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. 8 SIUJ • Volume 4, Number 1 • January 2023 SIUJ.ORG UROLOGY AROUND THE WORLD http://SIUJ.org 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 10 SIUJ • Volume 4, Number 1 • January 2023 SIUJ.ORG UROLOGY AROUND THE WORLD http://SIUJ.org