Abstract
Purpose
Prior studies found that Ob-gyn trainees believe they have inadequate experience in the REI subspecialty. We evaluated the amount of time devoted to REI within the 4-year rotation schedule of ACGME-accredited Ob-gyn residency programs.
Methods
A list of current Ob-gyn residency programs, both with and without REI fellowships, was created using ACOG and ACGME databases. The programs’ websites were reviewed, or the program coordinator was queried to determine the length and year of REI rotation, and the career or fellowships pursued by alumni. Wilcoxon rank sum test was utilized to assess differences in total REI rotation time between REI-affiliated and non-affiliated programs. Spearman’s correlation was utilized to assess the association between total REI exposure and the percentage of alumni pursuing REI fellowships.
Results
Cumulative length of REI rotations throughout residency ranged from 0 to 20 weeks. Mean cumulative rotation length was greater in non-REI than in REI-affiliated programs (7.4 weeks vs. 6.1 weeks, p = 0.007). However, REI-affiliated programs had greater exposure to REI rotations during the first 2 years of residency (3.9 weeks vs 3.1 weeks, p = 0.042). Among all programs, 24% had the REI rotation in PGY-1, 61% in PGY-2, 50% in PGY-3, and 16% in PGY-4. The proportion of alumni matching in REI fellowship was significantly greater in REI-affiliated programs than non-REI affiliated programs (9.5% vs. 3.1%, p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Compared to non-REI affiliated programs, Ob-gyn residencies affiliated with REI fellowships spend less time throughout residency training in REI rotations while sending a greater proportion of residents to REI fellowships.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
Data is available by contacting corresponding author.
References
Singh K, Jaiswal D. Human male infertility: a complex multifactorial phenotype. Reprod Sci. 2011;18(5):418–25.
Education ACfGM. ACGME program requirements for graduate medical education in obstetrics and gynecology. https://www.acgme.org/Portals/0/PFAssets/Program Requirements/220_obstetrics and_gynecology_2016.pdf . Accessed 13 Sept 2014.
Urban RR, Ramzan AA, Doo DW, Galan HL, Harper L, Omurtag K, et al. Fellow perceptions of residency training in obstetrics and gynecology. J Surg Educ. 2019;76(1):93–8.
Goldman KN, Tiegs AW, Uquillas K, Nachtigall M, Fino ME, Winkel AF, et al. Interactive case-based learning improves resident knowledge and confidence in reproductive endocrinology and infertility(). Gynecol Endocrinol. 2017;33(6):496–9.
Steiner AZ, Fritz M, Sites CK, Coutifaris C, Carr BR, Barnhart K. Resident experience on reproductive endocrinology and infertility rotations and perceived knowledge. Obstet Gynecol. 2011;117(2 Pt 1):324–30.
Guntupalli SR, Doo DW, Guy M, Sheeder J, Omurtag K, Kondapalli L, et al. Preparedness of obstetrics and gynecology residents for fellowship training. Obstet Gynecol. 2015;126(3):559–68.
Borman KR, Vick LR, Biester TW, Mitchell ME. Changing demographics of residents choosing fellowships: longterm data from the American Board of Surgery. J Am Coll Surg. 2008;206(5):782–8; discussion 8–9.
Nelson BA, Rama JA, Weiss P, Hinkle LJ. How and why trainees choose a career in pediatric pulmonology. A qualitative study ATS Sch. 2020;1(4):372–83.
McNichols CHL, Diaconu S, Alfadil S, Woodall J, Grant M, Lifchez S, et al. Cosmetic surgery training in plastic surgery residency programs. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2017;5(9):e1491.
Nasca TJ, Day SH, Amis ES Jr, Force ADHT. The new recommendations on duty hours from the ACGME Task Force. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(2):e3.
Espey E, Ogburn T, Puscheck E. Impact of duty hour limitations on resident and student education in obstetrics and gynecology. J Reprod Med. 2007;52(5):345–8.
Gupta N, Dragovic K, Trester R, Blankstein J. The changing scenario of obstetrics and gynecology residency training. J Grad Med Educ. 2015;7(3):401–6.
Beyth Y, Hardoff D, Rom E, Ziv A. A simulated patient-based program for training gynecologists in communication with adolescent girls presenting with gynecological problems. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2009;22(2):79–84.
Dietrich JE, De Silva NK, Young AE. Reliability study for pediatric and adolescent gynecology case-based learning in resident education. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2010;23(2):102–6.
Alvero R, Lund K, Armstrong A, Vontver L, Schlaff W. The development of a computer-assisted curriculum in reproductive endocrinology and infertility for residents. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004;191(5):1777–81.
Diego D, Shandley LM, Feinberg EC, Cedars MI, Adashi EY, Kawwass JF, et al. REI clinics and fellowship training-a national snapshot to improve access to reproductive care. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2023;40(9):2101–8.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval
Our study was deemed exempt by the Northwestern University institutional review board as research not involving human subjects (IRB ID: STU00216090).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Zeidman, R., Feinberg, E.C. & Pavone, M. Exposure to the reproductive endocrinology subspecialty among obstetrics and gynecology residency programs. J Assist Reprod Genet (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-024-03127-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-024-03127-4