Obstetrics and Gynecology

Specific Yearly Training/Core Curriculum

The following provides a brief overview of the training for each year.

Year One

The first year of training is designed to provide the resident with a solid foundation in general obstetrics. Each rotation is for two months and will include all facilities, which practice obstetrics. The majority of the resident time will be spent on labor and delivery. Additionally, the resident will spend several half-days per week in the neonatal intensive care unit, the antenatal testing unit for obstetrical ultrasound and in the resident ambulatory clinics.

Periodically, the resident may have the opportunity to participate in minor and major gynecologic surgical cases as an assistant.

At the beginning of the first year the resident will complete the neonatal resuscitation course and a basic fetal monitoring course. On Monday mornings the first year resident will attend a lecture series to provide them with a basic fund of knowledge to assist in night call.

It is anticipated that after the first quarter of the academic year the first year resident will be able to take call independently without senior resident "back-up" in house. The only exception will be at OLOL Hospital as this facility has a large complicated obstetrics population.

Year One ( Specialty Track Program)

The PGY 1 Track is a special program that our department currently subscribes to, where the internship and first year of residency is accomplished. As a result, the PGY1 resident will have an experience of six months ambulatory and in-patient Family Medicine, Neonatal Intensive Care, Internal Medicine, Intensive Care Unit experience, and General Surgery.

The remaining six months emphasis is placed upon obstetrical labor and delivery, benign gynecologic evaluation, as well as emergency room evaluation of obstetrics and gynecology patients. During the course of their first year, the residents are expected to learn history and physical examination skills, the capability of delivering an uncomplicated vaginal and cesarean birth, and gain experience in operative vaginal deliveries, episiotomy repair, and minor gynecologic surgical procedures. Upon completion, the intern would fulfil the AOA intern requirements.

Year Two

After the PGY II completes a specialty track or traditional rotating internship, the program is designed to provide a solid foundation in general obstetrics.  The resident will go through two month rotations at each of the facilities that practice obstetrics.  The majority of the residents’ time is spent on Labor and Delivery where he is evaluated on his ability to perform an in depth history and physical and reach an appropriate differential diagnosis and management plan for the patient.  The resident is expected to rotate through the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as well as the Antenatal Testing Unit in order to develop skill in ultrasound and fetal assessment on the Labor and Delivery floor.  During the course of the year, the resident will have experience in the ambulatory clinics for the evaluation and management of obstetrical benign and complicated pregnancies as well as benign gynecologic diseases.

Periodically the resident may have the opportunity to participate in minor and major gynecologic cases on an as needed basis.

On Monday mornings resident education sessions take place and academic lectures are provided.  All residents are relieved from clinical duty in order to be present at these sessions from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM.  The residents are also involved in basic rounds with the attending physician and are responsible for the care of the Family Health Center patients, whom they have been managing through the Out-Patient centers.

It is anticipated that after the first quarter of the academic year, the PGY II resident is expected to be able to perform a cesarean section independently with direct supervision.  All residents are involved in house coverage where they learn the ability to manage patients on an independent basis with back up from in-house attendings and private attendings.

Year Three

The role of the third year resident will primarily be that of gynecologic surgery.

• The third and fourth year residents at each facility will alternate as primary surgeon on all major cases.
• The third year resident will rotate for two months on the reproductive endocrinology service at Our Lady of Lourdes - Camden.
• The third year resident will be active in the resident clinics.
• The third year resident will assist in labor and delivery as necessary.

Year Four

The fourth year resident will act as Chief Resident at the particular facility to which they are assigned. Assignments are for a two-month period.

• The resident is responsible for making assignments for all residents at that particular facility and providing leadership to all the other residents.
• The third and fourth year residents will alternate as primary surgeon on all major cases.
• The fourth year resident will rotate through Cooper Hospital for a two-month period for gynecologic oncology.
• The fourth year resident will be active in the resident clinics.
• The fourth year resident will assist in labor and delivery as necessary.
• The fourth year resident will complete an appropriate research project (see appendix 4).
• It is anticipated that each resident will present his or her research at the mid-year or yearly ACOOG meeting.

Osteopathic Principles and Practice

The resident is expected to embrace Osteopathic Principles and Practice as it applies to the specialty of obstetrics and gynecology.

CREOG Examination

Each year, the CREOG examination is administered in January. Each resident is required to complete this examination.