Residency Program Obstetrics & Gynecology
Lectures and Conferences
Our academic year begins with our summer weekly Boot Camp series which provides hands- on training in knot tying and suturing, vaginal delivery, C- section, laparoscopy, annual exam and sonography skills. Boot Camp creates a low stakes environment for junior residents to train their hands, and for senior residents to practice their teaching and mentoring skills.
The backbone of our didactic curriculum begins in the fall with our weekly Academic Mornings each Friday from 8am- 12pm. Our Academic Morning begins with a Grand Rounds presentation, covering breakthrough topics delivered by prominent Obstetricians and Gynecologists in the region. Our Resident Lecture Series follows with lectures given by core faculty members. It is structured into a two- year repeating curriculum to cover the breadth and depth of the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, the subspecialties, and primary care. The third hour is our weekly case review, alternating between GYN and OB where the residents present an interesting case from the week for discussion with faculty. In addition to adding to knowledge base, this exercise is designed to enhance our graduates’ performance on the ABOG certifying exams. The final hour is given to our chiefs to embrace their role as teachers, and create an educational curriculum for their junior residents. Typically, this has consisted of preparation for the CREOG in-service examination the first half of the year, PROLOG and chapter reviews for the second.
Our Academic Mornings are protected time. All residents and medical students are relieved of clinical duties to attend.
Research
The goal of our research program is for our residents to gain a greater understanding of the scientific method through a mentored research experience. We want to train our residents to read papers as well as write papers. We have built into our curriculum a monthly Research Forum with faculty mentors and an embedded statistician and epidemiologist. At each forum, we deconstruct and analyze a contemporary article, and then each resident is required to provide the status of their research project. From conception through design, analysis, and completion, each project is a collaborative effort stressing the team model of research. By the end of the intern year, our residents should have an IRB-approved protocol. By the end of the third year, the analysis should be complete and our residents present their finished projects. |
| 2020- 2021 CURRICULUM | |
| PGY 1 | |
| Ambulatory Care/ Continuity of Care Clinic (COC) | 4 weeks |
| Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Generalist Services MFM/ Antepartum | 4 weeks |
| Obstetrical Service Night Float (NF) | 8 weeks |
| Obstetrical Service | 16 weeks |
| Gynecology | 16 weeks |
| Vacation | 4 weeks |
| 52 WEEKS | |
| PGY 2 | |
| Ambulatory Care/ Continuity of Care Clinic (COC) | 4 weeks |
| Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Generalist Services MFM/ Antepartum | 4 weeks |
| Obstetrical Service Night Float (NF) | 8 weeks |
| Obstetrical Service | 16 weeks |
| Gynecology | 12 weeks |
| Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) Cornell | 4 weeks |
| Vacation | 4 weeks |
| 52 WEEKS | |
| PGY 3 | |
| Ambulatory Care/ Continuity of Care Clinic (COC) | 4 weeks |
| Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Generalist Services MFM/ Antepartum | 4 weeks |
| Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) GYN- Oncology Service | 8 weeks |
| Obstetrical Service Night Float (NF) | 8 weeks |
| Obstetrical Service | 8 weeks |
| Gynecology | 12 weeks |
| Elective | 4 weeks |
| Vacation | 4 weeks |
| 52 WEEKS | |
| PGY 4 | |
| Ambulatory Care/ Continuity of Care Clinic (COC) | 4 weeks |
| Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Generalist Services MFM/ Antepartum | 4 weeks |
| Board Reviews | 4 weeks |
| Obstetrical Service Night Float (NF) | 8 weeks |
| Obstetrical Service | 12 weeks |
| Gynecology | 16 weeks |
| Vacation | 4 Weeks |
| 52 WEEKS |
Clinical Training
Training in the gynecologic subspecialty fields is included in all of the gynecology rotations throughout the course of the residency. Residents perform a wide range of operative procedures and have historically graduated from the program with a vast array of surgical skills.
The first-year obstetrics resident is responsible for labor and delivery coverage and postpartum management. This responsibility includes evaluating and managing laboring patients and participating in operative and vaginal deliveries with the attending physician and midwife. This intern scrubs on appropriate major cases in the main operating room with the attending and a senior resident, and in ambulatory surgery cases (hysteroscopy, dilatation and curettage, laparoscopic tubal ligations) as the primary surgeon. During the second year, they get opportunity to augment the first year experience in labor and delivery management, progressing towards more complicated cesarean sections and operative vaginal deliveries. On the “high-risk” service, residents work directly with the Maternal-Fetal Medicine division in the management of complicated pregnancies. Training in Gynecologic Oncology is emphasized in the third year with a structured two-month rotation at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. In addition, we have a consultant Gynecology Oncologist from our affiliate, Flushing Hospital, who provides backup for surgical management. Daily supervised rounds occur on all in-patients with our full-time faculty.
During the chief year, residents run their individual services and have a teaching responsibility toward their junior residents and medical students. Chiefs perfect their skills to be future attending and leaders in the field. The administrative chief resident, educational chief, and outpatient clinic chief all are actively involved in respective administrative roles in organizing resident meetings, acting as resident advocates, liaising with senior staff, and orienting new residents. |
Sub-specialty Training
Maternal-Fetal-Medicine: The residents are educated and trained by providing care both in hospital and outpatient settings. They are exposed to a wide variety of patients with a multitude of pathologies and social disadvantages. Residents are trained to manage patients within the high-volume High-Risk Clinic. They receive ultrasound training including Doppler Studies and are constantly educated on Labor and Delivery and during the daily AM rounds.
GYN ONC: Our residents have a two- month dedicated oncology rotation at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center This provides them with a comprehensive experience starting with the pre-operative work-up for challenging oncology cases to the management of complications (related to surgery, radiation and chemotherapy). During that rotation, residents assist with robotic and advanced laparoscopy surgeries. Our collaboration with this leading cancer institution provides solid training for future practice.
Gynecology/MIS: Our department employs MIGS specialists (including the program director). Throughout the training residents learn minimally invasive surgery skills, starting from hysteroscopy, including advanced hysteroscopy techniques (loop resection, myomectomy), operative laparoscopy (cystectomy, myomectomy and hysterectomy), vaginal hysterectomy. Simulation is a big part of MIGS training. It incorporates laparoscopic skills learning and assessment program, adapted from the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery curriculum, and AAGL skills development.
REI: The REI didactic lecture series broadens this subspecialty’s learning experience. These learning activities happen year around in addition to exposure to patients with infertility within the continuity clinic.
FPMRS: Lecture series covering main urogyn topic are carried out throughout the year. Residents from all levels assist during the urogyn surgeries and office procedures. They have one-to-one teaching opportunities with our urogyn subspecialist. During GYN or Ambulatory month, dedicated residents can join the urodynamic sessions in urogyn clinics.
FAMILY PLANNING: Our program has in-house family planning service providing care for women with complex contraceptive needs. We also collaborate with Choices Medical Center where residents, who express interest, are exposed to a variety of family planning services, including abortion services up to 24 weeks.
Simulation
Our program has a robust simulation curriculum. It begins with our summer Boot Camp sessions as described above.
Multi-disciplinary OB simulations are conducted bimonthly on Labor Room. These drills include Code C/S (emergent cesarean section), maternal cardiac arrest, Code H (Hemorrhage). We also have individual drills training providers to manage shoulder dystocia, operative vaginal delivery, 4th degree perineal repair, perform circumcision.
Our GYN simulation curriculum includes Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Skills training as well as a structured curriculum for laparoscopic and hysteroscopic skills. The program consists of dedicated labs supervised by faculty, and individual laparoscopic sessions as needed during the Gynecology rotation. We recently incorporate vaginal and abdominal hysterectomy simulations in our GYN curriculum.
