In this Surgical Crossroads episode of the Let’s Talk Surgery podcast, the focus is on urology, featuring Consultant Neil Fenn and registrar Kamran Hag. Neil, a leader in urological training and minimally invasive surgery in Wales, shares his journey from general surgery to subspecialising in urological oncology, highlighting advancements such as robotic-assisted procedures and his role in curriculum development. Kamran recounts his rapid progression into urology following early exposure during core training and his aspirations in renal cancer.
The episode offers a detailed look at urology’s wide procedural range, the growing importance of robotics, and its reputation for being welcoming and supportive. It encourages early hands-on experience and involvement in professional societies to explore this versatile and rewarding specialty.
Hosted by Greg Ekatah, Sesi Hotonu and Sadie Khwaja produced and directed by Heather Pownall of Heather's Media Hub Ltd.
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Introducing the topic and guests for this episode.
[Greg Ekatah – Kamran Hag] Kam, you graduated from medical school with the world at your feet and decided to be a urologist; why?
[GE – Neil Fenn] Of all the urological operations out there which one is your favourite?
[GE – NF] Is there clarity around robotic versus laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in terms of outcomes for the patients?
[Sadie Khwaja – NF] So let's just talk about how your week is as a urology consultant. What does that look like?
[SK – NF] And you mentioned office urologists, do they exist, or is that still part of the programme?
[SK – NF] Neil, how did urology excite you at the beginning of your life and in medicine? How did you get to urology?
[SK – NF] Neil going back to you, you obviously decided on urology and then what happened after that?
[SK & NF] Reflections on the speed of change in medicine and surgery.
[SK – NF] So coming to present day you're talking about work-life balance; what's that looking like? I mean, what's on-call urology like?
[SK – NF] What’s the urology emergency for you guys?
[SK – NF] What’s the future in urology?
[SK – NF] What keeps you up at night in urology? What’s the scary stuff?
[SK – NF] How do you switch off Neil, if you’ve had a busy week?
[GE – KH] If you were to look back through your urology training programme, what would your overriding reflections be around the training journey for you, from foundation level to where you're now?
[GE – KH] So what would you say to a medical student out there who thinks, how can I get a little bit of urological exposure?
[GE – KH] And given our audience for this podcast series is particularly medical students, early years, and of course, surgical trainees or foundation doctors, just talk us through the training programme per se in terms of urology.
[GE – KH] In certain surgical specialties academia tends to be more heavily weighted both in terms of the entry requirements to ST3 programmes, but also the requirements to CCT. What is it like in urology?
[GE – NF] Neil, I wonder if I can get your views [on this ] as well … Are you seeing that change in terms of people moving away from PhDs and MDs to doing other things that makes them competitive?
[GE – KH] What is life like as a urology register “at the coalface”, as Neil describes it?
[GE – KH] From the point of view of a registrar, what is your exposure to this variety of sub specialisation and how does that play in terms of deciding what you end up doing both at fellowship level and as a consultant job?
[SH – KH & NF] I'd like to ask you – urology, is it one that welcomes people of all backgrounds, or is it quite limited in its demographic?
[GE – KH] What are some of the drawbacks, or the not so good parts, of being a urology registrar?
[GE – KH] And finally, we've got to talk about COVID … What has life been like as a urology registrar through the pandemic?
[SH – NF & KH] Do you have any final words of advice for our listeners? Any words of wisdom for anyone who is wanting to do urology?
[SK – NF] Are there any urology societies with junior members?
