The formal resident evaluations are held four times a year, shortly after the conclusion of each three-month rotation cycle. The Department’s Urologic Surgery Resident Evaluation Form for each resident is received from each faculty member with whom the resident could be expected to interact in the given rotation.
The Faculty pays particular attention to evidence of unsatisfactory performance or growth. When deficiencies appear, remedial action is evaluated and adopted. The interpretation of these evaluation instruments is made more complete by the fact that the vast majority of the teaching and interaction with the resident’s is carried out by four faculty members. Thus, the evaluation of resident progress relies not only on paper but also on the close one-on-one contact between the faculty and the residents.
Twice a year, the resident meets with the Director of the Program at which time the summarized observations which have been made in the previous six months are related to the resident. The strength and progress as well as the areas of concern are discussed with the resident. The results of the pediatric urology inservice examination are also examined to detect problem areas. At that conference, problems that the resident may have encountered during his/her tenure are elicited with assurance of confidentiality.
In those instances where the quarterly review by the faculty determine an area of significant deficiency, the Director meets on an ad hoc basis with the resident to outline the concern and proposed remedial action.
The final written evaluation of the pediatric urology resident will be based on those factors previously mentioned, including faculty evaluations. The overall evaluation will be based on those areas represented in the resident evaluation form including overall competence, interpersonal skills, clinical competence both on the floor, in the clinic and in the operating room as well as an evaluation of teaching ability and academic accomplishments. The final written evaluation will be reviewed with the pediatric urology resident prior to the completion of the residency year.
The program evaluation will be a continuous process. The adequacy of the curriculum will be assessed through resident performance on inservice evaluations, documented improvement in patient care and operative technique as well as the confidential evaluation of that curriculum and faculty by the pediatric urology resident as well as the general urology residents.
The pediatric urology resident will be able to evaluate the faculty in a relatively confidential way by combining these evaluations with the quarterly evaluations of the general urology residents. As for the general urology program, residents will be asked to submit anonymous comments. Each faculty member receives those comments relating to his/her own performance as well as anonymous ratings of the faculty in general. An annual retreat takes place with all of the general urology residents which would include the pediatric urology resident. This is an open forum for discussing opportunities to change the program, improve the curriculum and to discuss issues in a more relaxed atmosphere.
