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OB/GYN Residency Columbia - Curriculum

Obstetrics and gynecology educational experiences

At Prisma Health, our residents receive the instruction and experience necessary to deliver excellent and comprehensive primary healthcare in both ambulatory and hospital settings.

In the first postgraduate year (PGY1), residents begin training in both routine and high-risk obstetrics, as well as general gynecology and minor operative surgical procedures. In addition, training begins in ultrasonography, and primary care experience is gained during an emergency medicine rotation.

The second year of training (PGY2) expands and deepens learning in the specialty of obstetrics and gynecology. This includes rotations in the subspecialties of gynecologic oncology and reproductive endocrinology. Breadth of training is expanded with rotations in family planning and a dedicated pediatric-adolescent rotation.

During the third year of training (PGY3), the focus of training is high-risk obstetrics and major operative gynecology. Gynecologic skills are expanded with one-on-one experiences at private practice attendings in the community and with our urogynecologist. Two consecutive months are spent on the gynecologic oncology service to continue to develop further surgical skills.

The fourth year of training (PGY4) presents the resident with the role of leader and teacher. The system of graduated responsibility establishes the fourth-year resident as service chief in general obstetrics, high-risk obstetrics, ambulatory OB/GYN and gynecology. Additional training in urogynecology surgery, benign gynecologic surgery and reproductive endocrinology occur. Each fourth-year resident has an elective rotation, during which the resident may choose their experiences to broaden and deepen their knowledge in a particular area of interest.

Scheduled sessions

Scheduled teaching sessions include OB rounds, GYN rounds, oncology rounds, journal club, pre-op conference, pathology/colposcopy conference, OB/GYN morbidity and mortality conference, OB/NICU conference, core curriculum lectures, and twice monthly grand rounds.

Continuity of patient care is considered crucial. The resident is provided two half-day continuity clinics during most rotations. Patient assignments are graduated to reflect the increasing experience of each resident. This experience begins with normal obstetrics and gynecology and moves toward more complicated problems as the year of training increases. All residents are trained in Centering Pregnancy and lead a group in their first year and again in their third year.

Curriculum by year​

PGY1

  • Obstetrics: 10 weeks
  • Night float: 10 weeks
  • Gynecology: 10 weeks
  • Ultrasound: 5 weeks
  • Clinic/ambulatory OB/GYN: 5 weeks
  • High-risk obstetrics: 5 weeks
  • Emergency Medicine: 3 weeks
  • Breast: 2 weeks
  • GYN/OB/Ambulatory "Fun Block": 2 weeks

PGY2

  • Obstetrics: 10 weeks
  • Night float: 10 weeks
  • High-risk obstetrics: 5 weeks
  • Specialty-ONC/REI: 5 weeks
  • Clinic/ambulatory OB/GYN: 5 weeks
  • Family Planning: 5 weeks
  • GYN: 5 weeks
  • GYN/PAG: 5 weeks
  • GYN/OB/Ambulatory "Fun Block": 2 weeks

PGY3

  • Obstetrics: 12 weeks
  • REI: 6 weeks
  • UROGYN: 6 weeks
  • Night Foat 6 weeks
  • GYN Oncology/MIGS: 12 weeks 
  • Elective: 6 weeks
  • GYN/OB/Ambulatory "Fun Block": 4 weeks

PGY4

  • Obstetrics: 12 weeks
  • Gynecology: 12 weeks
  • Night Float: 6 weeks
  • UROGYN:6 weeks
  • Private Gynecology: 6 weeks
  • Clinic/ambulatory OB/GYN: 6 weeks
  • GYN/OB/Ambulatory "Fun Block": 4 weeks