A wealth of scholarly opportunities exists in the University of Chicago Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program. In addition to hands-on clinical training, residents participate in simulations and operative skills development. Multiple teaching sessions include both lecture and conference formats. Meet our Ob/Gyn faculty education leaders here.
Resident Didactics
Weekly Resident Didactic Sessions at the University of Chicago have been conducted via Zoom during COVID-19. Residents are excused from clinical duties during Friday morning didactic sessions.
- OB Conference: Wednesdays, 8am
- Multidisciplinary Complicated Gynecologic Oncology Conference: Fridays, 10am
- Grand Rounds: Fridays, 8am
- Gynecology Conference: Fridays, 10am
- Resident Lecture Series: Fridays, 9am & 11am
- Journal Club: 2nd Friday of the month, 9am (sub-specialty journal clubs are hosted 1x a month)
- Morbidity & Mortality Conference: Monthly
- Multidisciplinary Best Practices in Obstetrics Conference
- Intern's Club: Monthly
- Grand Rounds
- Obstetrics Case Conference
- Gynecologic Oncology Conference
- Urogynecology Conference
- Pelvic Pain and MIS Conference
Simulation Training
Grainger Center for Simulation and Innovation
- Breech vaginal delivery
- Informed consent
- LEEP
- Laceration repair
- Laparoscopy/endoscopy/DaVinci robotic training
- Operative vaginal delivery
- Gynecologic surgery
- Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS)
- Maternal cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Maternal postpartum hemorrhage
- Shoulder dystocia
Grand Rounds
Prior to graduation, all residents present a topic of their choice at Grand Rounds. Medical students from other institutions are welcome to join us on Friday mornings 8-9am CT. Sign up here.
Monthly Journal Club
All residents present at our journal club on the second Friday of each month. This allows them to critically analyze ongoing research in the field. Department sections also host journal reviews.
Evidence-Based Medicine Day
All second-year residents participate in Evidence-Based Medicine Day. This yearly exercise is conducted each spring and is supervised by a leading authority in evidence-based medicine. Residents who participate in this exercise learn to critically assess the evidence that supports general obstetric and gynecologic practices. Below is a list of presentations from our 2023 Evidence-Based Medicine Day:
Meagan Brockman, MD: Does paracervical block in nulliparous women decrease pain at the time of insertion in comparison to no block?
Nicole Byl, MD: Does double layer uterine closure decrease the risk of uterine rupture during trial of labor compared to single layer closure?
Alexis Hood, MD: Are ovarian reserve biomarkers reasonable predictors of future fertility in women with unknown fertility?
Erika Hripko, MD: For antepartum patients presenting to Labor & Delivery at the time of delivery, does stratification into a high-risk postpartum hemorrhage group reliably predict the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, as compared to patients who are stratified into a low-risk postpartum hemorrhage group?
Ayesha Kar-Kasal, MD: What is the post-void residual (PVR) threshold to straight catheterize or replace a foley catheter if a patient is experiencing post-operative urinary retention (POUR) after a hysterectomy?
Alexandra Lamacki, MD: For patients desiring postpartum sterilization, does bilateral salpingectomy confer greater surgical risk than bilateral tubal ligation?
Zhana Smith, MD: In patients undergoing cervical ripening for induction of labor, what effect on time of delivery does foley catheter traction have compared to not placing the foley catheter on traction?
Ellen Bechtold, MD: Does blunt versus sharp fascial expansion during cesarean section decrease postoperative pain?
Jayme Castillo, MD: Do fetal pillows reduce maternal morbidity?
Brittany Cline, MD: Does removal of cervical ripening double-balloon catheter after 6 hours in patients with unfavorable cervices decrease the time to delivery?
Sydney Dautel, MD: Does administration of diphenhydramine improve headache treatment efficacy?
Camille Johnson, MD: Is the levonorgestrel IUD effective as emergency contraception compared to the copper IUD?
Lateia Taylor, MD: Is oral Nifedipine or Labetalol more effective in the management of women with postpartum hypertension?
Nora Torres Yordan, MD: Late Preterm PPROM: Is it a waiting game?
Katherine Zhu, MD: In patients undergoing trial of labor after cesarean section, does amnioinfusion increase the rate of uterine rupture?
Mara Dubnow, MD: Does use of misoprostol for induction of labor have negative outcomes for fetuses with IUGR?
Alessandra Hirsch, MD: In nulliparous women undergoing induction of labor, does a “Pitocin break” of one hour or more decrease the rate of Cesarean section?
Whitney Lewandowski, MD: In women undergoing manual extraction of the placenta during the third stage of labor, does antibiotic prophylaxis prevent postpartum endometritis?
Blair Mitchell-Handley, MD: In women with postpartum depression, is treatment with medication (SSRIs) superior to expectant management for self-reported symptom improvement?
Kristen Pascoe, MD: In patients undergoing blood transfusion, how long after transfusion should a CBC be drawn that accurately (defined as Hgb stable over 24h) reflects the true patient’s Hgb?
Robyn Power, MD: Does reverse breech extraction of an impacted fetal head during Caesarean section increase maternal morbidity?
Naima Ross, MD: Does prophylactic misoprostol prevent postpartum hemorrhage?
Jocelyn Wascher, MD: Does self-administration of depo provera increase compliance?
Research Projects
All residents conduct and present research projects. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology's location at the University of Chicago allows our residents to have a myriad of collaborative research partner options - several members of our faculty have fully-funded research labs located on campus. As part of their training, residents conduct a wide range of research, including prospective studies, retrospective reviews, meta-analyses, cost-based analyses, and research lab-based projects.
Our residents have unlimited opportunities to meet their objectives. We provide a number of resources to foster their interests, including basic lectures on research, faculty mentorship, and funding for project needs, such as statistical support through the Health Studies Department. Many of our residents' projects are published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at societal meetings.
Meet some of our Faculty Researchers
Somasegar S, Hoppenot C, Kuchta K, Sereika A, Khandekar J, Rodriguez G, Moore E, Hurteau J, Vogel TJ. Outcomes after targeted treatment based on somatic tumor genetic testing for women with gynecologic cancers. Gynecologic Oncology. 2021 Online ahead of print; PMID: 34511240
Somasegar S, Weiss AS, Norquist BM, Khasnavis N, Radke M, Manhardt E, Pennil C, Pennington KP, Eckert MA, Chryplewicz A, Lengyel E, Swisher, EM. Germline mutations in Black patients with ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal carcinomas. Gynecologic Oncology. 2021 Oct; (1) 130-133. PMID: 34452747
Njoroge S, Kuriloff M, Mueller A, Perdigao JL, Dhir R, Rana S. The interval between births and the risk of recurrent preeclampsia among predominantly high risk women in urban tertiary care center. Pregnancy Hypertens. 2021 May 14; 25: 7-11. PMID: 34020331
Arenas GA, Tang NY, Mueller A, Perdigao JL, Kaur H, Abramowicz JS, Mussatt K, Yeo KJ, Rana A. Use of the angiogenic biomarker profile to risk stratify patients with intrauterine growth restriction. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2021 May 12; 3(4). PMID: 33991706
Somasegar S, Han L, Miller A, Wanjari P, Wang P, Bennett JA, Yamada SD. Phyllodes tumor of the vulva: A case report and literature review highlighting a novel manifestation of Cowden syndrome. Gynecol Oncol Rep. 2021 Mar 23; 36:100752. PMID: 33850997
Leffelman A, Laus K, Grandi C, Caruso D, deMartelly V, Wroblewski K, Iyer S. Postoperative Narcotic Use After Ambulatory Gynecologic Surgery. Journal of Gynecologic Surgery. Dec 2020; 36(6): 306-312.
Wascher JM, Stulberg DB, Freedman Lori R. Restrictions on Reproductive Care at Catholic Hospitals: A Qualitative Study of Patient Experiences and Perspectives. AJOB Empir Bioeth. Oct-Dec 2020; 11(4): 257-267. PMID: 32940553
Gargus, ES, Jakubowski KL, Arenas GA, Miller SJ, Lee SSM, Woodruff TK. Ultrasound Shear Wave Velocity Varies Across Anatomical Region in Ex Vivo Bovine Ovaries.Tissue Eng Part A. 2020 Jul; 26 (13-14): 720-732. PMID: 32609070
Iyer H, Lanier S, Dolivo S, Arenas GA, Hong SJ, Mustoe TA, Galiano RD. Allogeneic Decellularized Muscle Scaffold Is Less Fibrogenic and Inflammatory than Acellular Dermal Matrices in a Rat Model of Skeletal Muscle Regeneration. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2020 Jul; 146(1): 43e-53e. PMID: 32590650
Kurtz J, Steenbergh K, Kessler J, Vitous A, Barrett M, Sandhu G, Suwanabol P. What I Wish My Surgeon Knew: A Novel Approach to Promote Empathic Curiosotu in Surgery.J Surg Educ. Jan-Feb 2020; 77(1): 82-87. PMID: 31383612
Zanotti K, Somasegar S, Hooper MW, Hopp E. Improving Value-Based Care Education in a Fellowship by Incorporating ACGME Competencies. J Grad Med Educ. 2019 Dec; 11(6): 668-673. PMID: 37871567
Pooja Vyas. "Fibroids As a Risk Factor for Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) at an Urban Academic Institution: A Retrospective Observational Study." AAGL. November 2021. Austin, TX.
Ellen Bechtold. "Limited Differences in the Incidence of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis in Black Versus White Women with Pelvic Pain." ASRM. October 2021. Baltimore, MD.
Robyn Power. "Relationship Between Length of Gonadotropin Stimulation for In Vitro Fertilization and Embryonic Aneuploidy of Maternal Origin." ASRM. October 2021. Baltimore, MD. *Second Place Poster Prize
Jocelyn Wascher. "The Egg Factor: Does Maternal Age Impact the Risk of Embryonic Aneuploidy of Paternal Chromosomes." ASRM. October 2021. Baltimore, MD.
Lindsey Eastman. “The association of postpartum glucose values and persistent impaired glucose tolerance in women with gestational diabetes.” SMFM. January 28, 2021.
Pooja Vyas. “Impact of Overnight Formal Ultrasound on the Diagnosis of Ectopic Pregnancy (EP) Among Symptomatic Pregnancies of Unknown Location (PUL).” AAGL. November 2020.
Alyssa Kahan. “Impact of a Trauma Center and Surgical Priority Classification System on Gynecologic Emergency Surgery (GynES) Quality Measures. AAGL. November 2020.
Leffelman A, Schroer M, Senapati S. “Sim One, Do One, Teach One: Vaginal Hysterectomy Simulation for Resident Surgical Education.” Poster presentation. AUGS Annual Meeting. 2020.
Sharma AE, Moran A, Somasegar S, Chapel DB, Lastra RR, Lee NK, Ritterhouse LL, Bennett JA. “Low-Grade, Low-Stage Endometrioid Endometrial Adenocarcinoma: A Morphological and Molecular Study of 19 cases.” United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (ESCAP) 109th Annual Meeting. February, 2020. Los Angeles, CA.
Leffelman A, Laus K, Grandi C, et al. “Postoperative Narcotic Use After Ambulatory Gynecologic Surgery.” Podium presentation. AAGL Annual Meeting. November 11, 2019.
Leffelman (née Rugino) A, Somasegar S, Letko J. “Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Vesico-Vaginal Fistula Repair.” Video presetation. AUGS/IUGA Joint Scientific Meeting. September 2019. Nashville, TN.
Sydney Dautel, M.D: The treatment of an acute headache in pregnant and postpartum people
Ellen Bechtold, M.D.: Limited Differences in the Incidence of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis in Black Versus White Women with Pelvic Pain
Jayme Castillo, M.D.: An Initial Analysis of Hyperemesis Management in the Emergency Department
Brittany Cline, M.D.: Availability of Fertility Treatments at OB/GYN Residency Programs
Camille Johnson, M.D: Misoprostol use for induction-terminations among patients with prior cesarean sections: Part 2 of a retrospective chart review
Blair Mitchell-Handley, M.D.: What patients call gynecological conditions: A qualitative study
Lateia Taylor, M.D.: Bridging the gap: Accessing medical provider knowledge of infertility among Black women
Nora Torres Yordan, M.D.: Patient and Provider Acceptability of a Colposcopy Patient Education Video
Katherine Zhu, M.D.: Implementation of an Outpatient Cervical Ripening Program: Outcomes and Provider and Patient Perspectives
- Watch the recording of Resident Research Day 2023 with keynote speaker & UChicago ObGyn residency graduate Dr. Christina Lewicky-Guapp, MD, FACOG, FACS here.
Jocelyn Wascher, MD: Restrictions on Reproductive Care at Catholic Hospitals: A Qualitative Study of Patient Experiences and Perspectives
Mara Dubnow, MD: It Takes Two: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Improving Outcomes in Diabetes in Pregnancy
Alessandra Hirsch, MD: Voter Registration at Contraceptive & Abortion Clinics
Kristin Pascoe, MD: Pelvic exam under anesthesia by learners at the time of abortion: Who accepts and who declines?
Whitney Lewandowski, MD: Relationship between discharge medication delivery location and postpartum outcomes in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
Robyn Power, MD: The Lived Experience of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Assessed by Photo-elicitation Interview
Naima Ross, MD: Understanding patient experiences of control during the induction process: Implementation of the labor agentry scale
- Watch the recording of Resident Research Day 2022 with keynote speaker & UChicago ObGyn residency graduate Dr. Chesney Thompson here.
Gabriel Arenas, MD: Use of the Angiogenic Biomarker Profile to Risk Stratify Patients with Fetal Growth Restriction
Caroline Boerwinkle, MD: Misoprostol use for induction-abortions among women with prior cesarean sections: A retrospective chart review
Lindsay Eastman, MD: The association of postpartum glucose values with persistent insulin resistance in patients with gestational diabetes
Alyssa Kahan, MD: Impact of a Trauma Center and Surgical Priority Classification on Gynecologic Emergency Surgery (GynES) Quality Measures
Sahana Somasegar, MD: Outcomes After Targeted Treatment Based on Somatic Tumor Genetic Testing for Women with Gynecologic Cancers
Kylie Steenbergh, MD: A Missed Opportunity? Sexual Activity Screening and Referral to Gynecology Services among Adolescent Women with Chronic Disease in the Pediatric Subspecialist Setting
Pooja Vyas, MD: National Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Survey to Understand Management of Pregnancy of Unknown Location (PUL)