When most people hear the words “urology” or “urologists”, they think of the urinary tract. This comes as no surprise since urologists specialize in the urinary tract— but they also specialize in diagnosing and treating ailments that affect the organs around and related to the urinary tract. So this includes the bladder, urethra, ureters, kidneys, and male reproductive organs.
Urologists are medical doctors (MDs) with 10+ years of training, so they are highly qualified professionals who can work in a variety of medical settings. Here are three examples of where you can be employed as a urologist.
Urology Centers
Arguably the most obvious answer to the question “Where does a urologist work?” would be a urology center. Usually, a urology center is where patients are referred if they have problems with their urinary tract and/or related organs and systems. Both men and women of all ages can be referred to a urology center.
Men
More often than not, men are the primary patients at a urology center. This is because urologists also focus on the male reproductive system, whereas obstetricians/gynecologists (OB-GYNs) focus on the female reproductive system. So if your specialty is male infertility, you’ll want to look into employment at a urology center.
Women
Urology centers will also treat women for conditions of the urinary tract, bladder, kidneys, etc., and some will even treat women’s reproductive health issues if they specialize in this area. However, most women will visit their OB-GYN’s office for these issues.
Children
Urologists will also treat urinary-related conditions in children. One of the most common conditions is bedwetting, which is normal in both younger and older children— although there are effective cures for bedwetting in older children.
Private Clinics/Physician Offices
Urologists can also be employed in private medical practices with other physicians— for example, a family practice that sees men, women, and children. Sometimes general physicians have enough knowledge in urology to treat minor conditions but will refer their patients to a urology center for more severe issues.
Outpatient Centers
Some urologists are qualified to perform vasectomies, a form of male birth control. This is considered an outpatient procedure because it usually takes no more than 30 minutes to complete.
OB-GYN Offices
Again, urologists who specialize in the female reproductive system can be employed in an OB-GYN’s office. This may be rare since this aligns more closely with gynecology rather than urology. Still, urologists working in these settings will be consulted if a woman is experiencing issues with her urinary tract.
Pediatric Clinics
As mentioned earlier, many children have issues with bedwetting even as they get older, so it’s not too uncommon for urologists to be employed in a pediatric clinic. However, as with OB-GYN offices, it’s not as common for urologists to work here, rather than in a urology center, outpatient center, or even a hospital.
Hospitals
Finally, hospitals will employ urologists— especially if they’re able to perform surgery. Vasectomies are a type of surgery, but they aren’t as invasive as other types of surgeries that may be performed by a urologist in a hospital setting. Other types of invasive and noninvasive surgeries a urologist may perform include:
- Bladder, kidney, or prostate biopsies
- Cancer-related surgeries (bladder, prostate, etc.)
- Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (breaking up kidney stones)
- Kidney transplants
- Opening blockages
- Repairing damage due to injuries or malformation
- Sling procedure (urinary incontinence)
Urologists, no matter where they’re employed, can also perform a variety of tests to diagnose problems. Examples include x-rays, ultrasounds, and other imaging tests to see the inside of the urinary tract, bladder, and any other organs that may be causing symptoms. They also perform tests on ironed samples, which is why they can be employed in a variety of primary care facilities.
Because urologists can perform a variety of tasks and specialize in more than just the urinary tract, they can be employed in a variety of medical settings. In addition, urologists and other physicians, and healthcare workers are in high demand because healthcare is a necessity all over the world.
If you’re a urologist searching for employment, you have many options. Note that your options may be limited if you specialize in one area of urology, but specialists are still in high demand because very few people can perform the tasks they can. Like many physicians, you may have to consider relocating to find your perfect fit, or work in a similar area. Still, the demand for physicians is higher than ever before, so it’s likely that you’ll find employment.
