A six-week, six-credit-hour required clerkship in the third year that introduces students to the basic fundamental principles of obstetrics and gynecology through a variety of inpatient and out-patient experiences. The rotation is divided into a three week obstetric block, and a three week gynecology block. During the obstetrics portion of the rotation, students spend one week on the labor and delivery floor during the day and one week on the labor and delivery unit at night. During these two weeks, students are exposed to normal labor and delivery patients, high risk antepartum patients, and postpartum patients. The third week of the obstetrics block is dedication to gaining exposure to obstetric ultrasound and genetics, as well as spending some more time on the labor and delivery unit. Students are also exposed to maternal fetal medicine as well during these three weeks. During the gynecology block, the students spend equal time in the operating room and the out-patient clinic. The bulk of time in the operating room is spent observing benign surgical cases with a limited amount of time dedicated to the observation of gynecologic oncology and urogynecology surgical cases. While the students are in the out-patient clinic, they are exposed to both obstetric and gynecologic patients, and are involved in the colposcopy, endocrine, high risk pregnancy, and teen gynecology specialty clinics. Additionally, students receive exposure to gynecologic ultrasound by spending time in the ultrasound unit. Primary modes of instruction include teaching rounds, lectures, and conferences. Modes of assessment include the Obstetrics and Gynecology NBME subject examinations and an Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE). Demonstration of mastery of a prescribed set of clinical skills, included on the Clinical Skills Attainment Document, is required for successful completion of this clerkship.

A four-week, four-credit hour required clerkship in the fourth year. The AI emphasizes basic generalist competencies, is predominantly an inpatient experience, and includes night call. Acting interns are essential members of the ward teams, although students’ patient loads can be adjusted according to their aptitude. Some of the selectives also provide a minor amount of ambulatory clinical learning. The student has primary and direct responsibility for the continuing care of patients in the community or in one of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine programs at Prisma Health Richland, or the Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Alternatively, a student may elect to complete the AI as an extramural rotation but must have prior approval for this rotation from the USCSM AI director. The primary mode of instruction is clinical preceptorship. Other educational material may be presented via attending rounds, didactic lectures, subspecialty lectures, weekly grand rounds, resident case presentations, rounds with residents, clinical pathologic conferences, etc., and is dependent upon the specific rotation. Assessment will focus on core clinical skills, including, but not limited to, history and physical examinations, clinical decision making, case presentation, communication with patients, test selection and interpretation, and therapeutic decision making.

This course is an introduction to the evaluation and management of those patients whose pregnancies are complicated by conditions that compromise the health of the mother and/or the fetus. Maternal fetal physiology and pathophysiology will be emphasized. An emphasis will be placed on careful history taking (including history of the family for genetic predispositions). Learning experiences will include attendance at the antepartum rounds, prenatal diagnosis clinic, and in the MFM private clinic and conferences on a weekly basis, daily attendance of high risk inpatients and experiences in biophysical antenatal evaluation, including obstetrical sonography and fetal monitoring. Skill sets advanced include drawing pedigrees, ultrasound, and orchestrating a logical approach to complex pregnancies.

This longitudinal elective is offered to students who have satisfactorily completed their third year core clinical rotations. The elective has a unique longitudinal design that allows students to follow patients throughout the duration of their pregnancy, and ideally manage the labor and perform the delivery. The student will participate in the Centering Pregnancy group prenatal care model. He or she will help facilitate a group of 9-12 low-risk gravidas. The student will participate in a total of ten 2-hour group prenatal sessions. The visits begin at 14-16 weeks, and then occur at 20, 24, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40 weeks. Prior to participation in the group care model, the student will audit a training session in “Centering” model of pregnancy care. Along with the preceptor, the student will perform clinical assessments and provide patient education during each 2 hour group visit. Students will also have the opportunity to be “on-call” for each patient’s delivery. The student will manage the patient’s labor, conduct the delivery and provide postpartum care and counseling. Due to the longitudinal nature of this elective, the student must commit to making him or herself available for the fixed schedule of prenatal visits. Students do not have to commit to be available for the delivery, but it is strongly encouraged, if possible.

To gain clinical experience in the diagnosis and management of obstetric and gynecologic problems in a community hospital setting. Rotation would involve seeing patients in an office environment (history, physicial exam, office based procedures such as pap smears, pre-op work-ups/orders) and the hospital environment (direct assistance to surgeon in the operating environment, rounding on hospitilized patients to include entering clinical notes into the Electronic Medical Record (Epic), and triaging unstable OB/GYN patients in the Emergency Department). Students would also get the opportunity to work in a rural health environment (Swansea).

Participate in OBGYN Ultrasound in our outpatient clinics. Review ultrasound with GYN Physicians and MFM physicians for a 1 week period (M3) or 4 week period (M4) students. If possible, participate in MOM’s clinic in Sumter with diabetic pregnant moms (held the 2nd and 4th Wednesday).