CUA/EUREP Exchange Program: Prague 2017

The European Urology Resident Education Program (EUREP) is a weeklong educational course organized by the European Association of Urology (EAU) for over 300 urology residents in their final year of study. Held annually in Prague, the program offers a comprehensive overview of urological topics by distinguished faculty members. This year, I was given the exciting opportunity to participate in the 15th EUREP by the Canadian Urological Association (CUA) as part of the CUA/EUREP Exchange Program.

Every morning began with state-of-the-art didactic lectures, followed by case-based discussions with topics covering the breadth of urology, including oncology, voiding dysfunction, andrology, endourology, functional urology, pediatric urology, trauma, and infections. Teaching revolved around EAU guidelines, as well as the supporting literature to help residents prepare for the European Board of Urology (EBU) examination. I had the unique opportunity to explore differences in practice patterns of my European counterparts, as well as how and why the EAU guidelines differ from CUA guidelines.

Although not mandatory in every European country, most residents were preparing for the EBU to acquire a Fellow of the EBU diploma, a well-established and internationally recognized sign of excellence. Similar to the Canadian Royal College examination, the EBU is broken down into an online written component (100 multiple choice questions over two hours), followed by an oral examination (three clinical cases presented by a team of two urologists over 55 minutes) with the objective of promoting universally high urology training, as well as practice standards throughout Europe by focusing on evidence-based guidelines.

At the EUREP, residents engaged in hands-on training (HOT) workshops. With a focus on laparoscopic and endoscopic skills, the HOT sessions provided an opportunity to train on simulation models under faculty supervision with real-time feedback. At these sessions, I completed standardized and validated examinations, including the European training in Basic Laparoscopic Urological Skills (E-BLUS) and Endoscopic Stone Treatment Step 1 (EST-s1). I was also able to trial novel laparoscopic simulation models, such as the repair of a vena cava injury, closure of a vaginal cuff, and completion of a pyeloplasty anastomosis.

The clear highlight of the EUREP was meeting world-renowned faculty and residents from around the world. The program had well-organized social events, including a welcome ceremony, faculty dinners, and of course, the legendary karaoke night. I shared my personal experiences during residency and made lifelong memories with residents from all over the world. I gained insight into how each resident’s training experience was remarkably varied due to the nature of their country’s patient population, disease pathology, healthcare system, and access to equipment and therapies.

Canada uses a university-based training system in which multiple hospitals are associated with each university; in most parts of Europe, residents practice at a single hospital within a two-tiered healthcare system. Thus, urological education can vary depending on what healthcare and procedures the particular hospital provides. I developed an appreciation of the standardized and comprehensive nature of Canadian training, where we rotate through multiple hospitals to get exposure to the full scope of urology. I am confident that we will continue to see improvements in our training with the future incorporation of competence by design.

Overall, the EUREP was an eye-opening experience, exposing me to the sheer magnitude of urology around the world and stimulating me to explore global pursuits. I was grateful to meet colleagues from across the world who share my passion, and I look forward to continuing to share our future experiences. I highly recommend this CUA exchange program to all Canadian urology residents, and I would like to thank the CUA, EUREP, and fellow European residents for this unforgettable experience. #EUREP17