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Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency

Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency

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The Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is a four-year, ACGME-accredited program that admits five residents per year.

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Program Details

The comprehensive Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency at Penn State Health/Penn State College of Medicine exposes residents to the full range of obstetric and gynecologic specialties and subspecialties under the supervision of more than 30 faculty members committed to resident education.

The primary hospital for education is Penn State Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Bernville, Pa. Residents spend two five-week blocks in their third year of training gaining additional surgical gynecologic experience in a community hospital setting.

The educational program is based on the objectives created by the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG). During the first year, residents are exposed to the basics of the specialty, including active participation in the operating room with women’s health, oncology, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. The second and third years expand the exposure to the specialties of reproductive endocrinology and infertility, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and maternal-fetal medicine. Finally, during the fourth year, residents are managing the oncology, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, obstetric and gynecologic services. During the entire four years, weekly didactic time is protected and a night float system is in place to both augment and facilitate learning.

Overall, the departmental mission is to become the clinical, educational and research resource of choice for all women of central Pennsylvania and their health care providers. The program strives to teach resident colleagues the basic and advanced skills necessary not just to practice obstetrics and gynecology, but to become the consultant of choice in their community and to keep the way open for further study in the advancement of women’s health care.

Doing so in an environment that is busy and demanding, but not exhausting, makes this program special. The residents, faculty and staff make it exceptional.

Learn More about the Residency

To Apply Expand answer

General Application Information

The Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency participates in the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS).

Interview Process

Interviews are granted to exceptional candidates following receipt of a complete ERAS application. Interview invitations are emailed, generally beginning around early October.

Interview days are generally Wednesdays in November and December. Sessions begin with a welcome and program overview from the Program Director, Associate Program Director and Department Chair. Interviewees will then speak individually with faculty members, fellows and residents.

Candidates, upon accepting the invitations to interview, are sent specific instructions from the Program Coordinator outlining the interview day.

Faculty Expand answer
Current Residents Expand answer
Past Residents Expand answer
About Penn State Health Expand answer

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A recently developed virtual tour showcases locations across Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pa.

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Penn State Health

Penn State Health is a multi-hospital health system serving patients and communities across 29 counties of Pennsylvania. Its mission is to improve health through patient care, research, education and community outreach.

In December 2017, the system partnered with Highmark Health to facilitate creation of a value-based, community care network in the region. The shared goal of Highmark and Penn State Health is to ensure patients in the community are within:

  • 10 minutes of a Penn State Health primary care provider
  • 20 minutes of Penn State Health specialty care
  • 30 minutes of a Penn State Health acute care facility

Learn more about Penn State Health

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine campus is seen in an aerial photo on a sunny day.

Penn State Health Children’s Hospital (left), Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (center) and Penn State Cancer Institute (right)

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

500 University Dr., Hershey, Pa., 17033 (Derry Township, Dauphin County)

  • The health system’s 647-bed flagship teaching and research hospital
  • The only medical facility in Pennsylvania accredited as both an adult and a pediatric Level I (highest-level) trauma center
  • Dedicated surgical, neuroscience, cardiovascular, trauma and medical intensive care units
  • Accredited Life Lion critical-care transport providing more than 1,100 helicopter and approximately 750 ground ambulance transports per year
  • More than 1,300 faculty members and more than 650 residents and fellows
  • Approximately 29,000 admissions, 73,000 emergency department visits, 1.1 million outpatient visits and 33,000 surgical procedures annually
  • Designated as a Magnet hospital since 2007

Learn more about Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Penn State Health Children’s Hospital

600 University Dr., Hershey, Pa. 17033 (Derry Township, Dauphin County)

  • An eight-story, 263,000-square-foot-facility built in 2013 and expanded in 2020
  • 146 licensed pediatric beds, 18 acute care beds and a 56-bed neonatal intensive care unit
  • Level IV (highest-level) neonatal intensive care unit
  • Level I quaternary (highest-level) pediatric intensive care unit
  • Level I (highest-level) pediatric trauma center designation
  • Intermediate care unit
  • Dedicated pediatric operating rooms
  • More than 150,000 pediatric outpatient visits and approximately 5,000 pediatric patient discharges annually

Learn more about Penn State Health Children’s Hospital

About Hershey: Benefits, Stipends and More Expand answer

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More About Hershey

Interested in learning more about living and working in Hershey, Pa.? See details here:

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Employment FAQs

Is parking a concern for residents in the program?

There is a large, well-lit, gated lot directly in front of the hospital where staff park at night. Most of the time, there is ample space in this lot. During the day, a lot to the side of the hospital in easy walking distance is utilized. The lot is safe and patrolled by security. Crime is very low in Hershey, Pa., and safety in the lot is rarely an issue. There is no cost for parking.

Are meals paid for when on call?
A meal stipend is placed on the resident ID card and renewed quarterly.

What is the family leave policy?
Residents participate in FMLA through Human Resources. Non-education-related absences are subject to approval from the administrative chief and the program director. To be able to sit for ABOG written boards, the cumulative sum of all absences/paid time off may not exceed eight weeks in sum of any given academic year for PGY-1 through PGY-3 residents, and six weeks for PGY-4 residents, with a total of 20 weeks maximum.

Is there reimbursement for educational supplies and books?

Each resident has an educational disbursement fund, which may be used for books and supplies.

How are residents represented at the institution level? How is the resident member of the Graduate Medical Education Committee selected?

Residents are represented through a Resident Council. The council is run through the office of Graduate Medical Education. Representatives from each specialty meet monthly to discuss institutional Graduate Medical Education issues. The representative for Obstetrics and Gynecology is selected on a volunteer basis. Learn more about Resident Council here.

Is there a union? Is membership mandatory? Are there dues?

There is no resident union at Hershey Medical Center.

Is there a House Officers Association?

See above.

Wellness Initiatives Expand answer

Wellness, including emotional, spiritual, social and physical health, is a crucial component to training and to becoming a professional, compassionate and resilient physician. Self-care is a skill which must be continually practiced and reinforced. Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health are committed to addressing wellness among residents and fellows, with multiple resources readily available.

Institutional resources

Graduate medical education resources

Diversity Expand answer

Institutional Resources

Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine celebrate, embrace and support the diversity of all patients, faculty, staff, students and trainees.

Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

In keeping with this, Penn State Health has an active Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with various programs, networks and resource groups, including:

  • Talks and lectures on diversity, equity and inclusion through the Inclusion Academy
  • Regular events on topics such as eradicating racism and creating a culture of inclusiveness
  • Many Business Employee Resource Groups (BERGs), including:
    • Disability Business Employee Resource Group
    • Interfaith Business Employee Resource Group
    • LGBTQ+ Business Employee Resource Group
    • Military and Veterans Business Employee Resource Group
    • Multicultural Business Employee Resource Group
    • NextGen Business Employee Resource Group

Learn more about the Penn State Health Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Learn more about the College of Medicine’s Office for Diversity, Equity and Belonging

Office for Culturally Responsive Health Care Education

The vision at Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health is to equip learners with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they will need to provide culturally excellent health care and research for an increasingly diverse U.S. population. The Office for Culturally Responsive Health Care Education was formed to help meet that goal.

Learn more about the Office for Culturally Responsive Health Care Education

Office for a Respectful Learning Environment

In addition, the institution does not tolerate discrimination, biases, microaggression, harassment or learner mistreatment of any kind, and any concerns are immediately addressed by the Office for a Respectful Learning Environment.

Learn more about the Office for a Respectful Learning Environment

Network of Under-represented Residents and Fellows
The Network of Under-represented Residents and Fellows (NURF) is a group of diverse residents and fellows representing all specialties. NURF’s goal is to promote cultural diversity in the residency programs through community involvement, mentorship with diverse faculty, professional networking and support for the recruitment of diverse medical students into the residency programs.

NURF is sponsored by the Penn State College of Medicine Graduate Medical Education Office and the Penn State Health Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Learn more information about NURF

Contact Us Expand answer

Mailing Address

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
500 University Dr.
P.O. Box 850, MC H103
Hershey, PA 17033-2390

General Contact Information

Fax: 717-531-0066

Curriculum Details

For details, see the program’s listing on the AMA FREIDA website.

Orientation Expand answer

Incoming residents are provided with both a general institutional and department-specific orientation program. The institutional orientation provides an overview of the graduate medical education office, employment requirements, HR benefits and integrated hospital systems (IT, imaging).

Departmental orientation comprises two to three days.  topics includes residency structure, curriculum requirements, professional billing and documentation, program policies, forms and schedules, and computer software systems used during residency. Simulation is done practiced, including pelvic exams, vaginal delivery, suturing and interpreting fetal monitoring strips. Tours of the inpatient and outpatient settings are included. Incoming residents will also spend time learning the process of a.m. and p.m. rounds and signouts.

All interns, as part of the orientation process, participate in the ALSO Course (Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics). This is done in conjunction with the Family and Community Medicine Residency (Hershey, Pa.) and occurs during June orientation activities.

PGY-1 Rotations Expand answer

Obstetrics

Hours are from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Rounding on the postpartum patients is done before team sign-out with faculty at 6:45 a.m. Obstetrics residents participate in perinatal conference on Fridays.

In the first half of the year, two PGY-1 residents are on the obstetric service with one resident covering day shift and one resident on night float. They divide their responsibilities between labor and delivery and floor coverage of antepartum and postpartum patients. A family and community medicine resident and a certified nurse midwife are also part of the team and work closely with the obstetrics residents.

Responsibilities include managing patients in labor and delivery under the supervision of the PGY-4 resident. Triage, admissions, labor/delivery, recovery and primary C-sections are covered by one of the interns. Floor responsibilities include managing postpartum magnesium patients, postpartum patients, contraception counseling, postpartum depression screening and breastfeeding issues.

Gynecologic Oncology

The average day is 12 hours. Rounds are done on inpatients with the PGY-1 resident. One to two days a week are spent in the operating room. The resident scrubs on all major cases, with open, straight-stick laparoscopy and robotic cases. One to two days a week are spent in the outpatient clinic with the PGY-1 residents and faculty. The resident on this rotation also participates in twice-monthly multidisciplinary pathology case conference.

Gynecology

The average day is 12 hours. The day begins with rounds with the team and the faculty before the OR start at 7:30 a.m. Interns are responsible for making sure the preoperative notes and orders are written the night prior to the surgery. The intern is expected to scrub for majors and participate in minors. Residents also attend surgical cases scheduled at the outpatient surgery center at the east end of campus.

Night Float

Night float hours are Sunday from 7 p.m. to 7:15 a.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 a.m. Monday through Thursday. The direct supervisor is a PGY-3 or PGY-4 resident and the on-call faculty attending/fellow. The PGY-1 resident on this rotation shares responsibility of labor and delivery, postpartum patients, nurse triage phone calls, ER consults and all in-house gynecologic or gynecologic/oncology patients with a PGY-2 or PGY-3 resident. There is a faculty attending covering gynecology backup and a Maternal Fetal Medicine attending covering obstetrical backup at home each night to support in house coverage. Residents attend Friday morning perinatal conference led by the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  While on Night Float, residents are excused from Wednesday afternoon didactics, but are expected to attend Thursday morning meetings.

Outpatient Clinic

Interns will shadow select faculty attendings for several sessions in the first half of the PGY1 year to acclimate to outpatient care.  Interns begin seeing patients in their own continuity clinic starting in the second half of the PGY1 year.

Family Planning

The average day is eight to nine hours. Interns participate with Early Pregnancy and Contraception clinics at Hope Drive staffed by the Complex Family Planning Attendings. There is also the opportunity to scrub for add on OR cases by the faculty as the need arises from patients seen in clinic.  The intern is responsible to presenting on a topic of their choice for all residents during weekly education towards the end of the block. Interns accompany the Complex Family Planning faculty on Fridays to Planned Parenthood on Fridays. Interns are supported to participate in patient care to the extent that the resident feels comfortable with.

PGY-2 Rotations Expand answer

Urogynecology

The average day is 12 hours. This begins with rounds before 7:30 a.m. OR begins. The resident’s primary role will be with all areas to develop and increase their surgical skills. Residents on this rotation are supervised by the PGY-4 Resident and Faculty.

Night Float/Gyn

Night float hours are Sunday from 7 p.m. to 7:15 a.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 a.m. Monday through Thursday. The direct supervisor is a PGY-3 resident and the on-call faculty/fellow. The PGY-2 resident on this rotation shares responsibility of labor and delivery, postpartum patients, nurse triage phone calls, ER consults and all in-house gynecologic or gynecologic/oncology patients with a PGY-3 resident. A gynecologic back-up physician and maternal-fetal medicine physician are on home call nightly. Friday mornings, residents attend perinatal conference run by the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Reproductive Endocrinology And Infertility

The average day is eight to nine hours. The day begins with assisting on in vitro fertilization monitoring and then transitions into the daily morning ultrasound session. The resident will assist with artificial reproductive techniques such as intrauterine insemination, oocyte retrievals and embryo transfers. The remainder of the day is spent in the outpatient setting with new and returning patients one-on-one with the attending. The resident assists faculty in the operating room each Wednesday. Cases are mostly robotic/laparoscopic/hysteroscopic with occasional open myomectomies.

Family Planning

The average day is eight to nine hours. Interns participate with Early Pregnancy and Contraception clinics at Hope Drive staffed by the Complex Family Planning Attendings. There is also the opportunity to scrub for add on OR cases by the faculty as the need arises from patients seen in clinic.  The intern is responsible to presenting on a topic of their choice for all residents during weekly education towards the end of the block. Interns accompany the Complex Family Planning faculty on Fridays to Planned Parenthood on Fridays. Interns are supported to participate in patient care to the extent that the resident feels comfortable with.

Maternal-Fetal Medicine

There are two residents on the MFM service with one designated to inpatient care and the other participating in outpatient care. The average day is 12 hours for the inpatient resident and 8-9 hours for the outpatient resident. Rounds on the antepartum maternal-fetal medicine service are conducted by the inpatient resident before OB sign-out at 6:45 a.m. The resident meets with the oncoming obstetric team to update them on the service and obtain feedback from outgoing Night Float personnel. Formal rounds are then conducted with the fellows and/or the faculty of the day. The outpatient resident reports to the clinic at 8 a.m. on most week days. Responsibilities include seeing returning patients, consults, ultrasound and interpreting non-stress tests. Time is also spent with the genetic counselor. Common areas to learn include diabetes management (gestational and pre-gestational), hypertension, coagulopathies and newly diagnosed anomalies. The resident on this rotation is responsible for presenting part of the perinatal conference on Fridays.

Research

This rotation is designed to increase exposure to bench research, research concepts and quality improvement, and to provide time for residents to begin their mandatory research project. Some clinical office and surgical care is performed on the rotation.

PGY-3 Rotations Expand answer

Reproductive Endocrinology And Infertility

The average day is eight to nine hours. The day begins with assisting on in vitro fertilization monitoring and then transitions into the daily morning ultrasound session. The resident assists with artificial reproductive techniques such as intrauterine insemination, oocyte retrievals and embryo transfers. The remainder of the day is spent in the outpatient setting with new and returning patients one-on-one with the attending. The resident assists faculty in the operating room each Wednesday.  Cases are mostly robotic/laparoscopic/hysteroscopic with occasional open myomectomies.  The resident’s level of participation and involvement increases as their exposure and educational level increases.

Maternal-Fetal Medicine

There are two residents on the MFM service with one designated to inpatient care and the other participating in outpatient care. The average day is 12 hours for the inpatient resident and 8-9 hours for the outpatient resident. Rounds on the antepartum maternal-fetal medicine service are conducted by the inpatient resident before OB sign-out at 6:45 a.m. The resident meets with the oncoming obstetric team to update them on the service and obtain feedback from outgoing Night Float personnel. Formal rounds are then conducted with the fellows and/or the faculty of the day. The outpatient resident reports to the clinic at 8 a.m. on most week days. Responsibilities include seeing returning patients, consults, ultrasound and interpreting non-stress tests. Time is also spent with the genetic counselor. Common areas to learn include diabetes management (gestational and pre-gestational), hypertension, coagulopathies and newly diagnosed anomalies. The resident on this rotation is responsible for presenting part of the perinatal conference on Fridays.

Night Float

Night float hours are Sunday from 7 p.m. to 7:15 a.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 a.m. Monday through Thursday. The direct supervisor is a PGY-3 or PGY-4 resident and the on-call faculty attending/fellow. The PGY-1 resident on this rotation shares responsibility of labor and delivery, postpartum patients, nurse triage phone calls, ER consults and all in-house gynecologic or gynecologic/oncology patients with a PGY-2 or PGY-3 resident. There is a faculty attending covering gynecology backup and a Maternal Fetal Medicine attending covering obstetrical backup at home each night to support in house coverage. Residents attend Friday morning perinatal conference led by the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  While on Night Float, residents are excused from Wednesday afternoon didactics, but are expected to attend Thursday morning meetings.

Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

The average day is 12 hours. Inpatient rounds are conducted before the OR start at 7:30 a.m., two or three days of the week. OR cases are mainly straight-stick laparoscopy or robotics. The remaining days are spent with minimally invasive gynecologic surgery faculty and fellows in the outpatient setting, consisting of pre-and post-operative patients and consults. Residents work one on one with faculty on laparoscopic skills using the trainer in the SIM Center and to prepare for the EMIGS test.

Outpatient

The average day is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The resident will participate in weekly clinics including colposcopy, contraception, acute needs and medical student teaching clinics. On Tuesdays and Fridays, the resident on this rotation will lead ICC-intermediate care obstetrics clinics. On Wednesdays, the resident serves as the labor and delivery chief to allow the PGY-4 obstetrics resident to participate in continuity clinic. Friday assignments include time for phone calls and administrative tasks.

Elective

This rotation consists of one consecutive five-week block. The resident will work in conjunction with a faculty member to design an elective with appropriate goals and objectives, and measurable outcomes.  The resident will submit the final proposal to Residency Program leadership for approval, and to the GME office, if requesting an elective outside of the Penn State Health system.

PGY-4 Rotations Expand answer

Gynecology

The average day is 12 hours. The day begins with rounds conducted before the OR start at 7:30 a.m. The resident’s primary role will be to increase surgical skills as a chief resident. Responsibilities also include overseeing PGY-1 residents and medical student teaching.

Night Float

Night float hours are Sunday 7 p.m. to 7:15 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Responsibilities include supervising and teaching PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents and medical students. This resident covers the maternal-fetal medicine floor, inpatient gynecologic and oncology services, phone triage and ER consults.

Gynecologic Oncology

The average day is 12 hours. Rounds are done on inpatients with the PGY-1 resident. One to two days a week are spent in the operating room. The resident scrubs on all major cases, with open, straight-stick laparoscopy and robotic cases. One to two days a week are spent in the outpatient clinic with the PGY-1 residents and faculty. The resident on this rotation also participates in twice-monthly multidisciplinary pathology case conference.

Urogynecology

The average day is 12 hours. This begins with rounds before the start of OR at 7:30 a.m. The resident’s primary role will be with all areas to increase their surgical skills. Residents on this rotation are supervised by Faculty and may assist in the supervision of PGY-2 Residents.

Obstetrics

The average day is 12 hours. The resident on this rotation assists the maternal-fetal medicine service, night float senior and PGY-1 residents with any patient care rounds, and also rounds on the women’s health antepartum patients. The resident participates in Obstetric sign-out at 6:45 a.m. This resident’s main responsibility is to teach the PGY-1 and to have primary responsibility for the running of the labor and delivery and postpartum floors. This resident also teaches the medical students while continuing training on high-risk management in labor and delivery, operative vaginal delivery and operative obstetrics. The resident will lead sign-out at 5:30 p.m. Residents on this rotation will attend perinatal conference on Fridays.

Outpatient

The average day is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The resident will participate in weekly clinics including colposcopy, contraception, acute needs and medical student teaching clinics. On Tuesdays and Fridays, the resident on this rotation will lead ICC-intermediate care obstetrics clinics. On Wednesdays, the resident serves as the labor and delivery chief to allow the PGY-4 obstetrics resident to participate in continuity clinic. Friday assignments include time for phone calls and administrative tasks.

Didactics Expand answer

A formal didactic curriculum, administered by departmental faculty, is established as protected time for all residents.

The basic obstetrics and gynecology (BOG) lecture series is designed for the PGY-1 residents, and is held in the first two months of residency. These lectures occur three times per week. Selected topics provide fundamental training in common obstetrics and gynecology issues.

The Wednesday education series is a repeating two-year curriculum which covers all of the CREOG educational objectives. With a few exceptions, the resident educational program is concentrated into these weekly Wednesday afternoon sessions from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Additionally, Residents and Leadership meet one Thursday morning per month from 7:00 to 7:50 a.m. The conferences held during this time period include:

  • Chair’s rounds
  • Chapter review
  • Journal club
  • Faculty lecture series
  • Grand Rounds
  • Simulation labs (approximately four per year)
  • Residency meetings
  • CREOG and board review lectures

In addition to the Wednesday afternoon education, residents have the opportunity to participate in:

  • Oncology/pathology reviews
  • Perinatal and neonatal intensive care unit Friday conference
  • Maternal-fetal medicine fellow education topics
  • Monthly GME-sponsored lectures
Research Expand answer

Research Requirement

Research is a valued and important part of resident education. Completion of a formal research project is required for graduation from the program. Research projects are either resident- or faculty-initiated. Residents must devise and propose their research to the Institutional Review Board during the PGY-2 year and conduct enrollment during the PGY-3 year. Each PGY-4 resident must present at the annual Resident/Fellow Research Day. Residents are encouraged to publish their presentation. Residents also have opportunities for other projects at their discretion.

Protected Time

PGY-2 residents spend 5 weeks on a research rotation. This includes exposure to bench research, research concepts and quality improvement, and time to design and begin the mandatory research project.

Conferences

Attendance at regional and national conferences is strongly encouraged. Residents are provided with annual funds for Educational Support purposes, and may apply for additional department funding for first author presentations at national conferences.

Mentoring Expand answer

All residents are provided with the opportunity to select a formal faculty mentor half way through the PGY1 year, although it is not required. Many residents will seek support and guidance for various aspects of their training such as a research mentor or surgical coach but the mentor should be a faculty member who is able to best support that resident’s personal and professional growth. The mentor can also serve as an advocate during reviews and meetings with Departmental leadership.

Teaching Expand answer

All residents are expected to contribute toward the development of medical students. At any one time, most services will have from one to three students assigned. Teaching is usually on a one-to-one basis during rounds or at the patient bedside. Residents may additionally develop more formal “lectures” on an individual basis.

Students accompany the residents throughout daily team activities with the exception of time to attend their own noon lecture series. There is no “protected” time for student teaching built into the schedule.

In order to improve teaching skills, quarterly lectures are provided to the residents by the GME office.

Performance Evaluation Expand answer

Residents are evaluated frequently during the course of training. This includes daily to weekly review of procedures and patient care and end-of-rotation summary evaluations. Periodic 360-degree evaluations are also provided by inpatient and outpatient clinical and support staff.  Residents also complete semiannual self-assessments to assist in planning for individual goals and educational needs.

Each resident reviews their portfolio twice yearly with the program director or the associate program director. During this interaction, milestone evaluation progress, end of rotation evaluations, and self-assessments are reviewed.

The review of procedures and patient-care evaluations are done real-time at the end of encounters so directed feedback can be elicited. A form is then generated to complete milestone assessments.

In addition, all residents sit for the CREOG in-service exam once each academic year.  Exam scores are not used as a measure for advancement, rather they are used to help structure an education program and highlight strengths and weaknesses for individual residents. Each resident meets with the Program Director to discuss their scores and areas in which they could benefit from additional study.

Residents who may benefit from a more formal, structured educational program are paired with a mentor who provides guidance in this endeavor. The mentor then devises a program in conjunction with the resident and program director.

Program Evaluation Expand answer

Residents provide ongoing feedback at monthly resident meetings and during the course of rotations. Formal reviews of the curriculum and program occur yearly. The residents evaluate each rotation upon completion. They also anonymously evaluate supervising faculty at the end of each rotation. Residents also complete an evaluation of the Wednesday education curriculum each year.

A comprehensive review of the curriculum occurs each year with the above information and input from residents and the Program Evaluation Committee.

Fellowships Expand answer

The residency has placed residents in gynecologic oncology, maternal-fetal medicine and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery fellowships. The department offers an ACGME-accredited Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship as well as a non-ACGME Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship.

Resident Honors and Recognitions

Exceptional Teachers Expand answer

Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center accept ongoing nominations for the Exceptional Moments in Teaching award.

The award, given monthly by the Office for a Respectful Learning Environment, accepts nominations from College of Medicine students who are invited to submit narratives about faculty members, residents, fellows, nurses or any other educators who challenge them and provide an exceptional learning experience. See more about the award here.

Previous nominees from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency are listed here. Click the + next to a nominee name to read their nominator’s comments.

Resident/Fellow Research Day Presentations Expand answer

The annual Resident/Fellow Research Day is held each year (with exception of during the COVID-19 pandemic) on and around the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center campus.

The intent of the event is to provide an opportunity for residents and fellows to showcase their research accomplishments to their peers in other clinical departments, as well as their colleagues in the basic sciences.

Learn more about Resident/Fellow Research Day here.

Previous presentations from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency are listed here.

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