Experience That Lasts A Lifetime.

York Hospital's residency in obstetrics and gynecology is a four-year categorical program approved for three residents at each level. University affiliated, it is designed to train physicians for the general practice of obstetrics and gynecology, as well as to provide a solid foundation for further subspecialty training in fellowships. York Hospital is a tertiary care and regional referral center, serving a population base of over 620,000 as part of the WellSpan Health System.

Well-Seasoned, Credentialed Leadership.  

The OB/GYN Residency program is organized by the Program Director and Department Chair, Dr. Marian Damewood and Associate Residency Program Directors, Dr. Leslie Robinson, Dr. L. Martha Thomas, Dr. Patricia Reddy, and Dr. Eileen Garavente.

The teaching staff consists of two Perinatologists, two Reproductive Endocrinologists, one Gynecologic Oncologist, three Gyn Oncology Fellows, eight robotic surgeons, two laborists, five clinic preceptors and Obstetrician/Gynecologists with special interest and training in Urogynecology, six  Neonatologists, 30 highly trained and dedicated general teaching faculty Obstetrician/Gynecologists, six midwives, and two CRNP's.

A Well-Balanced Approach to Quality Education.

The first two years of residency concentrate on Obstetrics and Gynecology, with rotations on obstetrics (8 months), gynecologic surgery (8 months) and Outpatient.Gynecologic Surgery (1 month). In addition R-1 residents spend one month of Critical Care in an ICU setting. R-2 residents spend one month each on the introduction to the subspecialty areas of Perinatology, Reproductive Endocrinology/ Infertility, Urogynecology/Geriatrics and Minimally Invasive Surgery/Robotics and Gynecologic Oncology. Geriatrics training occurs in several settings including a nursing home, assisted living and a geriatric office setting with geriatric assessment.

In the program's third year, emphasis is placed on the four subspecialties.

A three to four month Maternal Fetal Medicine rotation includes full genetic services, intensive fetal assessment, high-risk obstetrical ultrasound and Doppler technique as well as a two week rotation in the NICU. A three to four-month rotation combines Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI), Women's Imaging, Urogynecology and Breast Disease.

The REI portion provides a wide range of microsurgery, diagnostic and operative endoscopic and laser techniques for the management of infertility. There.is also experience in Women's Imaging and Breast Disease for screening and diagnosis including mammography, bone densitometry, ultrasound, CT and MRI. The Urogynecology portion provides diagnostic evaluation, complex urodynamics and management of urinary incontinence and pelvic floor disorders in a dedicated weekly clinic as well as on-going surgical experience in this field. The Minimally Invasive Surgery rotation incorporates principles of advanced laparoscopy and training both in the laboratory and operating room in robotic surgery. York Hospital currently has 2 DaVinci robots in its operating rooms.

The final year of the program is divided between Gynecology, Obstetrics and Ambulatory Medicine. The Chief Residents take on a supervisory and leadership role and assume full responsibility for the Obstetrics Service, Gynecology Service and Ambulatory Women's Health Clinic. Chief Residents are also involved in Community Health Education programs for women of all ages.

A Careful Blending of Independence and Supervision.  

A simulated practice environment with continuity clinics during all four years, gives each resident an opportunity for collaborative care, decision making and independent action. Senior residents also act as consultants for patients of other services. Our residency program has the advantage of enabling residents to interact with primary care physicians and to acquire skills in the art of consultation. Great emphasis is placed on patient safety, transitions of care and handoffs, clinical guidelines, cost containment, quality of care, and process and performance improvement, in order to prepare our residents for success within tomorrow's health care environment.

Supervision is constant throughout training. The level of responsibility is progressive and is based on the development of skills and experience. Personal initiative, motivation and eagerness to learn are duly rewarded.

Comprehensive Outpatient Experience.

Over 10,318 outpatient visits in the residents' clinics provide a vast range of clinical cases and resident experience. Residents are responsible for the ambulatory and follow up care of their service patients, charged with the scheduling of diagnostic tests, procedures, return visits, and hospital admission as necessary. Throughout the four years, residents attend continuity clinics, with the chief residents and attending preceptors supervising and directing these activities. 
Attending obstetricians/gynecologists and subspecialists are present or readily available as teachers and consultants.

Diverse Inpatient Experience.

In order to ensure maximum exposure to a broad range of clinical problems and a wide variety of techniques and therapeutic approaches, our inpatient teaching service provides care to both resident service and attending faculty patients. Active resident participation is structured throughout the four years on the private, as well as, the resident teaching service in both obstetrics and gynecology.

York Hospital's inpatient obstetrical services is housed in a state-of-the-art LDR/LDRP facility which includes two Cesarean section rooms, one intensive care room and the latest computer technology.

Our annual deliveries are close to 3100, with about 600 deliveries on the residents' service. Ob/Gyn residents manage their own OB residents' service and assist in the Labor & Delivery management of attending OB patients. Over 95% of the patients are followed by electronic fetal heart monitoring during the labor. The residents assist in the management of the labor and delivery of attending faculty's patients, following these patients during the postpartum period. Fetal Pulse Oximetry and ultrasound are available on-premise. Twenty-four hour in house anesthesia services, attending and neonatal coverage further enhance this environment for effective teaching and comprehensive learning.  York Hospital has a Level IIIB NICU, caring for the most complex neonatal problems including extreme prematurity.

Gynecological surgical procedures are approximately 5,000 per year, with 99.9% available for resident participation. In conjunction with the care of resident service patients, the residents execute the pre-operative evaluation, maintain operative responsibilities and manage the post-operative period for private patients under the supervision of obstetricians/gynecologists and subspecialists. Residents are afforded the unique opportunity to acquire considerable surgical expertise in vaginal, diagnostic and operative laparoscopic, infertility, robotic and gynecological oncologic surgery in the traditional hospital operative suite and at a busy Outpatient Surgical Center.

A Strong Academic Foundation Enhances the Resident Clinical Experience.

Academic teaching is provided through weekly departmental meetings and Pathology, OB/GYN and subspecialty conferences (gynecology oncology, reproductive endocrinology, and maternal-fetal medicine). A Journal Club and Morbidity and Mortality Conference are held monthly. Guest lecturers of national and international reputation are regularly invited. The special educational sessions provide residents with tools and knowledge in total quality management, clinical guidelines and pathways, and business of medicine principles to prepare for current practice environments. Residents also attend one major US conference each year of their choice and are encouraged to attend local or regional meetings. Opportunities exist to learn about the latest advancements in basic and clinical sciences, research and patient care. Preparation for important testing is emphasized, including the CREOG in training examination and Board examinations.

Teaching is also imparted at the medical school level. York Hospital is a core hospital for Penn State Hershey, Jefferson Medical College, Drexel University College of Medicine, and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, and for the teaching of obstetrics and gynecology. Basic clerkships in obstetrics and gynecology, and elective rotations are offered throughout the year. The presence of medical students and other trainees allows residents to develop their own teaching skills as well. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology also conducts an active research program, with residents encouraged to become involved in ongoing research and required to participate in at least one research project during their four years of training.

A Stimulating, Challenging and Well-Structured Environment.

The OB/GYN Residency program of York Hospital maintains a critical balance between academic and clinical experiences, supplemented by primary care and subspecialty rotations. This balance enables residents to mature fully into well-qualified obstetricians/gynecologists, well-equipped to handle any challenges presented by the health care environment of tomorrow.

A dedicated 1/2 day of educational sessions is held each Wednesday morning covering a full core OB/GYN curriculum, pathology, primary care and subspecialty curriculum.

As a departure from didactic lectures, material is presented and discussed in a small group setting enhancing group discussion and  assimilation of information. Residents are given ample opportunity to engage in research and also to present topics at grand rounds. A day long off site retreat is held each year.

In addition, a weekly resident business meeting and regular team building sessions enhances communication and teamwork within the residency program.

A new state-of-the-art Simulation Center, opened in May 2008, provides new opportunities for education and evaluation of technical skills (e.g., laparoscopic trainers), teamwork, and interpersonal and communication skills (e.g., critical situation drills for shoulder dystocia, septic shock, etc.) and will play an increasingly important role in our curriculum.

Accreditation

The program was last reviewed by the Residency Review Commission in Obstetrics and Gynecology in fall 2008. York Hospital Ob/Gyn Residency received excellent evaluations with ongoing full accreditation.

A Supportive Environment.