Overview/Curriculum

The emphasis of this four-year residency training program is on the basic tenets of obstetrics and gynecology at the bedside, in the delivery room, in the operating room and in outpatient services. There are 16 residents, four in each year of a four-year training program.

The clinical area of obstetrics involves approximately 30 percent at-risk or high-risk patients seen during the antepartum, intrapartum and the postpartum periods. The gynecological and oncological services have a large number of operative cases involving a variety of gynecological pathologies. There are specialty clinics in maternal fetal medicine, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, gynecological oncology, urogynecology, and pre-invasive disease of the lower genital tract (colposcopy). Each section is headed by a board-certified subspecialist and possesses the latest in technology to advance the educational goals of the resident staff as well as enhance the care of their patients.

The residency program is organized to optimize the progressive development of the resident through feedback and instruction. Assigned faculty mentors and the program director serve as facilitators. At the completion of four years, the resident will have experienced every possible clinical condition noted in the specialty and will have acquired the necessary training to continue onto a fellowship or to function as a specialist or consultant in the field, as well as serve as a primary care provider in general obstetrics and gynecology.

Curriculum

The program’s primary care objectives are accomplished in the first year with a rotation in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and its subspecialties. Additionally, residents are introduced to family planning and contraceptive care. Critical Care and Emergency Medicine exposure occurs in the PGY-2 year with a rotation through the combined Surgical and Medical Intensive Care Units and the Emergency Room. Third-year residents have a gynecologic rotation off site at Mount Sinai Brooklyn, an REI rotation and they can take a one-month elective for further exposure to a subspecialty of interest or research. PGY-4s are chiefs of their respective services, overseeing and teaching the junior residents and managing obstetric and gynecologic patients, with the support of faculty, as they prepare for their future roles as attendings. Additionally, the chief residents also rotate off site at Mount Sinai Brooklyn. Additionally, to facilitate coverage during resident vacation and possible sick calls, we have a swing jeopardy coverage system that also allows time for research.

In accordance with the new qualifying examination requirements, residents are expected to complete and achieve certification in the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS).

Our simulation laboratory provides training resources for residents to not only prepare for the FLS, but also to practice for, manage and excel in laparoscopic procedures. Residents also have access to the Da Vinci simulator and can enhance their training as they learn to master the robot for minimally invasive surgery.

Didactic Program
Protected educational block time occurs Tuesday mornings. Residents have structured didactic sessions based on the CREOG Educational Objectives, and topics rotate on a two-year schedule. Included in the learning schedule are M&M conferences, Journal Club, Peds/Ob Conference, Tumor Board, as well as Grand Rounds lectures by regional and nationally recognized speakers. Residents have scheduled simulation sessions, simulation drills, research reviews and speakers to discuss a multitude of topics relevant to the specialty.

Continuity Clinic
The Ambulatory Care experience extends throughout the four years of residency training and is primarily based on the continuity of care concept. Residents have one half-day clinic session in the Women’s Health Center weekly, except while on night float. Residents care for a panel of patients in their continuity clinic, with the complexity of conditions varied by level of training. The focus is on developing clinical skills, medical knowledge and outpatient procedural techniques to manage outpatient obstetrical and gynecological conditions in addition to providing primary and preventive health care to women of all ages.

Resident Wellness
We strive to help the residents achieve work-life integration for a balanced and well-rounded experience. Monthly wellness sessions are incorporated into the didactic schedule and have included group fitness classes, mindfulness boosters, meditation, group painting and potlucks, in addition to lectures. We also created resident wellness groups, with one member from each class for peer mentoring, support and wellness promotion. Residents have an annual resident outing, and activities in the past have included an escape room and snow tubing.