Prioritized education. Balanced clinical and research experiences.
The Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Fellowship is an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)–accredited training program offered jointly by the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Urology.
We prioritize fellow education over service. The goal is for fellows to have maximal operating room (OR) exposure while maintaining a balance with clinical rotations and research. Participation in established multidisciplinary conferences and simulation labs enhances collaborative and procedural training.
The fellowship program accepts one fellow per year, and is led by Fellowship Director Allison Polland, MD (urogynecology and urology), and Assistant Fellowship Director Elishia R. McKay, MD (urogynecology and obstetrics and gynecology).
Fellowship curriculum overview
The Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Fellowship is an ACGME-accredited two-year training program for urology residency graduates or a three-year training program for gynecology residency graduates.
The fellowship includes several dedicated rotations designed to provide comprehensive training:
- Urogynecology
- Colorectal surgery and gastrointestinal (GI) motility
- Pelvic floor physical therapy
- Urology (in addition to exposure during time with urogynecology faculty)
- Research
The small size of the program allows for significant flexibility and customization. Fellows are involved in shaping their own schedules and educational priorities, within the framework of ACGME requirements.
Clinical rotations
Fellows will rotate with specific attendings and follow their clinical schedules. For example:
- Dr. Polland’s schedule
- 1 day/week OR
- 3 days/week clinic
- 1 day/week research
- Dr. McKay’s schedule
- 2–3 days/week OR
- 2 days/week clinic
In the clinic fellows perform cystoscopy, Botox injection, bulking agent injection, sacral neuromodulation (SNM), urodynamics, and pessary fittings. In the OR we perform surgery via vaginal, laparoscopic, robotic, and VNOTES (vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery) approaches.
Fellowship research opportunities
Fellows have dedicated research months and have a half day of clinic on research months to maintain clinical skills and a half day of research on clinical months to ensure research projects are progressing. Fellows are expected to develop and present scholarly projects throughout the fellowship. Fellows are also expected to submit abstracts for presentation at national meetings and manuscripts for publication.
Prior research has been clinical and translational, including the following publications.
Select fellowship publications
Buford K … Polland A. Fostering a positive breastfeeding environment for the urologic resident. Urology. 2023. DOI.
Buford K … Polland A. Microhematuria in women presenting for overactive bladder. Curr Urol Rep. 2023. DOI.
Polland A … Gutman RE. STOMp: Sexual function trial of overactive bladder medication. Sex Med. 2023. DOI.
Wang CN … Polland AR. Engaging and empowering female urologists in academic publishing and peer review. Urology. 2023. DOI.
Sandozi A … Polland A. Availability of lactation accommodation information for urology residency programs. Urology. 2022. DOI.
Sandozi A … Polland A. Contemporary clinical research in the management of pelvic organ prolapse in the United States: A systematic review. Urogyn. 2022. DOI.
Polland A … Iglesia CB. Description of vaginal laxity and prolapse and correlation with sexual function (DeVeLoPS). Sex Med. 2021. DOI.
Rabinowitz DE … Polland A. Incidence of significant findings of microhematuria workup in women—What guidelines work best? Urology. 2021. DOI.
Yee A … Polland A. Who is at the podium? Women urologist speakers at recent AUA Meetings. Urology. 2021. DOI.
Polland AR … Iglesia CB. Association between comorbidities and female sexual dysfunction: Findings from the Third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3). Int Urogyn J. 2019. DOI.
How to apply
Interested applicants must complete a urology or gynecology residency and apply to the Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Fellowship through ERAS. The program is filled through the NRMP Match.
