Obstetrics and Gynecology

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology has major student-teaching responsibilities in all four years of the curriculum.

The department coordinates teaching for the course in reproductive pathophysiology and human sexuality during the second year. Department faculty co-direct the Problem-Based Learning Course and serve as facilitators.

Third-year teaching involves a six-week core clinical clerkship, consisting of two weeks on ward obstetrics and delivery room experience, and two weeks on an inpatient gynecology service. During the third two-week block of the core clerkship, students have an ambulatory exposure to benign gynecology and well-women care with emphasis on pap smear screening, contraception and preventive care. Third year clerkship sites include the Tufts Medical Center, Baystate Medical Center, St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Cambridge Hospital, Metrowest Medical Center and Eastern Maine Medical Center. History and physical examination are stressed with emphasis on the antepartum evaluation of the pregnant female; pre- and postoperative gynecologic care, and exposure to the subspecialties of high-risk obstetrics, gynecologic endocrinology and infertility, and gynecologic oncology. The student didactic program of core subjects is given at all institutions by the department faculty and house staff. Attending staff rounds are held daily, and students attend all resident and staff conferences.

In the fourth year, ward elective rotations are available in general obstetrics and gynecology, and the subspecialties. Ambulatory electives in outpatient setting and practitioner's offices, as well as research electives, are available. The Tufts University Affiliated Residency Program is a fully accredited four-year postgraduate training program in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Residents rotate between the New England Medical Center, St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Cambridge City Hospital and Metrowest Medical Center. Fellowships in maternal-fetal medicine and genetics are also offered. The Baystate Medical Center also has an independent, fully-accredited residency program.

At the New England Medical Center, clinical research projects currently in progress include the Gynecologic Oncology Group protocols for gynecological cancer, research focusing on evidence based medicine, basic investigation in prenatal diagnosis, genetics and reproductive endocrinology. The Department also has active divisions of pelvic and reconstructive surgery, prenatal diagnosis and genetics, and adolescent and pediatric gynecology.