Broadly speaking, Obstetrics and Gynecology encompasses the practice of all that is considered Women’s Health. Although gender specific, the specialty actually encompasses multiple disciplines in both the medical and surgical fields. As a result, the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology accommodates a diversity of interests. From delivering babies to ambulatory primary care, from radical cancer surgery to considerations of the human genome, OBGYN provides a wide range of practice options while caring for women across their lifespan. For many students, the OBGYN clerkship is the final exposure during their medical school career to comprehensive care for women. Upon completion of this rotation, students should be prepared to address basic issues in women's health care and begin to apply them to their chosen specialty.
Clearly, there is much to learn in a short span of time. The clerkship is structured with sensitivity to the special role of medical students as learners. Learning is an active process in both the clinical and academic arenas. Across rotation sites, each student is provided with ample opportunity to acquire the basic core of cognitive knowledge, clinical experience and practical skills in women’s health. While the faculty and residents can guide, stimulate and enlighten, the primary responsibility for learning rests upon the student. We encourage a collaborative learning atmosphere and whenever possible, opportunities are provided.
If you are interested in OBGYN as a specialty…fantastic! Please use this opportunity to talk with us and get to know us. On the other hand, enthusiasm and a consistent display of genuine eagerness to be involved in the women’s health care experiences are more important to us than your ultimate specialty choices. Active clinical engagement greatly complements the various structured learning experiences provided during the clerkship. The clerkship is designed to prepare each student for documenting competency in women’s health through successful completion of the required clinical skills and cognitive testing. In addition, it is the department’s goal that the OBGYN clerkship is your best learning experience during your third year!
