National Assessment of Urology Interest Groups: A Cross-sectional Study Analyzing Current Practices and Challenges.

Objective: To understand the status of medical student-run Urology Interest Groups (UIGs) across the nation and identify their unmet needs.

Methods: Emails for leaders of UIGs were obtained through review of medical school websites and direct contact with institutions affiliated with accredited urologic training programs. A cross-sectional survey was developed using Qualtrics. The survey was created with 21 questions.

Results: Eighty-three UIGs were identified across 116 medical schools, for which contact information was available for 62 programs. Survey response rate was 93.5%. UIGs prioritized fostering interest and promoting opportunities in urology and building community among members. The greatest challenges for UIGs were lack of member engagement and time. Greater than 50% of responses indicated that increased centralization of information on opportunities for medical students interested in urology and increased networking with other UIGs would help them achieve their goals. The majority of respondents (76%) indicated that UIGs do not interact with other UIGs because they are not sure how.

Conclusion: UIGs offer an entry point into the field of urology. Despite their presence at most academic centers and their ubiquitous goal of fostering urologic interest, they traditionally function independently in a non-standardized manner and their support varies vastly across programs. Further resources and involvement in centralized organizations, such as the American Urological Association, are needed to support these programs and improve recruitment into the field of urology given the worsening shortage of urologists in the United States.