Choosing the right Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program is a pivotal step in your medical career. At Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, our four-year program is meticulously designed to cultivate exceptional physicians dedicated to women’s health. Accredited by the ACGME, our program goes beyond the standard requirements, offering comprehensive training that prepares residents for the complexities and rewards of modern OB/GYN practice, perfectly aligning with the goals of an Advocate Health Care Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Program Ob Gyn.
A Unique Training Environment at Lutheran General
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital stands out as a regional tertiary care center, seamlessly integrated with a strong community hospital ethos. This unique blend provides our residents with an unparalleled training environment. You will be exposed to a diverse and substantial patient population, ensuring you develop superior skills in both general obstetrics and gynecology, and gain specialized knowledge in all OB/GYN subspecialties. Our commitment to excellence has solidified our reputation as a leading advocate health care advocate lutheran general hospital program ob gyn.
Lutheran General’s designation as a level-one trauma center, coupled with a 56-bed level three NICU, underscores our capacity to handle the most complex cases. Our collaborative environment is enriched by outstanding departments and educational programs in internal medicine, surgery, family medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, neonatology, and emergency medicine, offering a holistic approach to patient care.
Robust Educational Affiliations and Opportunities
The Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology proudly serves as a primary clerkship site for the University of Illinois at Chicago and Rosalind Franklin University/Chicago Medical School. This academic integration enriches our program and provides residents with opportunities to engage in teaching and mentorship. Furthermore, we offer specialized medical student electives for fourth-year students in Maternal Fetal Medicine, Urogynecology, and Gynecology Oncology, fostering the next generation of OB/GYN professionals and reinforcing our position as a top advocate health care advocate lutheran general hospital program ob gyn.
Comprehensive Curriculum: Required Resident Rotations
Our rigorous four-year program is structured to provide well-rounded expertise through mandatory rotations in core areas:
- Obstetrics: Extensive experience in managing both low-risk and high-risk pregnancies and deliveries.
- Gynecology: Broad exposure to general gynecologic conditions, procedures, and patient management.
- Urogynecology (Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery – FPMRS): In-depth training in diagnosing and treating pelvic floor disorders.
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM): Specialized training in managing complex maternal and fetal conditions.
- Gynecologic Oncology: Comprehensive experience in the surgical and medical management of gynecologic cancers.
- Ambulatory Obstetrics and Gynecology: Focus on outpatient care, primary women’s health, and continuity of care.
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI): Training in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and endocrine disorders related to reproduction.
- Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU): Essential experience in managing critically ill patients in a surgical setting.
- Ultrasound: Dedicated training in both obstetric and gynecologic ultrasound techniques and interpretation.
Ambulatory Clinic: Your Foundation in Primary Women’s Health
A cornerstone of our program is the Ambulatory Clinic, designed to provide residents with comprehensive training in primary care for women. Through our continuity clinic, specialized subspecialty clinics, and a robust didactic program, you will develop essential skills in outpatient management.
Our independent outpatient clinic, conveniently located in the Parkside Office attached to the hospital, serves as your primary practice setting. Here, under the supervision of fourteen experienced generalist faculty members, you will manage your own panel of patients in a continuity clinic setting. These faculty members bring extensive expertise in teaching primary care and ambulatory OB/GYN, ensuring a supportive and educational environment. The clinic is equipped with the latest technologies, including urodynamics, 3-D/4-D ultrasound, and an electronic medical record system, to enhance your learning experience and patient care.
You will gain invaluable experience in the perioperative and postoperative management of patients with diverse medical complexities within these outpatient settings. Furthermore, our high-risk obstetrics clinic, located in the Parkside Perinatal Center, offers the unique opportunity to manage patients with intricate medical conditions affecting both mother and fetus. Our program emphasizes graduated responsibility, allowing you to progressively manage patient care under faculty supervision, maximizing both your learning and patient safety. By your senior year, you will be adept at managing the full spectrum of operations within an outpatient clinic, a testament to our commitment as an advocate health care advocate lutheran general hospital program ob gyn.
Gynecology: Surgical Expertise and Didactic Learning
Surgical training in gynecology is a significant component of our residency. Surgical cases are assigned based on graduated responsibility, ensuring you are appropriately challenged and supported at each level of your training. In 2019 alone, our department’s surgical volume included 528 hysterectomies via vaginal, laparoscopic/robotic, and abdominal approaches, performed by nationally recognized faculty. This high volume and diverse surgical experience ensures residents graduate with exceptional surgical skills.
Didactic learning is integrated into your daily routine through teaching rounds, monthly morbidity conferences, lectures, and Journal Clubs, fostering a deep understanding of gynecologic principles and practices.
Gynecologic Oncology: Comprehensive Cancer Care Training
Our Gynecologic Oncology division is comprised of three full-time specialists, providing robust training in this critical subspecialty. PGY 3 residents spend three to four months as the senior resident on the GYN Oncology rotation, preceded by a three-month junior resident rotation during PGY 2. This longitudinal exposure ensures a thorough understanding of oncologic principles and patient management.
Didactic learning is reinforced through daily teaching rounds and weekly conferences. Residents are expected to actively participate in a weekly multidisciplinary Gynecologic Oncology conference and an additional weekly multidisciplinary conference focused on breast cancer management, providing a holistic view of cancer care. With approximately 500 major oncology cases annually and growing, you will gain experience in a high-volume setting, preparing you to effectively address the oncologic needs of your future patients.
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI): Fertility and Endocrine Expertise
A dedicated one-month block during your second year is spent focusing on Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI), under the guidance of the experts at Fertility Centers of Illinois. This focused rotation provides concentrated learning in infertility management and reproductive endocrinology.
To ensure continuous exposure to REI principles, even when not on a dedicated REI rotation, surgical and hospital-based experiences are integrated within the gynecology service. A continuous curriculum of articles and learning modules specific to REI topics, supplemented by regular lectures from division members, enhances your clinical experience. Furthermore, collaboration with three other REI groups affiliated with our department, active in research, provides additional learning and research opportunities.
Urogynecology (Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery – FPMRS): Pelvic Health Specialists
Our Urogynecology division, staffed by four full-time faculty members, offers extensive training in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. Residents rotate through Urogynecology during PGY 2, 3, and 4, allowing for progressive skill development and increasing complexity of cases.
You will be exposed to a complete spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, including urodynamic testing, pelvic floor physical therapy, and non-surgical treatment protocols. Regular lectures from division faculty, integrated into the didactic curriculum, ensure a comprehensive understanding of urogynecologic principles and cutting-edge treatments.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM): High-Risk Obstetrics Leaders
Our Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) division is staffed by seven full-time perinatologists, offering comprehensive high-risk obstetrics services both within the hospital and at the nearby Parkside Perinatal Center. As a regional transport and referral center, we manage a high volume of complex MFM cases, providing residents with exposure to a wide array of high-risk conditions.
Our fetal surgery program is a highlight, offering advanced procedures including fetal blood transfusion, fetal shunt placement, in utero surgery for myelomeningocele, and laser placental surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. This advanced program places us at the forefront of fetal care and provides residents with unique learning opportunities.
High-Risk Obstetrics Patient Management: Diverse and Complex Cases
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital’s Level III designation as a high-risk obstetrical center means we receive maternal transports from a broad geographical area, representing a remarkably diverse patient population. The MFM division provides comprehensive care for both mother and child, including consultative and primary care for patients with medical obstetrical problems, as well as preconception counseling and pregnancy planning. Residents also gain exposure to genetics counseling through both the perinatal center and the independent hospital genetics center.
Daily teaching rounds on all high-risk patients during obstetrical rotations are a cornerstone of learning. Beyond clinical activities, the MFM division actively participates in weekly morbidity and mortality conferences focused on perinatal care and monthly lectures, ensuring continuous learning and quality improvement. With approximately 3800-4000 deliveries annually, encompassing both high and low-risk patients, you will gain extensive obstetrical experience.
Antepartum Testing and Ultrasound: Advanced Diagnostic Skills
Residents gain proficiency in antepartum testing for fetal well-being, including nonstress tests, biophysical profiles, and Doppler ultrasound of the fetal arterial and venous systems. Formal rotations in both OB and GYN ultrasound are integrated into the curriculum. A formal OB ultrasound rotation during PGY 1 and a dedicated gynecologic ultrasound rotation in PGY 2 ensure comprehensive training in ultrasound techniques and interpretation, essential skills for modern OB/GYN practice.
Electives, Emergency Training, and Research: Tailoring Your Expertise
Approved electives during your third and fourth years allow you to tailor your training to your specific interests. One elective month may be completed outside of Lutheran General Hospital, with program director approval, broadening your exposure and networking opportunities.
Comprehensive ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support), BLS (Basic Life Support), and NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) emergency response training are provided. ACLS training is initiated at the residency’s onset, BLS is required annually, and NRP training is provided during your 1st and 3rd years, ensuring you are prepared for any emergency situation.
Research is a priority at Advocate, supported by departmental members and a well-established research institute within the hospital. Research assistance is readily available and integrated into resident didactics. A 2-week research introductory rotation at the institute during PGY 1 lays the foundation for scholarly activity. Completion of a research project and a Grand Rounds presentation are graduation prerequisites, fostering a culture of inquiry and academic contribution. The Advocate Health Care system-wide research day provides a platform for residents to present their research, enhancing professional development.
Fellowship Success: Launching Your Future Career
Graduates of our program have consistently achieved successful fellowship placements in diverse subspecialties, including MIGS (Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery), MFM, REI, and Global Health. This impressive fellowship match rate reflects the strength and comprehensiveness of our training program, preparing you for a successful and fulfilling career in your chosen OB/GYN specialty. Choosing Advocate Lutheran General Hospital’s OB/GYN residency program is choosing a path to excellence in women’s health care and a bright future as an advocate health care advocate lutheran general hospital program ob gyn specialist.
