Fellowship-Trained or Board-Certified: What is the Difference and Why Should You Care What Certification Your Urologist Has?
When choosing a healthcare provider, there are certain qualifications one looks for. In the general setting in which a doctor will be chosen to perform basic general checkups and relevant screenings, most patients look for a physician who is board-certified. Instinctively, many people will look for the same when they need a specialist. At UT Urology, patients from the Chattanooga area are most likely to see a fellowship-trained urologist. Here’s why that matters.
Board Certification
The American Board of Urology sets the standard for the board-certification of urologists in our country. Physicians who have completed their training and residency requirements within the specialty of urology may apply for board-certification; a two-part examination process through which competency is confirmed.
Fellowship Training
Specializing in any area of medicine means that a physician has completed extensive schooling and advanced training. First, the specialist obtains their initial 4-year college degree just to enter medical school. This post-graduate training continues for another 4 years. Residency, which is usually a five-year program, then offers the physician the advanced training they desire to specialize in their chosen area, such as urology. A select few residency-trained physicians receive an invitation to complete Fellowship program in their area of specialty. Fellowship training is usually a one-year commitment.
What does fellowship training mean for a doctor? Expertise. A fellowship-training program is overseen by leaders in their field, providing the training physician with the opportunity to learn the most advanced diagnostic and treatment protocols available. The added level of expertise and insight translates into a higher standard of patient care.
The Urology team at UT Urology includes fellowship trained specialists across multiple areas of urologic care. Our physicians have received fellowship training in areas including female urology, microsurgery, robotic urology, and men’s health and reproductive urology. The extensive training that our team has undergone enables us to achieve accurate diagnoses and to develop treatment plans that achieve optimal patient outcomes.
We proudly serve patients from the Chattanooga area with professional care in a friendly environment. Contact UT Urology for specialized care in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, Peyronie’s Disease, kidney stones, overactive bladder, and more.
We’re here to help. Call (423) 778-5910 to schedule your visit.