Fellowships
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Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Fellowship
Goals
Our goal is to train academic leaders in Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery from Obstetrics & Gynecology and Urology. Specifically, we expect graduates to advance the science of the discipline through research, demonstrate excellence as mentors and educators, and provide outstanding clinical and surgical care. Our fellowship program is organized to optimally teach fellows the necessary skills as well as balancing in and out-patient clinical-surgical care, scholarship, and research. We believe learning to balance these activities during training is essential to continued success as academic leaders after graduation. Educational Objectives of the Program:
Clinical Fellows develop clinical expertise in diagnostic and operative office endourology (cystoscopy, intravesical injection, and stent removal), urodynamic testing, neurophysiologic testing of the pelvic floor, including electromyography and sensory nerve testing, and pelvic floor ultrasound.Our surgical practice is diverse, including a variety of procedures for urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and fecal incontinence; complex fistulas; vaginal reconstruction; continent and incontinent urinary diversions; resection of bladder tumors; and endourologic procedures. Our fellows are well-trained in abdominal, vaginal, laparoscopic and robotic pelvic reconstructive surgery. Fellow’s schedules are planned to enhance balanced research, scholarship, and clinical care. Fellows are prohibited from participating in non-emergent clinical care during research and academic time. Over the 15-years we have been at Loyola, this balance is well-established, and although, flexibility is necessary due to vacation and personal issues, the balance is working well for our fellow’s education. Education The Research Conference is held on Wednesday after the department educational conferences and is comprised of all involved FPRMS faculty, fellows, residents, and staff involved in research activities. We review on-going trials and new study concepts from fellows and faculty and update the group regarding NIH Urinary Incontinence Treatment Network and Pelvic Floor Disorders Network activities. Fellows learn about all aspects of research including study design, implementation, recruitment and retention strategies, data collection and management, and data analysis and dissemination. This unique, regularly scheduled interdisciplinary research conference also teaches fellows the importance of teamwork and continued oversight for successful research. Following research conference, all FPMRS faculty and fellows attend FPMRS divisional conferences. This two hour block of time is protected and mandatory for both the faculty and fellows, demonstrating the high value all FPMRS faculty place on scholarship. During these conferences, Case Conference and the FPRMS Conference, we cover the FPMRS learning objectives as well as different aspects of the FPMRS curriculum. The Case Conference includes FPMRS faculty, fellows, residents, and medical students as well as physical therapists, urologists, physiatrists, and gastroenterologists. During this conference, we formally present all surgical cases for the following week in addition to other “interesting”, multidisciplinary cases. This aspect of our curriculum includes discussion of the evaluation and management of pelvic floor disorders; however, it is also where we address peri-operative management of medical co-morbidities and risk factors such as deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis, bowel preparation, cardiac risk factors, etc. We use this opportunity to review the current literature on these topics. The FPMRS Conference is a didactic/problem-based learning session. The content and format of this conference varies. Fellows and residents are assigned topics selected from the “Guide to Learning in Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery” sponsored by ABOG and ABU. This aspect of our curriculum covers each of the listed learning objectives every two years. Fellows also learn to evaluate the literature, prepare seminars, and practice their oral presentation skills. Additionally, colleagues from other disciplines and the basic sciences regularly present their research during this conference. Faculty lead round table discussions on historic and current topics in FPMRS. We also separately cover issues of practice based medicine and coding during FPMRS Conference; although, these are routinely coverer during the fellow’s clinical education as well. Research To prepare for academic careers as independent clinical scientists in women’s health care and pelvic floor disorders, we require FPMRS fellows to acquire the following clinical research skills:
Additionally, as evidence of their mastery of clinical research and potential to become independent clinician scientists, they are required to do the following prior to completion of the program:
The research training program is designed to provide each fellow with the mentorship, opportunities, and time to achieve each of the listed items. Fellows continue to develop more advanced hypotheses and design prospective studies during the three years. We support and expect fellows to lead and participate in multiple high-quality research studies that result in publication. Part of the research curriculum includes a step-wise approach to concept development. They also have the opportunity to spend dedicated time in a basic science laboratory or develop translational projects with the help of basic science faculty. Believing that fellow education is paramount, all faculty have dedicated weekly academic time to meet fellows for one-and-one mentoring at the fellow’s discretion. We also believe adult education should be tailored to the individual’s goals and allow off-site and overseas electives when appropriate. Scientific meetings |
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