Residency Program

Ambulatory care experience is gained in the continuity clinic setting and in specialty and subspecialty office practice. In the Continuity Clinic, each resident is assigned patients who he or she will follow over the four years of their residency under the supervision of the attending faculty. Residents also actively participate in the care of private patients in outpatient settings.

Teaching Activities

The academic mission of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences is supported and advanced by a varied and comprehensive teaching program. Teaching activities include daily clinical rounds, planned conferences, and a didactic lecture program, which repeats on a 2-year basis. Grand Rounds are presented by the faculty and visiting lecturers. Senior residents are asked to give two grand rounds presentation per year. Monthly morbidity and mortality conferences, perinatal mortality conferences, and psychosocial conferences are included.

A resident research project, performed under the supervision of the faculty, is required for graduation. Residents present an annual "Great Debate" and research presentations for which prizes are awarded. Teaching activities for the academic year culminate in the residents' Annual Teaching Day, held in conjunction with the graduation of senior residents.

Evaluation
The evaluation of residents is a continuous process involving monthly clinical assessments and scheduled academic evaluations. Residents meet with the Program Director at least twice per year for review of their progress. All residents take the CREOG examination prepared by the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology and are expected to demonstrate annual growth in basic and clinical knowledge.

Training
The first year of training includes five months of primary care training and five months of basic obstetrics and gynecology with experiences in ultrasonography, one month of surgical intensive care and one month of emergency medicine. The second and third years provide experiences in both obstetrics and gynecology with an emphasis on the principles of sound obstetrical and gynecological care, as well as primary health care for women.

Residents assume increasing responsibility for managing the care of patients under the supervision of senior residents and attending physicians. Rotations in gynecologic oncology, urogynecology, and reproductive endocrinology provide introductions to these subspecialties. Residents receive experience in maternal-fetal evaluation through advanced monitoring techniques. Daily rounds with the perinatal team provide residents with insight into maternal, fetal, and newborn complications.

During gynecologic rotations, residents are trained in a variety of special diagnostic and therapeutic techniques specific to gynecologic practice. While the fundamentals of good medical-surgical practice are further stressed, specialized experience is acquired in the use of radiation sources and chemotherapy to treat gynecologic cancer, as well as in the diagnostic evaluation of the urinary tract, the evaluation of the infertile couple, and the investigation and treatment of gynecologic endocrine disorders.

The Program's fourth year provides experience in high-risk obstetrics, advanced urogynecology and surgery, minimally invasive (laparoscopy) surgery, and gynecologic oncology. Residents at this level are assigned to the various services as chief resident. This year prepares the individual for practice and completes the requirements for Board certification.

Residents assume major responsibility for their assigned private and service patients and do the majority of operative work while assisted and supervised by attending faculty. Senior residents also serve as consultants to the junior residents on many inpatient and outpatient services.

The following table shows a typical rotation schedule at each level.