Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship

The Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship is a five-week clinical rotation during the major clinical year of study. Our goal is to provide students with (a) a comprehensive educational experience in obstetrics and gynecology that is aligned with our department’s mission and the Columbia University VP&S medical education program objectives (MEPOs), and (b) the skills to educate others, advocate for patients, and engage in scientific inquiry.

Students are assigned to one of two sites: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital or Stamford Hospital. Both sites offer the benefits of a major teaching center with outstanding house officers and superb faculty, many of whom are leading experts in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. During the clerkship, students will participate in the care of patients spanning various components of the obstetrics and gynecology specialty, including inpatient obstetrics, benign gynecology, gynecologic oncology, and ambulatory general and specialty clinics. A full day each week is dedicated to formal didactic sessions including lectures, simulations, and case study seminars.

By the end of this clerkship, students should be able to demonstrate professional competency in the basic knowledge, skills, and attitudes of an effective clinician providing care in our specialty. The general learning objectives for the clerkship are:

  1.  Acquire knowledge of normal and abnormal reproductive function, and routine obstetrics and gynecologic conditions occurring through the lifespan 
  2. Complete a comprehensive medical interview including menstrual, obstetric, gynecologic, contraceptive, sexual, family, and social history.
  3. Recognize the indications for and perform trauma-informed breast and pelvic examinations.
  4. Perform basic tasks and procedures relevant to the practice of obstetrics and gynecology including basic suturing and knot tying, maintenance of sterile technique, foley catheter insertion, and assessment of fundal height and fetal heart tones.
  5. Develop differential diagnoses for common obstetric and gynecologic conditions and consider these in the evaluation of undifferentiated complaints. 
  6. Develop treatment and management plans for common obstetric and gynecologic conditions. 
  7. Demonstrate effective interpersonal and communication skills with patients and their families, considering relevant sociocultural contexts.
  8. Demonstrate effective communication skills with members of the medical team in various clinical settings, including disciplines outside of obstetrics and gynecology.
  9. Increase awareness of disparities in obstetrics and gynecology including maternal morbidity and mortality, access to care, and the efforts to address these.
  10. Recognize basic principles and practices of health care as relevant to transgender, gender diverse, and intersex individuals.
  11. Demonstrate commitment to personal excellence and professional development.

Obstetrics and gynecology is an extremely rewarding and diverse field of medicine. As a student on this rotation, you will have the privilege of sharing in some of the most intimate aspects of patients' lives: the birth of a child, the vulnerability of undergoing surgery, and pelvic examinations, to name a few. You will be exposed to extensive and unique experiences in both clinical practice and academic research and will hopefully gain new insight into this exciting and challenging specialty. 

 

Said S. Saab, MD, MEd, MPhil, FACOG
Director, Clerkship in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology