Curriculum

The first year curriculum provides an opportunity to fully participate in the care of patients in areas directly related to our specialty, creating deeper insights into how best to interface with other medical specialists.  In addition, early experience in the operating room is considered a key part to developing highly skilled gynecologic surgeons.  Residents are given extensive opportunities in both the inpatient and outpatient arenas to expand their hands-on level of expertise.

In the second year, further experience in the subspecialties broadens and deepens the resident’s didactic and clinical knowledge base.  Expertise is developed in the management of both high and low risk patients.  Research interests often develop during this time.

Third year residents become increasingly skilled in both the outpatient and inpatient care of more complex cases.  Thanks to the one-on-one mentorship teaching model, even the most difficult of consultative cases are learning and growth opportunities.  Surgical experience and expertise rapidly develop.  Career goals become clearer with appropriate additional attention paid to these priorities.

In the senior year of residency, the curriculum has the flexibility of helping a resident “track” toward a greater concentration in a field of interest or a specific career path.  Particular attention is paid to the needs of the individual resident, particularly with regard to skills acquisition and preparation for life after residency.

In addition to the clinical focus of the program, the didactic curriculum is robust with incorporation of the latest in educational theory and technology including simulation.  The resident is provided ample opportunity to take full advantage of both clinical experience and educational programs.

Sample Block Schedule

Didactic Schedule

Overview

Formal educational conferences will be held within the department as a whole as well as on each service the residents will rotate on. The goal is to maximize active rather than passive learning, applying principles of adult learning whenever possible.  Patient-based discussions and/or hypothetical cases will be a major focus of the program’s teaching philosophy. The conference schedule will complement/supplement the daily educational activities the residents experience while learning from attending physicians, more senior residents, consultants, and other healthcare professionals.  Residents will also be involved in the instructional process for more junior residents, medical students and students of other disciplines.

Resident attendance at departmental educational conferences will be considered mandatory. All physicians who serve as resident supervisors will be made aware of and agree to release residents from clinical responsibilities in order to attend. 

The curriculum will be guided by the CREOG Objectives and adjusted as needed through coordination of topics monitored in the PD office in order to ensure that all major topics are covered within the various mandatory Departmental educational sessions.

Didactic Educational Activities

Each week on Thursday from 1:30pm to 5:30pm, residents will gather in the OB/GYN residency suite for formal didactics. This is protected time and residents are required to attend unless on approved PTO or if they have received prior approval to participate in another educational opportunity. Attendance is monitored. 

Each week our didactic schedule includes 1-2 ACOG practice bulletin presentations given by a resident, M&M, a GYN or OB topic, a subspecialty topic and a PGY level specific "breakout" session. During "breakout" sessions, PGY1 residents attend a session with our Program Director to go through Beckmann and Ling's Obstetrics & Gynecology book chapter by chapter in a small group setting. PGY2 and PGY3 residents attend a PROLOG session lead by one of our mentors and PGY4 residents attend a board prep session also led by a mentor.  

Didactic Topics

Weekly Example:

  • 1:30pm ACOG Practice Bulletin lectures - Residents prepare a 30 minute overview of the ACOG practice bulletin for the week. They present the topic and also create a one page study sheet to be handed out. 

  • 2:00pm M&M - Residents add both OB and GYN cases to our running M&M spreadsheet weekly. There is a 30 minute M&M focusing on one or two of those cases.

  • 2:30pm OB or GYN topic - One of our generalist mentors will lecture on a topic of their choice or one requested by the residents.

  • 3:30pm Subspecialty topic - One of our subspecialty mentors will lecture on a topic of their choice or one requested by the residents. 

  • 4:30pm PGY Level specific "breakout" session

BONUS content

  • Fetal tracing review 

  • Research Basics/IRB

  • Financial Advising/Contracts

  • Robotic Simulation

  • SIM lab (shoulder dystocia, breech, c/s etc.)

  • Various hands-on/SIM (amniocentesis, JADA etc.)

  • Hospital M&M (monthly @ 12pm)

  • DeSoto M&M - DeSoto L&D resident (monthly)