique opportunity for the Urology-2 resident to work with the Urology-4 resident. The goal of this second block is to provide a venue for soon-to-be graduates to have dedicated time to take junior residents through a variety of cases. An additional three months is allotted for additional research, clinical float, or, if arranged at least six months ahead of time, an outside rotation at a recognized training center. Mentors are provided to allow for a productive experience in both clinical and basic science (bench and animal) projects.
PGY-4/PL4
Six months are spent at Metropolitan Hospital as Chief Resident. As Chief Resident, the resident is expected to be exposed to all areas of urology. The Chief Resident is expected to oversee the service, overseeing the management of each case and discussing surgical modalities or alternatives with the patient and faculty in order to provide the optimal care. Three months are dedicated to one of the largest pediatric urology practices in the country. Three months of the PL4 year is devoted to a rotation at LMC as the senior resident. The pediatric urology rotator will gain high volume experience in all areas of pediatric urology from hypospadias to robotics to exstrophy. All PL4 residents are sent by the program to the entirety of the American Urological Association Annual Meeting to allow networking for potential post graduate career development or plans.
PGY-5/PL5
Six months are spent at Westchester Medical Center as Chief Resident. The Chief Resident is expected to coordinate educational conferences, teach junior residents in addition to gaining significant exposure as the surgeon to complex open, laparoscopic/robotic and endourology cases. Six months are spent at Lincoln Hospital Center with the expectation of taking the junior resident through cases involving all areas of urology from vasectomy to prostatectomy.
Program Outcomes
The program has had a 100 percent board pass rate since 2002 producing 27 of 27 residents who became board-certified by the American Board of Urology (ABU). Of the 27 residents, 13 have had additional training in fellowships. Since the graduating class of 2000, residents have practiced in 14 states including: California (7); Colorado (1); Connecticut (1); Illinois (2); Massachusetts (1); Minnesota (1); Nevada (1); New Jersey (4); New York (11); Pennsylvania (2); North Carolina (1); South Carolina (1); Texas (2); Utah (1).
Two residents are in full-time faculty positions, 24 in full-time community or non-teaching positions, and one in part time academic/teaching positions.
Graduates have written or co-written: 43 peer reviewed publications; 14 book chapters; seven publications in non-print media; two nationally distributed surgical videos; for the national meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA), 62 meeting abstracts and videos; and 13 manuscripts at 53 national and international meetings since 2008.
Three graduates hold current leadership positions in the American Urologic Association and one graduate is a chairman of a urology residency program.
Current/Past Residents
Current Residents
David Ambinder, MD (PL5 – PGY5)
BS: Touro College, Queens
MD: University of Maryland, School of Medicine
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2025
Evan Spencer, MD (PL5 – PGY5)
BS: Pennsylvania State University
MD: Geisinger Commonwealth, School of Medicine
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2025
Jack Barnett, MD (PL4 – PGY4)
MD: SUNY Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2026
Kelvin Zheng, MD (PL4 – PGY4)
MD: New York Medical College
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2026
Daniel Bassily, MD (PL-3 PGY2)
MD: New York Medical College
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2027
Charles White, MD (PL3 – PGY3)
MD: New York Medical College
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2027
Kevin Alter, MD (PL2 – PGY3)
MD: Rush Medical College of Rush University
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2028
Grigori Vaserman, MD (PL2 – PGY2)
MD: New York Medical College
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2028
Maytal Babajanian, MD (PL1 – PGY1)
MD: New York Medical College
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2028
Ryan Lubarsky, MD (PL1 – PGY1)
MD: New York Medical College
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 30, 2028
Program Alumni as of June 30, 2024
2024 Graduates
Eitan Glucksman, MD
Vincent Wong, MD
2023 Graduates
Akhil Saji, MD
Rogerio Huang, MD
2022 Graduates
Ashley Dixon, MD
Jason Elyaguov, MD
2021 Graduates
Feng Guo, MD
Nikhil Gopal, MD
Sameh Naim, MD (Endourology Fellow)
2020 Graduates
Dr. Michael Stern
Dr. Michael Zhang
2019 Graduates
Dr. Cristina Fox
Dr. Neel Patel
2018 Graduates
Dr. Joel Hillelsohn
Dr. Roger Yau
2017 Graduates
Dr. Jonathan Bloom
Dr. Mark Ferretti
2016 Graduates
Dr. Amul Bhalodi
Dr. Vladimir Valera Romero
2015 Graduates
Dr. Dawud Lankford
Dr. Eric Moskowitz
2014 Graduates
Dr. Derek Prabharasuth
Dr. Drew Freilich
2013 Graduates
Dr. Erin Grantham
Dr. Bobby Alexander
2012 Graduates
Dr. Andrew Fishman
Dr. Alexandria Lynch
2011 Graduates
Dr. Emad Rizkala
Dr. David Green
2010 Graduates
Dr. Cathy Alonzo
Dr. Srinivas Rajamahanty
2009 Graduates
Dr. Brandon Louie
Dr. Paul Pyo
2008 Graduates
Dr. Michael Hoffman
Dr. Mauricio Davalos
2007 Graduates
Dr. Paul Grewall
Dr. Robert Simon
2006 Graduates
Dr. Weiwei Xu
Dr. Keith Tracy
2005 Graduates
Dr. Lori Landau Dyer
Dr. Gary Blake Johnson
2004 Graduates
Dr. Shahrad Aynehchi
Dr. Vance Moss
2003 Graduates
Dr. Daniele Dolin
Dr. Alexander (Alec) Schwartz
Dr. Janaka (John) Hettiarachchi
2002 Graduates
Dr. Sophia Drinis
Dr. Dean Tortorelis
Dr. Michael Finkelstein
2001 Graduates
Dr. Farshad Nowzari
Dr. Albert Samadi
Dr. Sean Fullerton
2000 Graduates
Dr. Dan Milanesa
Dr. John Won
Dr. Scott Davidson
1999 Graduates
Dr. John Chapman
Dr. Antoinette Berkeley
Dr. James Cherry
1998 Graduates
Dr. Steve Gallo
Dr. John Mordente
Dr. Eric Darby
1997 Graduates
Dr. Suelyn Hall
Dr. Louis Faiella, III
Dr. Melanie Amster
1996 Graduates
Dr. Timothy Schneidau
Dr. Mark Kolligian
Dr. Barry Lifson
1995 Graduates
Dr. Timothy Averch
Dr. Louis D'Agostino
Dr. Timothy Duffin
1994 Graduates
Dr. Nick Stroumbakis
Dr. Bennett Scaglia
Dr. Mariano Tolentino
1993 Graduates
Dr. Mark Christ
Dr. Kathleen Latino
Dr. Daniel Melamed
1992 Graduates
Dr. Jeffrey Proctor
Dr. Mitchell Efros
Dr. Thomas Spears
1991 Graduates
Dr. Joseph Camilleri, Jr.
Dr. Emilio Lastarria
Dr. Joel Fischer
1990 Graduates
Dr. James Cord
Dr. Richard Evans
Dr. David Schwalb
1989 Graduates
Dr. Howard Goldberg
Dr. Gene Braga
Dr. Israel Franco
1988 Graduates
Dr. Anthony Fiore, Jr.
Dr. Andrew Simon
Dr. Jack Bruder
1987 Graduates
Dr. Jose Hernandez
Dr. Michael Budin
Dr. William Tuong
1986 Graduates
Dr. Anthony Arciola
Dr. Lawrence Sigler
Dr. Ashok Bhalodi
1985 Graduates
Dr. Bruce Houman
Dr. Hany Oghia
1984 Graduates
Dr. Robert Calciano
Dr. Naeem Samad
Dr. Nabil Sayegh
1983 Graduates
Dr. Sobhy Shehata
Dr. Bharat Shah
Dr. Alexander Bernath
1982 Graduates
Dr. Nayel Sayegh
Dr. Ramarao Denduluri
Dr. Parikshit Pandya
1981 Graduates
Dr. Leonard Silber
Dr. Barry Sonkin
Dr. Varon Alexander Garcias
1980 Graduates
Dr. Stanley Hartanowitz
Dr. Muhammad Choudhury
Dr. David Nachamie
1979 Graduates
Dr. George Klafter
Dr. Mark Vine
1978 Graduates
Dr. Bechara Tabet
Dr. Naeem Pervaiz
1977 Graduates
Dr. Francisco Recalde
Dr. Robert Berson
1976 Graduates
Dr. Farsaii Asghar
Dr. Iradj Ansari
Dr. Steven Katz
Dr. Louis Gennarelli
1975 Graduates
Dr. Peter Albert
Dr. Donald Rudick
1974 Graduates
Dr. Sheldon Kappor
Dr. Dennis Nugent
Dr. Elliot Louis Cohen
1973 Graduates
Dr. Paul Ziegler
Dr. Sheldon Rosenthal
1971 Graduates
Dr. Martin Reichgut
Dr. Oscar DeLaPaz
Dr. Donald Balaban
1970 Graduates
Dr. Peter Livingston
Dr. Jack Vitenson
1969 Graduates
Dr. Ira Raff
Dr. Raymond Craven
1968 Graduates
Dr. Noriyoshi Miyazaki
Dr. David Minninberg
Dr. Julio Castellanos
1967 Graduates
Dr. Mark St. Pierre
Dr. Nader Sadoughi
1966 Graduates
Dr. Robert Green
Dr. Joseph Rapuano
1965 Graduates
Dr. James Stewart
Dr. Allesandro Colalillo
Dr. Joseph Karp
1964 Graduates
Dr. Stuart Kass
Dr. Aldo Mazzarino
1963 Graduates
Dr. Joseph Addonizio
Dr. Noriyoshi Miyazaki
1962 Graduates
Dr. Camille Mallouh
1961 Graduates
Dr. Terence Fitzpatrick
Dr. Roberto Lopez-Mendoza
1960 Graduates
Dr. Lester Felton
1959 Graduates
Dr. David Argiriou
Dr. Lowell Kane
Dr. Vincent Palumbo
1955 Graduates
Dr. Paul Tucci
1945 Graduates
Dr. German Bouchard
1944 Graduates
Dr. Joseph Andronaco
Dr. Harry Bergan
1942 Graduates
Dr. Frances Beneventi
1941 Graduates
Dr. Samuel Wilkins
1940 Graduates
Dr. Jesse Hymes
1938 Graduates
Dr. Alfred Goldfarb
1937 Graduates
Dr. Jesse Keshin
1936 Graduates
Dr. Richard Paneblanco
1934 Graduates
Dr. George Nagamatsu
1930 Graduates
Dr. David Lieberman
How to Apply
Urology Match Information
WMC Urology Open Houses
TBD 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – via zoom.
Please email Cindy Christiano to receive link.
Match Timeline
- Programs Start Receiving Applications via ERAS:
September 25, 2024
- Preference Signals Delivered to Programs:
September 25, 2024
- Interview Offers:
October 25, 2024
- Applicants Reply to Offers:
October 28, 2024
- “Flush” Date:
October 29, 2024
- Rank List Begins:
November 21, 2024
- Rank List Deadline:
January 6, 2025
- Match Date:
February 3, 2025
Interviews
Invited applicants will be offered a comprehensive interview via the video conferencing platform, Zoom. The interview will allow the applicant to meet individually with each of the faculty members, with the residents, and, in the meeting room, with other applicants if desired. The interview process is intended to allow the applicant to learn as much as possible of the residency training program, our department, and our mission, while minimizing the time and effort, hassle and economy required of in-person interviews during the COVID-19 era.
Interview Dates For WMC/NYMC Urology
- Thursday, October 31, 2024, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Thursday, November 7, 2024, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The prospective applicant must submit the following via ERAS: AMC – ERAS
- Application
- United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) certification
- Three Letters of Recommendations
- Medical Score Grades – Transcripts Personal Statement
- Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
- Program Requirements
- USMLE test scores for USMLE Step 1 and 2 for consideration of interview is:
- Step 1: Pass first attempt.
- Step 2: Must Pass Step 2 at graduation from Medical School. The passing of each step of USMLE should be done on the first attempt.
- Research experience is helpful and considered important.
- The candidate must possess strong motivation and commitment to Urology as evidenced by background education, personal statement, and letters of recommendation.
- The candidate must have personality traits such as emotional maturity, warmth, and compassion as well as good communication skills.
Useful Resources and Information
AUA – Residency Website
Society of Academic Urologists