FR-21 THE CREATION OF A UROLOGY TRAINING PROGRAM: ROBERT PRENTISS AND THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY HOSPITAL

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyHistory Forum1 Apr 2018FR-21 THE CREATION OF A UROLOGY TRAINING PROGRAM: ROBERT PRENTISS AND THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY HOSPITAL Unwanaobong Nseyo Unwanaobong NseyoUnwanaobong Nseyo More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2018.02.3041AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Nearly 60 years ago, Dr. Robert J. Prentiss decided to expand urology training at the then San Diego County Hospital by creating a urology residency program. At that time, the formal urology residency training programs were few and far between, spread out across the country at institutions like Johns Hopkins and UC San Francisco. For Dr. Prentiss, starting the residency program was an extension of his commitment to academics in urology although the residency program predated the creation of the department itself. The historical analysis of the development of a stand-alone urology training program highlights the tenets of urology training that are maintained today. METHODS A literature review was conducted in PubMed which identified primary and secondary sources regarding "Robert J Prentiss" and "San Diego County Hospital" and "urology residency" or "urology training." In addition, archival material was available at UC San Diego as well as in the Prentiss Family Papers accessible via the University of Iowa library. These sources were reviewed in order to evaluate the birth of the UC San Diego urology residency in the appropriate historical context. RESULTS By the 1920s, the majority of urology training occurred through an apprenticeship model. It is in this same way that Robert Prentiss obtained his urology training at University of Iowa under Dr. Nathaniel Alcock (instrumental in mapping of prostatic blood supply). Although Prentiss received his urology training within a well-established medical school and department, he chose to start his own training program without any of these elements in place, much less a full-time faculty. Instead Prentiss relied on a community-based model, partnering with the Naval Hospital and local urologists, which were few at the time, to teach his residents. His curriculum which consisted of monthly case presentations by residents for community physicians as well as invited lectureships. CONCLUSIONS Robert J Prentiss is most well-known for his contribution to surgical management of undescended testes, however, his lesser known work establishing a formal residency training program at what is now UC San Diego illustrates the tenets that characterize the Urology program to this day: collegiality with community urologists, a commitment to intellectual curiosity and continued engagement of leaders in the field of urology through the aptly named Robert Prentiss Lecture for a Visiting Professorship. © 2018FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 199Issue 4SApril 2018Page: e1248-e1249 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2018MetricsAuthor Information Unwanaobong Nseyo More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...