Welcome from the Program Director
On behalf of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Augusta University, home of the Medical College of Georgia, thank you for your interest in our residency program. We have a rich history in academic medicine. Graduates from our program have become community, regional, and national leaders in patient care, academics, and research.
Our four-year program is fully accredited by the American Council Graduate Medical Education. The department’s mission is to provide a collegial environment for residents to develop the principles and skills for success in our field. We have a proven track record of success preparing our graduates for independent practice, whether in academics, research, private practice, or subspecialty training. Also, our residents act as teachers of, and role models for, future physicians in one of the country’s oldest and largest medical schools. The Medical College of GA is the 13th oldest, founded in 1828, and one of the largest medical schools by class size in the nation.
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology provides a comprehensive education in all aspects of general practice and subspecialty services, including Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Gynecologic Oncology, Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility, & Genetics, and Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery (formerly known as Urogynecology). Rotations are structured to provide exposure to all of these services, appropriate for the level of training, inpatient and outpatient, during the four-year program.
Augusta University is a leader in basic and clinical research. In fact, the Department of OB/GYN is ranked #22 nationally in NIH funding, ahead of many of America’s most prestigious universities (from Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research NIH rankings for 2021). Exposure to research is an integral part of residency education. Our residents are mentored by experienced faculty to complete a research project worthy of presentation and publication. Current residents and recent graduates have presented meaningful research in areas of reproductive medicine and genetics, gynecologic cancer evaluation, imaging in obstetrics and gynecology, perinatal depression, mentoring of medical students, and surgical technique in obstetrical care.
To meet the needs of the ever changing GME community, our program has used innovative ideas to exceed the current standard for many aspects of residency training. Examples include, expanded use of simulation with both low-fidelity and high-fidelity models to teach obstetric and gynecologic skills, focused laparoscopic and robotic simulation training, mock oral examinations, structured training in women’s health advocacy, and life-long learning modules in the manner of ABOG’s Maintenance of Certification program. Our philosophy revolves around giving residents the tools to succeed in future, not simply providing the knowledge for advancement.
Augusta University has a state-of-the-art simulation center that rivals any such center in the country. With nearly 30,000 square feet of high tech equipment, our center can provide a simulation for nearly any clinical scenario. In our newly renovated simulation laboratory, residents participate in a laparoscopic skills learning and assessment program which is adapted for Obstetrics & Gynecology from the Fundamentals of Surgery (FLS) curriculum. Following successful completion of the laparoscopic skills program, residents begin a competency-based robotic surgery curriculum in preparation for a career utilizing these minimally-invasive surgical techniques. Advanced robotic-assisted surgical training is performed on Augusta University Health’s da Vinci Xi HD dual-console surgical system with a simulator pack.
In the 2012-2013 academic year, the program established a global health program in
Women's Health. We now have many years of experience in providing global health education
with a focus on the international experience. Residents entering our program are
given an opportunity to participate in this highly successful experience of a lifetime.
The program, the department, and the institution supports this experience at little
or no cost to each resident participant from our program.
In conjunction with Dr. Daron Ferris, President and Founder of CerviCusco, residents
from the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology will gain both didactic and clinical
experience in global health, focus on disease relevant to women’s health. Located
in Cusco, Peru, CerviCusco is a Peruvian registered non-profit establishment providing
world-class medical care, especially with regards to pre-invasive disease of the female
genital tract. Peruvian women have some of the highest rates of cervical cancer in
the world with an incidence greater than that of breast cancer.
The Global Health Program in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Augusta University has a mission
to promote awareness of global health issues in women's health, support international
medical and surgical experiential learning, foster healthcare collaboration and research
through a comprehensive educational curriculum, and provide meaning medical care to
an underserved area. CerviCusco partners with the International Cervical Cancer Foundation
(INCCA), a non-profit organization of medical professionals dedicated to reducing
cervical cancer morbidity and mortality in disadvantaged populations worldwide.
The most valuable asset of the training program is our people. Our educational mission is focused on professional development and personal growth. Our residents and faculty have an excellent working relationship, collegial and full of camaraderie, as we work toward a common goal. Our department is a family of faculty, residents, students, nurses, and administrative staff that support one another inside and outside of the hospital. Augusta is a great place to live and work. You are welcome to contact us for more information regarding your place in our family.
For more information, contact Romona Cumbermack, Residency Program Coordinator at 706-721-2541 or rocumbermack@augusta.edu.
Yolanda Elam, APRN, MSN-NP
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