Obstetrics

Residents have supervised responsibility in all aspects of normal obstetrical care including antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum evaluation and management. Faculty supervise all clinics, make daily rounds with residents, are consulted on all cases, are present for all deliveries, and supervise labor and delivery. All faculty participate in clinic, weekend, and nighttime supervision of labor and delivery.

Formal training of ultrasound is provided at the PG-1 level but all residents are involved in ultrasound on an ongoing basis in the labor and delivery suite with ultrasonic evaluation under the direction of two certified American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine sonographers and MFM Faculty.

Gynecology

Residents have supervised responsibility for patient management in the pre-operative, operative, and post-operative care of all patients. Residents present all resident clinic cases to the faculty prior to hospital admission, and faculty are present at all surgeries. Faculty-generated surgeries are covered by the residents with residents required to evaluate the patient prior to surgery, either in the office or in the pre-surgery preparation area. The extent of involvement by residents at surgery is determined by the complexity of the case and the resident’s skill level. Faculty conduct rounds with the residents at least twice weekly. Research activity during this rotation is strongly encouraged.

Gynecologic Oncology

Residents are involved in all aspects of oncology care including evaluation and management, surgical and chemotherapeutic therapies, and radiation planning and preparation. Residents manage all patients on this service in a graduated fashion according to their abilities and under the close supervision of faculty with assistance from a nurse practitioner. They participate in Tumor Board and general gynecologic oncology conferences. Daily rounds are conducted with the faculty.

Reproductive Endocrinology

The residents on this service manage all patients with the close supervision of faculty and with the assistance of a clinical nurse. The resident has significant responsibility including experience in surgery and management of endocrine, infertility, and assisted reproduction patients.

Maternal Fetal Medicine

Under the direction of the faculty in this division, residents manage antepartum and intrapartum patients, both inpatient and outpatient for high-risk patients. Ultrasound skills are sharpened with particular emphasis in pregnancy dating, anomaly investigation, biophysical profile, amniotic fluid assessment, and amniocentesis. Clinical training in genetics occurs during this rotation. As a level III referral center for obstetrics and pediatrics, the volume and diversity of maternal-fetal medicine patients that residents see is more than adequate for teaching purpose.

Ultrasound

Formal ultrasound training in obstetrics and gynecology is obtained during the first year of residency under the direction of the MFM faculty, and the certified sonographers. Basic training in physics, machine operation, scanning technique, image optimization, measuring structures, and interpretation are provided during this time. Further training and refining of skills occurs throughout residency on the wards and clinics with emphasis on specific obstetrical skills being provided during MFM rotations.

Genetics

The genetics curriculum is taught in conjunction with the Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, and the Maternal Fetal Medicine Division. A faculty member who is board certified in Genetics provides the primary lectures. The management and application of genetics in the clinical situation is taught during the MFM rotation and within the resident continuity clinics. Residents manage patients and provide routine genetic counseling within their resident obstetric continuity clinics.

Research

Research is encouraged throughout the 4 years of residency. During this time, research projects are to be designed, data is to be gathered and analyzed, and papers written under the direction of the faculty. The Director of Research and Program Director must approve all resident projects prior to initiation to ensure appropriate design and feasibility of the project. The research division assists each resident with preparation of Internal Review Board applications. All PG-3 and PG-4 residents must present a paper on original research (no case studies or previously published papers) at the SIU Research Symposium at the end of the year.

Continuity Clinics

Each PG 2, 3, and 4 conducts a ob/gyn continuity clinic one-half day per week. There is ongoing random assignment of patients to these clinics from the emergency room, hospital discharge, individual requests, etc. Care of continuity clinic patients takes preference over all other activities. The residents are responsible for all patient management decisions, both inpatient and outpatient for patients seen in their clinics. Faculty is present in these clinics for supervision.

STORK Clinics

These half-day continuity clinics are conducted by the PG 1 residents and they provide care for pregnant patients only. The residents are the primary caregivers supervised by attending physicians. These clinics provide health status assessment, diagnosis and dating of pregnancy, initial evaluation, and all prenatal care. Case managers, dieticians and other necessary support staff are present in these clinics for consultation. A database of these patients’ care and outcomes is maintained and is available to the residents for review and study.