Obstetrics and Gynecology - MD (OBGYN)

The OB-GYN Clerkship is a four-week rotation that consists of hands-on clinical experience in various divisions and services provided by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The general Obstetrician Gynecologist acts as a referral specialist, provides consultative care, and serves as a primary care physician. The field also incorporates subspecialty care in the areas of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery (UPRS), Gynecologic Oncology (Gyn Onc), Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM), Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS), Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI), and Complex Family Planning (CFP). Students will have an opportunity to work directly with residents, physicians, advanced practice providers, and other health care staff to care for a diverse patient population.

An elective to provide advanced clinical experience involving community hospital OB/GYN, ambulatory OB/GYN, or selected subspecialties.

Active participation in evaluation and management of patients with gynecologic malignancies.

This course involves active participation in a community outpatient obseteric and gynecology practice.

This course provides exposure to basic concepts of diagnosis and management of infertility, and of reproductive endocrinologic disorders of women including hyperandrogenicity and anovulation. OBGYN 720A Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Elective (2.5) This course is designed to introduce third year medical students to the basic evaluation of human infertility, and expose them to current technologies for addressing the problem. Additionally, students will be introduced to clinical reproductive endocrinology in women, including the underlying biochemical and hormonal basis of normal function, and the recognition and management of common disorders. This will include exposure to genetic and clinical research, and the interplay between what are seen as reproductive endocrine disorders and broader human endocrinology. Experiences will include participation in infertility clinics, endocrinology clinics, vaginal ultrasound sessions, and egg retrieval and embryo transfer procedures.

Active participation in evaluation and management of outpatient/endocrinology/ infertility problems.

The Acting Internship in Maternal Fetal Medicine focuses on expanding baseline knowledge in obstetrics, and to focus on complex and unique care of pregnancies complicated by maternal and fetal medical and surgical co-morbidities. It is the intention for the acting intern to be exposed to facets of the sub-specialty, including inpatient and outpatient consultative services, rounding on and coordination of care for the inpatient service at Hershey Medical Center, surgical exposure with Maternal Fetal Medicine sub-specialists and increased exposure to fetal ultrasound.

This course provides exposure to basic concepts of management of high risk pregnancies and medical complications of pregnancy. OBGYN 722A Perinatology Elective (2.5) This course is designed to introduce third year medical students to the basic concepts of high risk obstetrics, and expose them to current technologies for monitoring fetuses and diagnosing prenatal disorders. They will review the human physiologic adaptations of pregnancy, and understand the relevance to everyday clinical situations. They will be exposed to genetic counseling, screening, and diagnosis, including the ethical impact of current knowledge and technologies. Finally, they will be exposed to the impact of pregnancy on systemic disorders, such as hypertension, and the impact of those disorders on the health and development of the fetus.

The Family Planning elective course will enhance patient-centered communication and counseling via outpatient clinical experiences in established early pregnancy and contraception clinics at Penn State, as well as a local Planned Parenthood affiliate clinic providing outpatient abortion care in the first trimester. Students will practice history-taking, review of ultrasound imaging in early pregnancy, and patient-centered counseling. Students may also have the opportunity to assist in procedures under sedation in the main operating room at HMC and at the Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center, as patient care dictates and schedules allow.

This 2-week 4th year elective is designed specifically for students transitioning into their Ob/Gyn internship. In order to better prepare our students here at Penn State COM to meet the ACGME level-1 Obstetrics and Gynecology milestones, we will introduce and/or refresh the following core competencies: perform basic obstetric skills, review intrapartum management, demonstrate basic surgical techniques, recognize obstetric and gynecologic emergencies, preparation for endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures, the basics of ultrasonography, appraisal of the literature, and advanced communication skills, such as hand-offs, consults, and triage. The course content will be delivered in three forms: formal didactic lectures, case-based learning, and simulation exercises for hands-on experience. Simulation exercises include vaginal delivery, Cesarean section, cook catheter placement, hysteroscopy, D&C, simple perineal laceration repair, long-acting reversible contraceptive insertion and surgical skills workshop involving suturing and knot tying. Students will be exposed to the APGO preparation for residency knowledge assessment to evaluate their understanding of ACGME level-1 Ob/Gyn milestones.

This course provides students with a 2-week, immersive experience in the inpatient Labor and Delivery/Night Float services at Hershey Medical Center. Students will participate on a greater, more independent level alongside attendings, laborists, residents, and nurse midwives. The student will be expected to fulfill the duties of an intern including but not limited to admitting and following patients in labor, seeing and managing triage patients, participating in vaginal, operative and cesarean deliveries, assisting with tubal ligations, rounding on antepartum or postpartum patients, and triaging postpartum issues. Students will learn how to care for patients with antepartum complications, manage labor and obstetrical complications, and provide post-partum care. This course provides an excellent opportunity to further enhance medical knowledge as well as prepare students for a possible residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

This 2-week elective will introduce students to the basics of female pelvic floor disorders including prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence, and others. A strong understanding of relevant anatomy and physiology will form the basis for a successful rotation evaluating, counseling, and participating in treatment of pelvic floor disorders.

A forum for collaborative research on an individual basis in areas of obstetrics and gynecology, including reproductive biology and endocrinology.

OBGYN individual studies for 3rd year.

Formal courses given on a topical or special interest subject which may be offered infrequently.