Description

This subinternship is designed for the fourth-year medical student who is seriously interested in pursuing a career in obstetrics and gynecology.

This rotation provides an intense experience in high-risk obstetrics, but also offers exposure to prenatal ultrasound diagnostic and evaluation techniques, fetal surgery, and maternal cardiac conditions.

Specific goals

1. Participate as an integral part of the high-risk obstetrical service
2. Refine history and physical examination skills
3. Formulate a detailed problem list and prioritize management
4. Learn cost-effective evaluation of obstetrical, medical, and surgical problems during pregnancy
5. Learn postoperative management of complicated post-surgical obstetrical patients
6. Learn the development of an ongoing help plan for complicated obstetrical patients

Activity outline

Clinical

• Understand the maternal and fetal implications, clinical course, management, and complications of:
  • Common endocrine disorders of pregnancy (diabetes and thyroid)
  • Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (essential, preeclampsia, and collagen vascular disorders)
  • Common infectious disorders of pregnancy
• Participate in the evaluation of inpatient and outpatient high-risk consultations with the attending physician
• Perform histories and physical examinations, radiologic and laboratory review, and plan development and daily rounding on assigned patients admitted through the Antepartum Obstetrical Service
• Discuss necessary treatment recommendations with the senior or chief resident
• Review work-ups with the appropriate consultant and perform and document an appropriate history and physical on all assigned patients
• Document patient progress with daily notes to be done before morning rounds
• Review literature appropriate for the obstetrical, medical, or surgical conditions of the patient
• Understand the normal anatomy that can be seen on routine obstetric ultrasound
• Understand the sonographic findings and implications of the more commonly noted fetal anomalies seen during an obstetric ultrasound
• Understand the sonographic markers used for evaluation of aneuploidy
• Acquire operative skills as an assistant on the obstetrical team
• Review appropriate obstetrical pathology
• Learn obstetrical procedures for prenatal diagnosis, antepartum intervention, and obstetrical delivery
• Manage postoperative patient problems appropriately
• Round on the patients in the late afternoon or after surgery and follow-up on problems
• Participate in postoperative outpatient visits

Miscellaneous

• Attend and participate in all obstetrical conferences and morning rounds
• Present cases and papers to peers for educational purposes
• Communicate with cross-coverage, appropriately "signing out" patients
• Maintain good communication with the consultant, senior or chief residents, patients, and family members to discuss progress and problems
• Ensure that all hospital orders are co-signed by a senior resident on the service or on-call resident
• Maintain the highest standards of integrity, efficiency, and dependability as the acting surgical intern
• Not schedule any absences during the subinternship

Method of evaluation

Evaluation is based on the student's level of participation and display of interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, teamwork, and patient care. Verbal feedback will be provided during a mid-evaluation meeting with the attending/consultant and written evaluation will be provided at the end of the rotation.

Per Mayo Clinic institutional policy, faculty and residents/fellows will not complete any outside evaluations. You will be provided with an electronic performance evaluation via Mayo Clinic’s MedHub portal. A final summative evaluation will be sent to you and your school official upon completion of your clerkship.

Additional application requirement for Obstetrics/Gynecology

Each applicant must have USMLE Step 1 score; COMLEX cannot replace USMLE Step 1. A personal statement and letter of recommendation is also required. Completion of a visiting rotation will not automatically guarantee an interview offer during the residency application cycle.