Program Overview
Our integrated fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) represents an educational collaboration between the MFM divisions at Endeavor Health (formerly known as NorthShore University Health System) and the University of Chicago (UC). Our ACGME-accredited program trains four fellows at a time to become subspecialists and consultants in the care of pregnant people with complicated pregnancies.
Under the guidance of Program Director Dr. Erin Tran, Associate Program Director Dr. David Ouyang, and UC Site Director Dr. Andrew Rausch, our fellowship provides extensive clinical experiences in the management of complex pregnancies as well as a wide breadth of research and educational opportunities
Program Aims
- To train clinically outstanding subspecialists in MFM who provide evidence-based, empathetic, and equitable care to pregnant people with complicated pregnancies as well as comprehensive consultative services to their care teams.
- To expand our fellows’ skills of scientific inquiry to build a foundation for their future engagement in scientific research and critical interpretation of medical literature.
- To develop enthusiasm and excellence in clinical teaching and education.
- To support and foster our fellows’ unique interests and strengths to help them achieve their highest potential.
Clinical Experience
Our fellowship boasts unique training opportunities in two clinically busy, demographically diverse settings: the University of Chicago Medical Center located in Hyde Park on the South Side of Chicago and the Endeavor Health system (formerly known as NorthShore University HealthSystem) located just north of Chicago in Evanston, Illinois and the surrounding North Shore communities.
- Extensive clinical opportunities in high-risk obstetrics at both a renowned academic medical center as well as one of the largest integrated health systems in the state of Illinois.
- A large, diverse catchment area further enriched by a level III referral network covering an annual delivery volume of >39,000 pregnancies.
- Robust MFM faculty including 19 board-certified MFM subspecialists with fellowship training spanning 12 different institutions.
- Opportunities to gain skills in the full scope of Family Planning procedures and counseling both within our MFM divisions as well as through elective opportunities with Advanced Family Planning specialists at Endeavor and UC.
- Training in advanced obstetric procedures including amniocentesis, CVS, PUBS, vaginal breech extraction, operative delivery, vaginal cerclage, and abdominal cerclage.
- A wide range of other elective opportunities including but not limited to:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiology
- Critical care
- Fetal echocardiogram
- Neonatology
- Humanities/Creative non-fiction writing
- Perinatal pathology
- Fetal surgery
- Pediatrics genetics, and more!
Opportunities to rotate in specialized multidisciplinary clinics including the OB/Cardiology clinic, MFM/endocrinology clinics, fellows’ consult clinic, and Fetal-Neonatal Care Clinic.
Research Experience
Our program offers a wide breadth of research opportunities for fellows with direct mentorship from leaders in our field. With over $100 million in annual research funding, the UC Medicine system offers a multitude of clinical, translational, and basic science research opportunities. Furthermore, the Ob/gyn department at Endeavor Health was awarded more than $15 million in research funding in 2022-2023 and has been an active participant in the NICHD-sponsored Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit network since 2004.
- Fellows in our program are guaranteed at least 12 months of protected research time to pursue their research interests and develop a fellowship thesis.
- Access to federally-funded clinical, translational, and basic science research labs with a wide range of research interests.
- Opportunities to participate in state-wide clinical and research initiatives aimed at improving maternal and neonatal outcomes in Illinois through the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ILPQC).
- Multiple opportunities for internal and external research funding for fellowship research projects.
Education Experience
Our fellowship offers a comprehensive educational curriculum to complement our robust clinical and research experiences. Fellows participate in weekly protected didactics, monthly journal clubs, fellowship book club, and quarterly simulation sessions in our state-of-the-art simulation center. Fellows also have the option to apply for a variety of unique educational and degree programs through UC (see below). We pride ourselves in working to support and grow each fellow’s unique interests.
- Fellows have protected didactic sessions every Friday afternoon featuring a variety of important MFM-related topics and speakers.
- Fellows also attend weekly educational conferences including Grand Rounds, Perinatal Conference, and the Fetal-Neonatal Care Conference.
- Fellows participate in quarterly simulation sessions in Endeavor Health’s high fidelity 13,000 sq ft simulation center. Examples of recent simulation session topics include perimortem C section, delivering difficult news, amniocentesis and CVS, medical obstetric emergencies, and more.
- Fellows participate in monthly journal clubs and chapter reviews.
- Our fellowship book club meets every 2-3 months to discuss books relevant to our field of women’s reproductive health.
- Sessions often include discussions with the books’ authors or other topic experts.
- Recent book selections include “Scarlet A: The Ethics, Law, and Politics of Ordinary Abortion” by Katie Watson, “The Viral Underclass” by Steven Thrasher, and “This Body I Wore: a Memoire” by Diana Goetsch.
- Fellows participate in quarterly OB/Cardiology multidisciplinary care conferences with members of the Endeavor Health MFM and Cardiology divisions.
- Fellows have the option to apply to multiple unique educational opportunities/degrees through UC including:
- Fellowship in Clinical Medical Ethics through the world-renowned MacLean Center
- Summer Program in Outcomes Research Training
- Master of Science in Public Health Sciences for Clinical Professionals
- Medical Education, Research, Innovation, Teaching, and Scholarship (MERITS) Program
- Community Champions Program
How to Apply
Candidates may apply through ERAS Fellowships Applications, an online application service. The application deadline is April 28, 2024. The fellowship positions begin on August 1st each year. The notification date for interview offers will be May 20, 2024.
- May 28, 2024 is the initial deadline to accept or decline interviews.
- Interview dates: July 12, July 19, August 9, August 23
- Match Day: September 25, 2024
Additional information regarding application requirements can be found here.
Follow us on Twitter & Instagram:
- Twitter: @UChicagoNorthShore_MFM_Fellowship
- Instagram: @MFM_fellow_uchicago
Erin Tran, MD
Program Director
Andrew Rausch, MD
Associate Program Director
