Urologic Surgery

Urologic surgery residents at PCOM can expect direct patient care responsibilities and a large surgical caseload with a high degree of variety. The program places a strong emphasis on urologic oncology, uro-dynamics and urological reconstruction..

"Our goal is to train future urologists to be excellent surgeons and to stimulate creativity and originality in academic pursuits," says Phillip C. Ginsberg, DO, JD, program director for the urologic surgery residency program at PCOM. "Most intelligent physicians can learn to diagnose and treat illness, but we try to teach residents how to creatively think through the process," he adds. "Another important component of our program is research. We strongly encourage residents to pursue research activities. PCOM residents are requested at many national urologic meetings.

During the first year of the urologic surgery program, the resident will become familiar with urologic surgical instruments and procedures, with operating room techniques and conduct, as well as pre- and post-operative and x-ray techniques and the study of gross and anatomical pathology. The resident will be devoted to urologic surgical scrubs, urologic surgical floor duties and attendance at urological outpatient clinics.

The second year of the program will be spent entirely in the surgical section with concentration on improving skills in the operating room, and with continued guidance and training in surgical diagnosis. In the final year, the resident will be expected to do more teaching of the junior residents, interns and medical students, as well as to pursue and publish research activities.

"Our program is well structured and provides solid training," says Dr. Ginsberg. "The number and quality of our trainers further enhances the overall quality of the program to produce what I believe is the best urologic surgery residency available. There is a close, personal bond between residents and trainers. "We have excellent trainers at all our hospital locations. At the Tenet - MCP Hospital, Laurence Belkoff, DO, as director of urology, takes a strong interest in resident training and in residents personally. At Einstein, a large number of surgeons take part in the training program. With the large volume of quality trainers, residents are introduced to many different ways of attacking and solving a problem," he says.

Phillip C. Ginsberg, DO,MSc

Program Director, Urologic Surgery Residency
Clinical Professor, Surgery, PCOM

Chairman, Division of Urology
Albert Einstein Medical Center

JD, Temple University School of Law, 1995

Specialty
Urologic Surgery

Education/Training

• BS, Villanova University, 1976
• DO, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, 1980
• MSc, PCOM, 1985
• Internship: PCOM, 1980-81
• Residency: General Surgery, Albert Einstein Medical Center, 1981-82; Urologic Surgery,
• PCOM, 1981-85

Certifications/Memberships

• Board certified, Urology
• Diplomate, National Board of Osteopathic Examiners
• Certified, Extra-Corporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy
• Certified, Diagnostic/Therapeutic Laparoscopy
• Member, American College of Osteopathic Surgeons
• Member, American Urologic Association
• Member, American Fertility Society

Awards/Honors
Mead Johnson Research Grant, National Osteopathic Foundation, 1984
Burroughs-Wellcome Research Fellowship Grant, National Osteopathic Foundation, 1983
Intern of the Year, PCOM, 1981
Frederick H. Barth Memorial Award for excellence in broncho-pulmonary disease, PCOM, 1980

Research Interests
Non-surgical treatment of BPH; chemo-prevention for bladder cancer; microwave hyperthermia for the treatment of BPH and prostatitis.

RESIDENT DATA
Urologic Surgery

• Northeastern Hospital
• Albert Einstein - Elkins Park Hospital
• Methodist Hospital, Jefferson Health System
• Albert Einstein Medical Center
• Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Tenet-Hahnemann University Hospital

Salary (2007-2008 Academic Year)

• PGY 4 residents: $47,000
• PGY 5 residents: $48,000
• PGY 6 residents: $48,000

Benefits

• Point of Service or HMO health insurance, including major medical, prescription and dental health coverage for residents and their families during the contract year.
• Professional liability and disability insurance.
• $800 per year continuing medical education stipend for conferences or books.

  Note: PCOM does not provide living quarters for residents.

Academics
Academics include a weekly conference, grand rounds and journal club, presented by visiting professor/moderators every two months, monthly mortality/morbidity conference, monthly multi-disciplinary prostate cancer meeting, textbook club and an American Urologic Association update review every two weeks.

Educational Resources
Residents have access to PCOM's 60,000-volume medical library, on-line access to the Medline database and on-line access to every medical library in Pennsylvania, and computer and computer-assisted learning capabilities.

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