Curriculum

Our rotation schedule and curriculum are designed to provide a broad range of experiences for learning across all four years in the program. Supervision is provided at all learning levels with increasing autonomy as residents gain exposure and confidence. Service team members include both junior and senior medical students, residents, faculty and nursing staff. The OB department hosts rotators from the ED and Internal Medicine departments.

PGY-1

Interns rotate at University Health Truman Medical Center and Saint Luke’s Hospital in the areas of obstetrics, gynecology, night call, surgical intensive care unit, emergency medicine and ultrasound. There is a strong focus intern year on obstetrics.

Surgical skills are introduced during intern school and revisited throughout the year. Surgical Fridays launch Essentials in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (EMIGS) training. The EMIGS program is a comprehensive, standardized program for learning, practicing and assessment of the essentials in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. Education and preparation for this certification takes place during monthly didactics led by Dr. Burk, our Chief of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery. Online module training and hands-on simulations using the laporabowl in our surgical skills training lab complement the in-person sessions. 

PGY-1 rotation schedule

Months 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1 1 1 1.5 1.5
Rotation GYN OB Nights Ambulatory Emergency medicine Ultrasound SICU OB Nights

PGY-2

Second-year residents rotate at University Health Truman Medical Center, Saint Luke’s Hospital and Children’s Mercy Hospital. Residents rotate on the Maternal Fetal Medicine service as resident providers for high-risk patients. They are exposed to a variety of complicated maternal diseases in a multidisciplinary setting.

At Children’s Mercy Hospital, residents rotate with Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology specialists. Here, residents gain experience with ambulatory visits, hospital consults, and surgical and emergency services under the advisement of the Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology fellows and faculty.

Their Gynecologic Oncology rotation is at Saint Luke’s Hospital for early exposure to oncology paired with a PGY-4.

Surgical skills training includes Intuitive's da Vinci technical learning platform online modules, in-service, simulation exercises and culminates with your Intuitive da Vinci Certification of Equivalency during PGY-4 year.

EMIGS training continues and PGY-2’s are expected to complete EMIGS certification in December of their PGY-2 year. This prepares them for a wide variety of surgical procedures.

PGY-2 rotation schedule

Months 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
Rotation OB GYN Maternal fetal medicine Nights Maternal fetal medicine OB Gynecologic oncology Pediatric adolescent gynecology

PGY-3

Third-years rotate between University Health Truman Medical Center, University Health Lakewood Medical Center, and Saint Luke’s Hospital. Residents are exposed to several surgical rotations including urogynecology, gynecologic oncology and gynecologic surgery. Residents are introduced to our Reproductive endocrinology and infertility service where they participate in outpatient care of women with primary and secondary infertility.

With da Vinci privileges and EMIGS certification under your belt as a PGY-3, you’re fully participating in cases with the guidance of faculty.

PGY-3 rotation schedule

Months 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
Rotation GYN Urogynecology Nights Gynecologic oncology Ambulatory/REI GYN surgery Maternal fetal medicine GYN

PGY-4

Chief residents are in charge of their services from scheduling to managing the distribution of cases for their teams. Chief residents rotate between University Health Truman Medical Center and Saint Luke’s Hospital. Their gynecology experience includes participation in minimally invasive surgery utilizing the da Vinci robot via dual-console and as main surgeon under supervision.

PGY-4 rotation schedule

Months 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
Rotations Gynecologic oncology OB GYN Nights Gynecologic oncology Clinic OB GYN

Grand Rounds and Didactic Conferences

Residents are protected for grand rounds conferences Thursday mornings from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Didactics teaching is held Friday afternoons from 2-4 p.m. These schedules include monthly morbidity and mortality conferences; lectures given by our perinatal, urogynecology, gynecologic and oncology specialists; resident-presented lectures; book club and other educational topics. A weekly teaching curriculum during daily rounds is also encouraged and is coordinated by the chief of service at our two primary locations.

Simulations

The Obstetrics and Gynecology program offers a robust simulation curriculum prepared by our OB Chief of Simulations, Susan Mou, M.D. and our GYN Chief of Simulations, Ryan Reynolds, M.D.

This involves multidisciplinary practice in Obstetrics, including: 

  • Shoulder dystocia
  • Postpartum hemorrhage
  • Emergent C-section
  • Operative and breech delivery
  • Ultrasound guided amniocentesis and cordocentesis

Gynecology simulations offer opportunities for practice with:

  • Basic operative skills
  • Vaginal and abdominal hysterectomy
  • Basic and advanced laparoscopic skills
  • Laser and LEEP simulations
  • Repair of obstetrical lacerations
  • Repair of urologic injuries