Introduction

The discipline-based pathway in Obstetrics and Gynecology is recommended and designed for fourth-year medical students who have chosen to pursue Obstetrics and Gynecology as a career. It serves as a means for their senior year curriculum development and as a vital support system for the residency match process.

Sites and Personnel

Pathway Director and Site Coordinator:

Drexel University College of Medicine
Dana Farabaugh, M.D.
dc47@drexel.edu

Coordinator: Kathy Kronmiller
(215) 991-8355 Phone
kk457@drexel.edu

Please contact affiliate sites directly following the lottery regarding subintership opportunities if they are "by arrangement only."

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The goals of this pathway are:

A. To allow students to develop clinical skills and achieve knowledge in Obstetrics and Gynecology and in related fields of potential importance to their training.

B. To provide specialty-specific pre-residency training in Ob/Gyn along with offering a broad-based medical education.

C. To provide a structured system to support students in their OB/GYN career decision-making.

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Obstetrics and Gynecology Pathway

The fourth-year student who has chosen the discipline-based pathway in Obstetrics and Gynecology is required to take the following courses as part of the fourth-year core curriculum:
· Emergency Medicine Subinternship
Emergency Medicine Subinternship is required by the University as a senior year course. During this course we would expect that the student will learn the principles of rapid assessment and stabilization of critically ill and injured patients; learn the initial evaluation and management of the wide range of undifferentiated patient complaints in the Emergency Department; gain skills, specialized examination technique and real-time interpretation of diagnostic studies; participate in common and more advanced procedures.

· Required Subinternship Objectives: OB/GYN Pathway students must complete a required OB/GYN Subinternship - menu of options determined annually by the Pathway Director.

By the end of the rotation learners will be able to:

1. Take ownership of their patients and be the primary point person regarding their care.
2. Demonstrate the ability to care for patients with increasing independence while seeking help when appropriate.
3. Handle the daily tasks of an intern including preparing for rounds, presenting on rounds, interprofessional knowledge and communication skills, and patient interactions, histories and physicals, note writing of all varieties, and sign-out in a proficient and efficient manner.
4. Apply their knowledge towards diagnosis and management of common acute complaints and chronic conditions, creating care plans and communicating with consultants as necessary.
5. Perform general procedures through demonstration of the necessary preparation and key issues required for the performance of procedures, including understanding patient-specific factors, indications, contraindications, risks, benefits, and alternatives. 
6. Demonstrate reliable mechanical skills in performing procedures in most situations and knows when to seek help for procedures or situations beyond the learner’s abilities.
7. Perform safe transitions of care, coordination of care, and discharge planning.

Electives for the Ob/Gyn Discipline-Based Pathway
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED DISCIPLINE BASED
In addition to the requirements for all students, is is strongly recommended that OB/GYN Pathway students complete an additional rotation from the list below:

• Ob/Gyn Subinternship
• Ob or Gyn Subinternship
• Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
• Gynecologic Oncology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Urogynecology
• Medicine Subinternship

The student is strongly recommended to choose four additional electives in the following categories:

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED ELECTIVES
· Neonatology
· Medical Intensive Care Unit
· Emergency Medicine
· Anesthesiology
· Urology
· Genetics
· Women's Health elective
· Breast Health elective
· Urogynecology

RECOMMENDED ELECTIVES
· Ambulatory OB/Gyn
· General Surgery Sub-internship
· Cardiology
· Endocrinology (Medical)
· Radiology
· Infectious Disease
· Surgical Intensive Care Unit

The strongly recommended electives are useful for the student's preparation for their residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology and should be viewed as important options in the fourth-year core curriculum. Students may elect to take more than one rotation in an Ob/Gyn field. It is recommended that no more than two in-specialty electives be chosen after careful consideration with and approval by the Pathway Director.

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Standard textbooks are subdivided as follows for each subspecialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology and are generally recommended reading according to which subspecialty the student is taking:

For General Obstetrics:
Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies (7th Edition)
Gabbe, Niebyl and Simpson, Publisher: Elsevier

For General Gynecology:
Comprehensive Gynecology (7th Edition)
Katz, Lentz, Lobo, and Gershenson, Publisher: Elsevier

For Maternal/Fetal Medicine:
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Principles and Practice (8th Edition)
Creasy and Resnik, Publisher: Elsevier

For Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility:
Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility (8th Edition)
Speroff and Fritz, Publisher: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins

For Gynecologic Oncology:
Clinical Gynecologic Oncology (9th Edition)
DiSaia and Creasman, Publisher: Elsevier

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Evaluation of the Student
The student's performance in each rotation will be evaluated by supervising physicians, and residents when appropriate, using the standard Drexel University College of Medicine clinical evaluation form. Students not receiving a grade of satisfactory or higher will be counseled and provided with remediation.

Evaluation of 4th year Courses
Upon completion of each rotation, students are encouraged to complete the end-of-rotation evaluation form in DOCSS. Students have the opportunity to provide feedback on the rotation as well as on specific faculty (and residents) with whom they worked in DOCSS. All feedback is de-identified.

Evaluation of the Pathway
Students are encouraged to complete an end-of-year Pathway evaluation for the Pathway. The feedback from this evaluation will help in advising future students more effectively.

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