








































This is an open access article under the terms of a license that permits non-commercial use, provided the original work is properly cited.  
© 2023 The Authors. Société Internationale d'Urologie Journal, published by the Société Internationale d'Urologie, Canada.

Key Words Competing Interests Article Information

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP), bladder calculi, 
cystolitholapaxy, sacrocolpopexy

None declared. Received on July 12, 2022 
Accepted on, July 27, 2022

Soc Int Urol J. 2023;4(1):8–10

DOI: 10.48083/QJEP9763

SIU Training Scholarship: an Unforgettable 
Experience at the Muljibhai Patel Urological  
Hospital, Nadiad-Gujarat, India

Emmanuel Ugbede Oyibo

Urology Unit, Department of Surgery, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Nigeria

Introduction

The Société Internationale d’Urologie (SIU) provides 2 types of scholarships to young urologists around the world, 
especially those from developing countries who obtained their medical doctorate less than 10 years earlier. The scholar 
is given the rare opportunity to train in an SIU-accredited centre located in their own geographical area, if available. 
The scholarship affords the trainee an observational role for a 3- or 6-month period, with a stipend during the stay. 
Although this is a highly competitive process, the SIU has maintained a high sense of commitment to trainees all over 
the world.

In this paper, I share my experiences at one of the most advanced and sought-after training centres—a personal 
account of my 6-month stay as an SIU fellow from Sokoto in North Western Nigeria, at the world-renowned hospital.

Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital(MPUH): SIU-Accredited Centre
MPUH (Figure 1), a premier institute in India devoted entirely to urology and nephrology, was established in 1978 by 
Dr Virendra Desai, an internationally trained urologist, in partnership with philanthropists Jayaramdas Patel, Shri 
Occhavlal Parikh, and Shri Prahlad Patel. Today, MPUH has a 160-bed capacity (up from 25 beds at inception) and 
houses 6 operating theatres, 44 dialysis stations, and urology, nephrology, anesthesiology, radiology, and pathology 
departments, along with a modern clinical laboratory and blood bank. The hospital houses a state-of-the-art teaching 
and training centre, Jayaramdas Patel Academic Centre (JPAC), an ultramodern library of an international standard 
containing a rich array of scholarly materials and internet access. The laparoscopic training skills laboratory is 
also located at the JPAC, with facilities for dry and wet activities and for practice on models under a dedicated and 
committed staff. The activities at the laboratory include transurethral resection, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, and 
robotic and uro-mentor models, such as chicken pyeloplasty, an indigenous innovation from the MPUH team.

Institutional Structure and Clinical Rotation
During my stay at the hospital, the daily academic programmes, OT sessions, and lectures/teaching sessions were 
avenues for the consultants to teach all cadres of trainees. The trainers and trainees were so magnanimous with their 
knowledge and experience, sharing freely when opportunities arose.

The activities at the urology unit commenced daily at 7:30 a.m. (except on Fridays, which began at 8:00 a.m.) 
with teaching rounds by the consultants. The OT started at 9:00 a.m., and there were evening rounds for review of 
patients and preparation of the list for the next day. Activities on Wednesday were preceded by a transplant meet-
ing, with the transplant team—the medical director, administrative staff representative, all urologists, nephrolo-
gists, anaesthetists, and nurses—discussing thoroughly the cases and patients’ progress. The uropathology meetings 
were held on Tuesdays to discuss the histological results of all patients and decide on their further management.  

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UROLOGY AROUND THE WORLD

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On Friday mornings, there were oncology board meet-
ings to discuss the outcome of all oncological cases 
and their line of management vis-à-vis their current 
state. Everyone was expected to attend these meetings. 
Following all these meetings, there was a breakfast at 
the JPAC reception for all doctors; it was never skipped 
once during my stay.

Achievements of the Hospital
The hospital remains one of the most well-attended 
centres under the SIU training programme: 94 doctors 
from the geographic region have trained as consultants, 
and 11 are currently undergoing the same training. 
Several doctors from around the world have had their 
training at the hospital, including those who have 
completed their SIU training. Over 225 international 
and national publications have come from the hospital, 
as well as patents associated with its highly revered 
scholars. Many of its doctors have gone on to provide 
leadership in almost every stratum of the urological 
community both nationally and internationally. Over 
the years, many devices have been innovated at the 
MPUH, including the laparoscopic needle holder to 
avoid wobble, the Nadiad bag (specimen retrieval bag 
for laparoscopy), and the chicken model for training in 
urology (for laparoscopic pyeloplasty).

Procedures Participated in During  
my Fellowship Training
A total of 1840 urological procedures, including renal 
transplantation, were carried out in MPUH during the 
period of my training. Figure 2 shows the distribution. 
The procedures include some of the latest interventions 
in urology. Minor procedures consist of both open and 
endourological.

FIGURE 1.  
Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital, Nadiad-Gujarat, India

Additional Learning Experience  
While in India
The management of the hospital was very kind to allow 
me to spend 5 weeks of my training period at the widely 
recognised Kulkarni Endosurgery and Reconstructive 
Institute in Pune, India (Figure 3), under the tutelage 
of the world-renowned reconstructive surgeon and 
Past President of the SIU, Professor Sanjay B. Kulkarni. 
The reception offered by his wife, Dr Jyotsna Kulkarni 
(laparoscopic genera l surgeon), a nd Dr Pa nkaj 
Joshi(urologist), fellows at the hospital, and the OT staff 
was heartwarming. During my short stay, I participated 
in the following procedures: TURP (4), epididymis cyst 
excision (1), RGP/Rt pyeloplasty (1), PFUD and preputial 
skin tube (4), BMG urethroplasty (23), URS/DJ stenting 
(3), urethroplasty (7), PFUD (6), Preputial skin graft (6), 
hypospadias repair (5), female BMG urethroplasty (3), 
DVIU/Injection Paclitaxel (3), panurethral urethroplasty 
(2) and Orandi flap urethroplasty (1).

Conclusion
My experience in India was my first and best training 
experience outside my country. The facility is the envy 
of many, with the hospital always improving its services 
and imparting knowledge to all who visit. The sense of 
dedication to duty in MPUH by all and sundry is highly 
commendable and admired.

My SIU training at the MPUH was a huge success, 
and I am motivated to return to Nigeria and offer the 
highest standards of urological care to our patients.

Recommendations
The SIU should continue to support and strengthen 
the bond of friendship with the MPUH, as their role 

Image courtesy of Hospital Imaging Department.

9SIUJ.ORG SIUJ  •  Volume 4, Number 1  •  January 2023

SIU Training Scholarship: an Unforgettable Experience at the Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital, Nadiad-Gujarat, India

http://SIUJ.org


in training urologists around the world will remain 
relevant in the years to come. Where possible, there 
should be a high premium on international recognition 
and support from donor agencies, which play an integral 
part in urological education around the world.

Acknowledgements
I am grateful to Professors Ismaila Arzika Mungadi, 
Ngwobia Peter Agwu, Abdullahi Abdulwahab-Ahmed, 
Abubakar Umar and the entire management of the 
Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, 
Sokoto, Nigeria, for their magnanimity and support.  
I want to express my appreciation of Professor Mahesh 
Desai-MRD (Former SIU President), the medical 
director of the MPUH-Col (Dr) AK Rastogi, Mr 
George (Secretary) and Dr Ravindra Sabnis (Chairman, 
Department of Urology), who facilitated my acceptance 
letter and ensured my license was successful despite 
all the hitches. I must also say thank you to all the 
consultants, fellows, and residents at the MPUH.
Appreciation to Ana Acosta at the SIU central office 
in Canada for her immense assistance all through 
my training. Lastly, my sincere appreciation to my 
wife, Modupe, and our lovely children, Joshua, Anna, 
and Deborah, who endured my absence, and to my 
parents and siblings for their sacrifices to ensure I was 
comfortable. God remains to be appreciated immensely 
for giving me life.

FIGURE 2.  
Procedures undertaken at MPUH during my SIU training

N
um

be
r 

of
 P

ro
ce

du
re

s

Categories of Procedures
 

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0
Robotic Renal Transplant AVF Creation Laparoscopic Minor

(Open and 
Endourological)

EndourologicalMajor Open 
Urological

91 94 110 123
196

505

721

FIGURE 3.  
L-R.Professor Sanjay Kulkarni (Past President, 
SIU), Emmanuel Oyibo (SIU scholar), and other 
trainees at Kulkarni Endosurgery Institute and 
Reconstructive Centre, Pune, India

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UROLOGY AROUND THE WORLD

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