1. What can students do in the 1st and 2nd years to explore and/or prepare for this career? We have preceptorships in community offices for exposure to the field: one afternoon or morning per week for a quarter: this is for credit. Shadowing a practitioner can also be done for a day on an individual basis: e-mail me with your interests and I will help set that up. There are several electives for first and second year students: the U-teach elective in the fall, in which a medical student is paired with a pregnant woman for her prenatal appointments and delivery, Reproductive Choices. There is some discussion of the development of an elective in female sexuality for Spring Quarter. During Winter Quarter of 2000, there will be a weekly meeting of WHIG: Women's Health Interest Group on Monday at noon starting Jan. 10 in room S163. Topics will vary from Lifestyles as an Ob-Gyn, to Pelvic Surgery, to Current Research. Also, working in the Women's Clinic in the Homeless Clinic is valuable.

2. What common variations exist in the length/content of residency programs for this career? The residency is 4 years in length. After a 4 year residency, there are fellowship opportunities for sub-specialty training in maternal-fetal medicine (high risk OB), reproductive-endocrine (infertility) and gynecologic oncology.Each of these fellowships are three years in length. AT UCSF there is a track (one position per year) for a combined 7 year program for the residency and fellowship which are integrated. There are also opportunities for non-boarded sub-specialties such as gynecologic urology, women's health research and pelvic surgery which are usually 1 - 2 years in length. There are occasional programs with combined residencies in both family medicine and obstetrics and gynecology (e.g. UC Davis).

3. What common variations exist in this career after training? The majority of graduates enter private practice or managed care settings after training, with a small number entering academic medicine as generalists. After sub-specialty training, a signficant number of graduates enter academic medicine.

4. What is a typical work day for you (or someone else representative)? A typical day would be 1/2 the day in the office, 1/2 in either the OR or Labor and Delivery.

5. What is the "culture" of this career? This career attracts medical students who enjoy longitudinal relationships with female patients as their lives unfold over many years, in providing both primary and specialty care. It also attracts students who enjoy using their hands (procedures, surgery, deliveries).

6. How compatible is this career with raising a family? How is this different for men and women? This career is very compatible with raising a family. Once residency is finished, one can negotiate work hours/work environment from part-time to full-time. The maximum flexibility is probably found in large groups/Kaiser where night call is infrequent. If a student is planning a pregnancy during residency, it might be useful to apply to residencies with a large number of total residents e.g. 20 - 36, so that coverage if disability occurs can be covered by a large number of people.

7. How important, individually, are each the following for admission to a competitive program?

a. Extra-curricular/volunteer work? Very important, especially in the field of women's health
b. Research/publications? Experience in research is valued. Publications are not expected.
c. Honors in third year? Yes, at the minimum of one in Ob-Gyn. If a student has not received honors in ob-gyn at UCSF, then I recommend 2 sub-internships, one of which done at the outside institution at which the student would like to match for residency.
d. AOA? Not that important
e. A sub-internship? Very important
f. An externship? Not unless a sub-internship is not completed
g. (Other important elements to the application?) Letters of recommendation, including from the Dept. Chair are very important, so it is important that the student get to know faculty members as early as possible through electives, etc.

8. What are the most important qualities or character traits for a person in this field? Caring about women's health care, enjoying participating in the birth process and surgery, excellent work ethic.

9. How competitive are the residency programs in this field?
Moderately competitive: students encouraged to apply to 20 -30 programs, and narrow them down once interviews offered. If you have a passion for this work, there are a myriad of opppotunities for different types of residencies even if you are not in the top half of your class, but strategies need to be developed early so come in for advising early.

10. How competitive is the job market after residency? The is a great demand for residency graduates in this field.

11. What programs would you consider to be in the 1st tier, 2nd tier, and 3rd tier?

12. What resources (web, books, etc, besides the AMA and AAMC sites) would you recommend for students interested in learning more about this field? We have a career advising packet in the outside pocket of the door at M1498 students can have.