So. I established that a career in women’s health would be my game plan and my end game well before I began residency. *Sorry, fellas. Men are great. Love them. Hope to marry one someday. BUT their bodies can’t do cool and interesting things like grow humans. I want to show up to work enthused, excited, expectant, and ready to work when all is said and done. That attitude is clearly better for me and my patients. I think if more doctors did what they are truly passionate about (as opposed to what pays or what’s expected of them), physician burnout, early retirement, and even suicide rates would improve. Speaking of what’s expected, there are plenty folks in Family Medicine who believe docs with that training should practice full spectrum care: men, women, children, womb to tomb. I’ve never been that great at giving into expectations. I am very clear on my future patient demographic: young Black women of the reproductive age. I’ve received a few questions on how I’m preparing for this kind of career as a Family Medicine resident, so I’m sharing some tips below:
Be upfront with your program. Women’s health was all over my application; all over my personal statement. I even had a special phone call with one of my program admins prior to moving to NYC, strategizing on opportunities for exposure…which is why I was surprised by some pushback early on, but we move. As residents, we are too far into our education to play the “I’m interested in everything” game. Personal opinion. We actually have to be competent in what we plan to practice when we’re done because the way licensing and malpractice insurance are set up…I don’t have time to play. You can remain teachable on and learn from rotations of non-interest and still be true to what you actually like. Be honest so your program knows and helps set you up for success. Speaking of…
Advocate for a Reproductive Health Track. If your program does not have one, ask for one. All I did was ask my program director for the track and she made it happen. A real one. She reached out to her contacts and pulled from her connections to formulate rotations that make sense for my scope of interest. The track is still evolving because this is the first year for it and I am the first resident. So far, we’ve included Colposcopy, an extra block of Prenatal Care, and even Breastfeeding. That’s in addition to Obstetrics and GYN which are both already built into the core curriculum. And BAYBEE!!! I’m loving it. I’m having an incredible time learning and you better believe I’m trying to replace even more inpatient ward time with Repro rotations. Y’all can have them long notes, VAP, and HD management. Ask for the track, y’all.
Work your tail off on OB. If your teaching hospital is like mine, you will be working alongside OB residents during your rotation. That can be hard because they have their own residents to teach and, during intern year, their own intern to orient. I can’t even tell you what I learned 1st year, BUT the learning has been good 2nd year. I’m actually on OB night float now and it’s more ideal because there are fewer OB residents on at night. I got off to a rocky start because I felt like they weren’t letting me help with anything. My Attendings have been great about staying with me when they can, introducing me to the OB team, and reminding them I want to learn. That’s helped a TON. I’m constantly checking in with the OB residents, asking them if they need anything. I feel like I’m annoying them (*read lightly stalking them), but I have to get what I need. They have asked me to do more as the shifts have gone on. With each shift, I show them I’m capable, I care, and I’m improving (these fingers with these cervical checks, y’all!). Just yesterday, one of the midwives commented on my improvement with ultrasound. I was like, “you see me, girl?!” Ha! Last night was incredibly busy with every single labor and delivery room filled and admitted patients about to deliver in triage. During the shift, an OB Attending thanked me for my hard work and help. That just meant so much to me. Keep asking to help, keep inserting yourself, keep offering to go do things, and you will get the most out of your OB rotation. Speaking of your OB rotation:
Work with the midwives! At my hospital at least, there is some controversy about this tactic for multiple reasons. Some want to teach. Some feel as though they shouldn’t have to teach Family Medicine residents. I’m ok with that…but I’m still gonna ask if I can work with you! Ha! I’m going for mine. Midwives are incredible to learn from and typically do their own thing with their patients. That means you don’t have to compete with OB residents for their deliveries. And if you find a midwife who stands to the side and coaches you and does NOT have the takeover spirit…*chef’s kiss. Also ask private Attendings if you can deliver their patients. Go for yours.
Work those electives like nobody’s business. A wonderful thing about Family Medicine is that you get a great amount of elective time, at least in my program. For my elective this year, I’m working in a clinic that absolutely has my demographic of interest. Even more, the clinic is back home in Atlanta!! I get to stay for 6 weeks! More on that later. Next year, I plan to work with an OB I know to help supplement my training and get in on some c-sections. She does not have residents, so that will be a top tier experience. Speak with your program early on to see what the elective process entails and what opportunities are available. Plan ahead and get your experience on.
Sign up for more procedure clinics and Planned Parenthood days. This is such a great way to hone your OB and GYN skills: pregnancy dating, IUD insertion/removal, nexplanon insertion/removal, contraception counseling, medicated abortions, manual vacuum aspirations. I definitely plan on taking advantage even more during my 3rd year. And if your program doesn’t have a procedure clinic…ask for one.
You do not have to train in OB/GYN to have a rewarding career in women’s health. I may want to include c-sections as part of my future practice (there’s the surgery in Surgery And The City!), but we shall see. I’m honestly not very interested in GYN surgery, so going through Family Medicine to get to what I want is a good plan. Whether I’m at Planned Parenthood (part of my GYN rotation), procedure clinic, or anywhere else, I ask Attendings how they engage with women’s health opportunities and what their weekly schedules look like. I’ve gotten so many amazing answers. There are so many ways to do this. It was also very reassuring that every single provider I worked with at Planned Parenthood was Family Medicine trained. FM docs are out here doing the women’s health things and showing us it can be done! A lot of docs string together multiple jobs to add variety to their week: Planned Parenthood, prenatal clinic, OB, GYN mobile clinic, procedure clinic, you name it! There is plenty opportunity there. You just have to tease out what’s right for you.
I hope this helps, y’all! Don’t give in to practicing any type of medicine that does not interest you. Why? You have worked too long and too hard to show up to work every day unenthused. Don’t do it. I’m off to rest before my next OB night shift or call shift. Be You. Be Great!
xx,
Photos by Sweetie Mensah
Preset by Tina Smith
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