Residency program

Didactic education at Illinois Masonic Medical Center is represented by a diverse number of activities, with an emphasis on protected time for the resident education. In addition to faculty clinical rounds and structured didactic sessions, the diversity of training includes journal clubs, surgical and procedural skills labs, leadership training, mock oral boards,  and visiting professor lectures to name a few.  Resident scholarly activity includes preparation of an annual Grand Rounds starting in the second year, conducting morbidity and mortality rounds for obstetrics and gynecology, journal clubs, and case presentations.

One of the features of our program is the enthusiastic and supportive faculty rounds. In Obstetrics the daily rounds are conducted by maternal fetal medicine on the antenatal surveillance unit, followed by general obstetric rounds with a general ob/gyn attending. Gynecologic rounds are conducted formally with the service faculty attending, usually at the bedside.

Seven thousand patients are seen annually in our resident clinics which cover low risk obstetrics, high risk obstetrics, gynecologic oncology, urogynecology, early pregnancy loss clinic, and colposcopy clinic. Reproductive and Infertility clinic experience is fulfilled through rotations at the Fertility Centers of Illinois.  All of these clinics have extensive faculty coverage and support to ensure a quality educational experience and the highest level of patient care.

Residents enjoy graduated autonomy throughout their training with ample daily supervision in all areas by the integrated faculty attendings. The fourth-year resident is responsible for supervising the activities of the junior residents and medical students, as well as performing major obstetric and gynecologic operative procedures. In addition, the chief resident is responsible for providing consultation for the certified nurse midwifery and family medicine services.

Resident surgical experience quickly begins in the first year, initially with laparotomy and laparoscopy skills. As the program progresses, the resident becomes involved in more challenging procedures such as operative laparoscopy (including laparoscopic hysterectomy), gynecologic neoplasia, pelvic support and urogynecology.  Hands on robotic training with the Davinci surgical system is also an exciting component of the resident curriculum.  Attending supervision and training is instrumental in developing resident skills, yet autonomy and mastering of surgical technique is the goal for all residents.