FRANCE

General Information - Demographics

France has a population of 60 million inhabitants and is a member of both the European Union (EU) and the European Board of Urology (EBU). There are 1100 Urologists (1 urologist per approx. 54,545 inhabitants) and 250 Residents (1 resident per approx. 4 urologists). 

National Urological Society & Residents Organization

National Communication Officers

Name	Dr. Francis Dubosq	Dr. Stéphane Larré
Email	dubosq.francis@libertysurf.fr	stephane.larre@laposte.net
Address		7 Place de Rungis 75013 PARIS FRANCE
Tel. No.		+33 8 711 33 712
Fax. No.		+33 1 53 80 34 04
Cell. No.		+33 6 98 14 38 63
Skype UserName		stephanelarre
Status	Not defined	Not defined

Urological training

After 6 years of medical studies, there is a national test including all the medical and surgical subjects. Depending of your rank at this exam, you will be able to choose different residencies. The most popular are surgery and medicine, but you can also choose biology, psychiatry, public health, and so on. If you want to become an urologist, you need to enter in the surgery residency. You will then become what we call “Interne” witch could be translated by “Resident” or “Specialist Registrar”.
This residency (“internat” in french) includes 10 semesters, who must be devoted to general surgery (orthopedic and visceral surgery) for 4 semesters and to urology for at least 4 semesters. It is advised but not mandatory to make one semester of vascular surgery and one semester of pediatrics surgery.
After the residency, there is an exam and the writing of a thesis to be graduate to work as a general surgeon wherever you want. The diploma is called DES of general surgery (Diplome d’Etude Spécialisé = Specialised Studies Diploma). Nonetheless, hardly all residents continue with two years at the hospital to improve their practice and specialize in a surgery, urology for example. You will then be called “Chef de Clinique” witch could be translated by “Chief Resident” or “Senior Registrar” or “Hospital Assistant”. After one or two years, you will be graduated as an urologist. You need for that to write another thesis, to pass an oral examination, and also to publish as first author in an urological review. The diploma is called DESC of Urology (Diplome d’Etude Spécialisé Complémentaire = Additional DES).
In addition to practical and theorical practice at the hospital, there are national education meetings in urology of two days three times a year during 3 years. This is called ECU (Enseignement Complémentaire d’Urologie = Additional Education in Urology). Each session has a different subject, for example “Prostate Cancer” or “Urinary Incontinence”. The teachers are changing every session, so they are always recognised specialists in the treated subjects. ECU was created more than 10 years ago, and is very popular for residents and teachers. The annual EUREP meeting in Prague witch was created in 2003 was prompted by the ECU experience and success, to perform an european educational program in urology has it was done in France.
At last, you can access to university diploma (DIU or DU) to increase your knowledge in satellites subjects like ultrasounds, oncology, laparoscopy, urodynamics, lithiasis, and so on.

Career prospects

There are two options: public or private career.
At the public hospital, you can become a senior urologist. This is called PH (Praticien des Hopitaux). It is like “consultant” in england. You are paid by government and you have a progressive increase of your salary with security of employment. You have more free time than in private career, and an easier access to scientific studies.
You can also access to an university career, becoming MCU (Maitre de Conférence Universitaire = senior lecturer) or PU (Professeur des Universités = professor). You will need to have a Master of Philosophy (we call it DEA “Diplome d’Etude Approfondie”) and then a science Thesis to become PhD. You also will have to spend one year in foreign country for research. International scientific publications are mandatory. It is a long way, but it is the best option if you want to gather clinical activity, research and teaching, as well as university hospital department management. Nevertheless , the private career is the most popular. Most of the time you will join a team in a private hospital. It is still possible to come at the hospital from time to time as consultant, bust most of your activity is private.
It is always possible to go from public to private career and vice versa.

Fellowship - Research Opportunities

There are many scientifics laboratories who are able to host fellows for research. Nevertheless, the financial aspect is the main problem, and you have to find funds for that, specialy for the DEA and the Science Thesis. Foreign students are welcome but need to come on their own grant. If you are interrested in doing research in France, contact me (stephanelarre@yahoo.fr)

National links

www.afuf.com

This page was last updated: 14-07-2005
European Society of Residents in Urology