Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals Program

The Medical College of Wisconsin offers a one-year accredited fellowship program in Obstetric Anesthesiology, designed to provide comprehensive training in the anesthetic care of obstetric patients during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. This fellowship aims to develop competencies in routine and complex obstetric anesthesia, ensuring that fellows are prepared for independent practice.

The program seeks to foster a supportive environment promoting innovation and excellence while emphasizing lifelong learning and healthcare equity. Fellows will enhance their clinical knowledge and skills through exposure to a variety of obstetric cases and the coordination of care among obstetric anesthesiology, obstetrics, neonatology, nursing, and other related fields.

Training Sites

The primary training site for the fellowship is Froedtert Hospital's Birth Center, recognized as a Center of Excellence by the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology. This facility is commended as a top hospital for maternity care by esteemed publications. Additionally, fellows will have the opportunity to work at the Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children's Wisconsin, which provides the highest level of neonatal care in a state-of-the-art environment with 70 private rooms.

Curriculum and Rotations

The fellowship program unfolds over a 12-month period, commencing on July 1, and is divided into 13 blocks of four weeks each. Fellows are relieved from overnight calls and weekend commitments, allowing for a balanced professional life. During the year, fellows will have weekday clinical responsibilities typically from 7 AM to 5 PM.

The core rotations include:

1. L&D Unit: 6-7 blocks focused on labor and delivery, offering exposure to a comprehensive range of obstetric cases.
2. Neonatal Intensive Care: 2 weeks within the NICU to provide care during the critical first hour of life.
3. Maternal-Fetal-Medicine: 1 block covering high-risk antepartum care and collaboration with maternal-fetal medicine teams.
4. Adult Congenital Heart Disease: 1 block focusing on the management of pregnant patients with cardiac conditions.
5. Transfusion Medicine: 1 week dedicated to understanding blood bank operations and transfusion protocols.
6. Research: 3 blocks allocated to pursue research opportunities, leading to presentations at national meetings and potential publications.
7. High-Risk Obstetric Anesthesia Clinic: Weekly involvement in the clinic to further engage with high-risk parturients.

Throughout these experiences, fellows will engage in multidisciplinary rounds, journal clubs, and didactics, ensuring they are well-prepared for their professional roles.

Research Opportunities

Fellows will participate in ongoing research projects and quality improvement initiatives. They will have significant time dedicated to research, culminating in the presentation of findings at national conferences.

Professional Development and Didactics

The program includes a well-structured didactic component featuring:

1. Monthly lectures on OB Anesthesia and multidisciplinary topics.
2. Collaborative learning opportunities such as joint lectures with other specialty fellows.
3. Conferences aimed at board preparation and leadership skills development.
4. Simulation-based training opportunities to enhance practical skills.

Fellows can also participate in moonlighting opportunities in the operating room under supervision, creating additional clinical exposure.

Competitiveness of the Program

This fellowship program is highly competitive and is open to candidates with diverse backgrounds, including those from D.O. and international medical graduate (IMG) programs. The fellowship accepts applications via the SF Match, and it typically requires applicants to submit a personal statement, curriculum vitae, letters of recommendation, and USMLE scores as part of their credentials.

Visa Support

The fellowship program provides visa sponsorship for qualified international applicants, supporting J-1 and H-1B visas depending on the individual's circumstances and eligibility.

The application process is thorough, with specific documentation requirements aimed at ensuring that only the most qualified candidates are selected. The program reviews applications meticulously and invites selected candidates for interviews, ensuring a careful matching of fellows with the program's objectives and values.