Complex Benign Gynecology Fellowship

Fellows actively participate in all aspects of inpatient and outpatient care of patients seen by our CBG faculty and receive one-on-one training in the evaluation and management of complex gynecology patients. 

CBG Specialty Clinics:
Fellows spend approximately 1 – 1.5 days in specialty CBG clinics, including the Complex Benign Gynecology Referral Clinic, the Endometriosis Center, and the Pelvic Pain Consultative Clinic. Through this experience, fellows acquire valuable exposure to the minimally invasive approach to common gynecologic complaints such as abnormal uterine bleeding, uterine fibroids, and adnexal masses. Fellows will also gain extensive experience in the multi-system and multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation of chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis. 

Surgical Experience:
Fellows spend approximately 2-3 days in the operating room, taking a hands-on role in all surgical cases performed by the CBG faculty. In addition to time spent in the operating room, fellows will further refine their skills in surgical simulation labs and cadaver labs done jointly with GYN oncology and urogynecology.

Off-Service Rotations and Electives:
All CBG fellows at U-M Medical School will have the opportunity to spend one month each year on the gynecologic oncology service. During these rotations, our fellows participate in both the medical and surgical care of patients and gain important exposure to the preoperative evaluation, screening, and evaluation of gynecologic malignancies. Additional elective time can be used to rotate in outpatient clinics within urogynecology, vulvar disease, and advanced pain care.

U-M Medical School is recognized as one of the premier residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology in the United States, and CBG fellows play an integral role in the education of residents and medical students within the department. One resident (PGY3 or PGY4) and one or more medical students are assigned to the division for each rotation. In addition to teaching on daily work rounds and in the operating room, fellows are asked to prepare and deliver formal lectures and seminars for the resident core curriculum and to lead the discussion at department journal clubs.

Fellowss have numerous opportunities to receive formal training and mentorship in research, including a structured statistical curriculum for all fellows and advanced trainees. An important ancillary goal of the two years of clinical training is to provide a framework in which the fellow can learn to balance the demands of clinical care with those of scholarly pursuits, including ongoing clinical research and manuscript preparation.

Under the supervision of the Program Director, fellows will be expected to complete one independent research project, culminating in a presentation at a national meeting and at least one publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Research time will be allocated on a weekly basis according to the service month, and semi-weekly CBG division research meetings will serve as the forum to discuss and review the progress of fellow projects.

Sample Research Timeline:

A sample research timeline for appropriate progression for our two-year program is as follows:

• Phase 1: Year 1 (August – September)
  • Identify Research Question
    • Review the literature and establish a relevant and important research question
    • State testable hypothesis and specific aims of the study
• Phase 2: Year 1 (October – November)
  • Design research study and methods
  • Submit IRB
• Phase 3: Year 1-2 (January – December)
  • Collect data
• Phase 4: Year 2 (January – June)
  • Analyze results
  • Prepare manuscripts for publication

Over the course of the program, all fellows will participate in weekly CBG didactic sessions. Reading material on a clinical topic is assigned to the trainees and is supervised by the CBG faculty. Particular attention will be given to areas of controversy and new research, and will include the AAGL core reading articles. Topics to be discussed will closely follow the AAGL FCBG educational objectives and will utilize the most recent literature and/or textbooks, including but not limited to the AAGL FCBG reading list.

Fellows will also participate in a monthly Interdisciplinary Deep Endometriosis Conference with the MRI radiology team to review clinical cases and published literature, and develop research studies and protocols for deeply infiltrative endometriosis.

In addition, our Department hosts weekly Grand Rounds and Morbidity and Mortality conferences.