Outpatient US Clinical Experience in Obstetrics & Gynecology in Chicago

Information about this clinical experience:

This clinical experience will be under the supervision of a board-certified physician in obstetrics and gynecology. The physician holds a hospital appointment at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and is Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Rotators will have the opportunity to see patients with a wide range of obstetric and gynecologic problems including but not limited to the following:

• Sexual pain

• Pelvic pain

• Endometriosis

• Uterine fibroids and polyps

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome

• Vaginal infections and STIs

• Vaginal dryness

• Abnormal uterine bleeding

• Postmenopausal bleeding

This specialist is particularly well versed in the evaluation and management of conditions in obstetrics and gynecology that are common but receive less attention during medical school and residency training. Therefore, under this physician’s guidance, you will become more confident in how best to approach patients with the following types of problems:

• Menopause: Multiple studies have shown that many residents graduate with gaps in their education regarding the management of menopause symptoms and related conditions. In a 2023 survey, only 31% of residency programs reported having any type of menopause curriculum.

• Female Sexual Dysfunction: Over 40% of women report issues related to sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and/or pain with impacts on quality of life, relationships with their partners, and emotional health. As common as these problems are, many physicians are uncomfortable managing these patients because of a lack of knowledge and training. In one study, when asked to rate their comfort level in evaluating and treating these issues on a 10-point scale, over 20% of obstetrician-gynecologists graded their comfort level as 3 or less. As a result, many women feel dissatisfied with the care that has been available to them.

• Chronic Pelvic Pain: Although the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology has made training in the evaluation and diagnosis of female pelvic pain a priority, many residents graduate with gaps in their knowledge.

After a few days of observation, you will take on an increasing role in patient encounters and learn the following under the preceptor’s supervision:

• Taking patient histories under supervision.

• Presenting patients.

• Write or enter notes in the EMR (eClinicalWorks)

• Researching the literature to answer clinical questions at the point of care.

• Spending time with other healthcare professionals to understand their roles and responsibilities.

Rotators should be aware that you will split your time between the preceptor and the nurse practitioner. At the end of the rotation, the rotator will be expected to deliver a topic presentation. This will be an excellent opportunity to highlight your communication skills to the preceptor.

Please note that there may be opportunities to take part in abstracts or case reports. The availability of these projects are at the discretion of the preceptor. Interested rotators should discuss their interest with the preceptor early in the rotation.