In alignment with our hospital mission, we immerse the residents in the care of a diverse underserved patient population and focus on high-quality care/reduction of urologic disease disparities.
Ultimately, the program aspires to produce autonomous and competent surgeons who are life-long learners who will excel in an academic or clinical setting and be leaders as well as models of professionalism in the field of urology.
COOK COUNTY HEALTH
Stroger & Provident Hospitals
Endourology, oncology, robotics, trauma, reconstruction, pediatric urology, and the clinical base experience.
ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE
Christ Medical Center & South Suburban Hospital
General and subspecialty urology, robotics, pelvic medicine, oncology, and community practice.
Apply through ERAS
Prepare and submit your residency application through the AAMC’s MyERAS portal.
Follow the Urology Match
Use the AUA and Society of Academic Urologists for current match dates, signaling guidance, and applicant information.
AUA match timeline ↗
SAU applicant resources ↗
Explore a visiting rotation
Fourth-year medical students can contact the program coordinator about sub-internship availability and required materials.
Five months of urology and seven months of complementary surgical training establish skills in perioperative care, consultation, and basic procedures.
Core rotations
Urology, general surgery, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, interventional radiology, surgical ICU, and trauma surgery.
Clinical focus
Inpatient care, surgical fundamentals, supervised urology call, and the start of scholarly activity.
The approved curriculum pairs progressive operative responsibility with clinical training across Cook County and Advocate Health Care.
PGY–1, PGY–3, and PGY–4 each have 12 one-month blocks. PGY–2 has six two-month blocks. PGY–5 has four three-month assignments covering blocks 1–12. Block numbers show the standard sequence, not named calendar months or an individual resident’s live assignment.
Site 1 · Stroger: John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County
Site 2 · Christ: Christ Medical Center, Advocate Health Care
Site 3 · Provident: Provident Hospital of Cook County
Outpatient percentages are reproduced from the approved manual. “Not specified” preserves an unassigned site or blank outpatient field; it does not mean 0%. South Suburban Hospital is also a participating Advocate site but has no separate numbered assignment in this diagram.
Five months of urology and seven months of complementary surgical training. The year begins with general and pediatric surgery at Christ Medical Center and includes general surgery at Provident.
| Block | Rotation | Site | Outpatient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Surgery | Christ | 25% |
| 2 | Pediatric Surgery | Christ | 10% |
| 3 | Urology | Stroger | 50% |
| 4 | General Surgery | Provident | 50% |
| 5 | Plastic Surgery | Stroger | 50% |
| 6 | Interventional Radiology | Stroger | 0% |
| 7 | Urology | Stroger | 50% |
| 8 | Surgical ICU | Stroger | 0% |
| 9 | Urology | Stroger | 50% |
| 10 | Trauma Surgery | Stroger | 50% |
| 11 | Urology | Stroger | 50% |
| 12 | Urology | Stroger | 50% |
Residents primarily assist in surgery, participate in basic procedures, and manage perioperative care. PGY–1 residents work predominantly under direct supervision and take supervised urology call.
Six two-month rotations, all at Stroger. Repeated endourology and pediatric rotations provide a structured progression alongside an introduction to female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery.
Cystoscopy, bladder anatomy, ureteral orifice identification, catheter techniques, and basic instrumentation.
Retrograde pyelography, guidewire techniques, ureteroscopy, and stent placement.
Transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT), transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), and advanced endoscopic procedures
12 blocks · 1 month each
The first six blocks include five Stroger clinical rotations and one research block. The second six blocks take place at Christ Medical Center.
| Block | Rotation | Site | Outpatient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Endourology III | Stroger | 50% |
| 2 | Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery II | Stroger | 50% |
| 3 | Robotics I | Stroger | 50% |
| 4 | Research | Not specified | Not specified |
| 5 | Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery II | Stroger | 50% |
| 6 | Urologic Oncology I | Stroger | 50% |
| 7 | Urologic Oncology I | Christ | 0% |
| 8 | Scrotal / Genital Surgery | Christ | 0% |
| 9 | Trauma / Intraoperative Consultation | Christ | 0% |
| 10 | Robotics I | Christ | 0% |
| 11 | Robotics II | Christ | 0% |
| 12 | Endourology IV | Christ | 0% |
Residents begin supervising junior residents and students under faculty oversight. Clinical leadership and graduated autonomy develop alongside research and quality-improvement participation.
12 blocks · 1 month each
Ten Stroger-based blocks emphasize oncology, robotics, prosthetics, and pelvic reconstruction. Two elective blocks provide time for approved focused training.
| Block | Rotation | Site | Outpatient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urologic Oncology I | Stroger | 50% |
| 2 | Urologic Oncology II | Stroger | 50% |
| 3 | Urologic Oncology II | Stroger | 50% |
| 4 | Urologic Oncology III | Stroger | 50% |
| 5 | Robotics II | Stroger | 50% |
| 6 | Robotics III | Stroger | 50% |
| 7 | Prosthetics | Stroger | 50% |
| 8 | Elective | Not specified | Not specified |
| 9 | Elective | Not specified | Not specified |
| 10 | Robotics II | Stroger | 50% |
| 11 | Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery II | Stroger | 50% |
| 12 | Robotics III | Stroger | 50% |
Senior residents work with substantial graduated autonomy, with supervision tailored to patient acuity and procedural complexity. Elective sites and assignments require Program Director and Graduate Medical Education approval.
4 assignments · 3 months each
Four three-month assignments: six months at Stroger followed by six months at Christ Medical Center. Chief responsibilities combine complex surgery, service coordination, supervision, and teaching.
| Blocks | Rotation | Site | Outpatient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Robotics III | Stroger | 50% |
| 4-6 | Reconstructive Urology | Stroger | 50% |
| 7-9 | Robotics III | Christ | 15% |
| 10-12 | Urologic Oncology III | Christ | 15% |
Chief residents may act as primary operating surgeons under attending supervision. They have the highest level of graduated autonomy within the program, while faculty oversight continues.
Dr. Courtney Hollowell
Chairman of Urology
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago
Residency: University of Chicago
Fellowship: University of Chicago in Urologic Oncology
Interests: Oncology, Reconstructive Surgery
Dr. Patricia Vidal
Program Director
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
Residency: University of Illinois at Chicago
Interests: Prostate Cancer, Penile Cancer, General Urology
Dr. John Houston
Medical School: Yale University School of Medicine
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine
Fellowship: Northwestern University in Pediatric Urology
Interests: Pediatric Urology, Reconstructive Surgery
Dr. Mark Wille
Medical School: University of Chicago School of Medicine
Residency: University of Chicago
Interests: Endourology, General Urology
Dr. Traci Beck
Medical School: University of Pittsburg Medical College
Residency: University of Chicago
Fellowship: Cedar Sinai in Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery
Interests: Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
Dr. Ryan Dobbs
Medical School: Emory University
Residency: University of Illinois at Chicago
Fellowship: University of Pennsylvania in Minimally Invasive Surgery
Interests: Robotic Surgery, Endourology, Reconstructive Surgery
Dr. Florian Stroie
Medical School: Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Cook County Health
Fellowship: University of South Florida in Andrology and Sexual Medicine
Interests: Men’s Sexual Health
Chief Residents, PGY-5
Alina Gandrabur
Hometown: Queens, NY
Undergrad: Fordham University
Medical School: University of Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine
Interest: Reconstructive surgery, minimally invasive surgery
Hobbies: Traveling, tennis, trying new restaurants, spending time with friends and family
Faris Najdawi
Hometown: Sioux City, IO
Undergrad: University of Iowa
Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: General Urology, Oncology, Reconstructive surgery
Hobbies: Skiing, snowboarding, soccer, basketball
PGY-4
Emily Hahn
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Undergrad: The Ohio State University
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Andrology, Pediatrics
Hobbies: Cooking, teaching her puppy new dog tricks, hiking, spending time with family
Brandon Piyevsky
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Undergrad: Northwestern University
Medical School: Wright State University
Interests: Robotic, Reconstructive Surgery
Hobbies: Cooking, seeing live music, mixology
PGY-3
Mustafa Farooqi
Hometown: Lisle, IL
Undergrad: University of Illinois at Chicago
Medical School: Rosalind Franklin Chicago Medical School
Interests: Robotic Surgery, Urologic Oncology, Men’s Health
Hobbies: Playing basketball, watching Chicago Bears football, spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants
Samuel Lassiter
Hometown: Denver, CO
Undergrad: University of Colorado, Boulder
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Andrology, Robotics/Minimally Invasive Surgery
Hobbies: Rock-climbing, triathlons/marathons, skiing, hiking, knitting
PGY-2
Paul Bojrab
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN
Undergrad: Purdue University Fort Wayne
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Interests: Robotics, reconstructive surgery
Hobbies: Spending time at the lake, video games, trying different foods, traveling
Natalie Mainland
Hometown: Oak Creek, WI
Undergrad: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine
Interests: General urology
Hobbies: Travel, writing, martial arts, trying different soft-serve ice cream
PGY-1
Jacob Malakismail
Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University
Paige Bird
Medical School: Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Class of 2025
– Private Practice in San Diego, CA
– Fellowship in Reconstructive Surgery at Baylor Scott and White Center in Fort Worth, TX
— Hospital employment in Orlando, FL
Class of 2024
– Private Practice in Bronx, NY
– Fellowship: Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery Fellowship at Stanford University
— Hospital employment in Bay Area, CA
Class of 2023
– Private Practice in Phoenix, AZ
– Private Practice in Maui, HI
Class of 2022
– Private Practice in Colorado Spring, CO
– Fellowship in Andrology and Sexual Medicine at University of South Florida — Academic Urology in Chicago, IL
Class of 2021
– Private Practice in Pittsburgh, PA
– Private Practice in Westchester, NY
Class of 2020
– Private Practice in El Paso, TX
– Fellowship in Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery at University of Southern California
— Private Practice in Phoenix, AZ
Class of 2019
– Private Practice in Los Alamitos, CA
– Fellowship in Andrology and Infertility at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN
— Private Practice in Rockford, IL
Class of 2018
– Academic Practice in Bronx, NY
– Private Practice at Kaiser Permanente in Tacoma, WA
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