What are the Different OBGYN Sub-Specialties?

My instagram post on this is waayy to long for a caption, so I put it in a blog post instead. 

After each description, I have some of the OBGYN docs and OBGYN sub-specialists I know on the instagram that like to share a little about what they do so you can go follow ;-) 

Generalist: Complete four years of OBGYN residency and then practice the breadth and depth of obstetrics and gynecology. They “do it all” and get to have long term relationships their patients throughout their life. General Specialists can make their practice their own, some focusing on GYN only, some focusing solely obstetrics, academic positions, community positions, it looks different for everyone and that is what makes it so cool! ex: @mamadoctorjones @storyofstyle @tcrosse_md @jessicashepherdmd @doctorfitandfab @neel_t_shah

Family Planning: Complete four years of OBGYN residency, then two additional years of training in research, clinical practice, and teaching in abortion and contraception. FP specialists may choose to practice both OB and GYN after fellowship. ex: @belligerant @doctor.gabby

Gynecologic Oncology: Complete four years of OBGYN residency, then three additional years of training in cancers of the female reproductive organs - ex: cervical, ovarian, uterine, fallopian tubes. This is a VERY intense surgical training.  Our GYN oncologists perform big tumor de-bulking surgeries, bowel surgeries if necessary, robotic surgery, and some times help us with cesarean hysterectomies. GYN Oncologists do not practice obstetrics. ex: @dollhouse8 @taracastizzle @g_monet_3

Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Complete four years of OBGYN residency, then three additional years of training in high risk obstetrics. This is what I post about all the time 😜. We take care of moms who get sick during pregnancy, fetuses with medical complications, and can be experts genetics, preterm birth prevention, ultrasound, and fetal surgery. We do not practice GYN (outside of routine stuff that may trickle into prenatal care) 🙌🏽 ex: me! @dralrahmani @fastingworkgirl

Minimally Invasive Surgery & Pelvic Pain: Complete four years of OBGYN residency, then two additional years of training in minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy and robotic surgery), treatments for endometriosis, and pelvic pain disorders. ex: @pelvicpaindoc

Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility: Complete four years of OBGYN residency, then three additional years of training in the study of endocrinology related to the female reproductive system and amazing reproductive technology like IVF. ex: @NatalieCrawfordMD @roohi_jeelani_md

Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery: Complete four years of OBGYN residency, then three additional years of training in pelvic floor disorders and their surgical correction. This includes disorders of the lower urinary tract and rectum. ex: @emilyrwd 

📟Paging all my OBGYN docs and OBGYN sub-specialists! What do you love most about your job?!

Tagging some of my fav fellows and attending above xo 

If you guys know of some good OBGYN accounts, please tag/comment too!

**Landau Back to School Scrubs Review**

This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own.

As my first year of fellowship gets underway, I am even more in awe of how variable my days can be.

After dropping off the kids, my morning can range from anything from ultrasound clinic, seeing my own pregnant or postpartum patients in continuity clinic, or performing procedures in the OR suite.

At lunchtime, I am able to recharge, and then the afternoon hustle commences – just as unpredictable as the morning with dedicated learning time, research and department meetings, or more clinic. If I am not headed home for the night, at 5:30pm I head to Labor and Delivery for call. I love it all!

No two days are the same, and my schedule may change from month to month. I get bored easily when things become routine, so this is one of the many things that drew me to OBGYN. It definitely makes me love MFM – a subspecialty dedicated to the “un-routine” as they like to say.

The hospital is pretty strict on what we wear in the OR, but I get creative license with everything else :read socks, earrings, and scrub caps:

I have really enjoyed being more fashionable in clinic attire, but honestly, sometimes it is not the most practical when you could be pulled into a procedure in any moment. And y'all, even on some of our most tame days, obstetrics is messy - there is blood, and amniotic fluid, and lots you don't want to know... 

So a great pair of scrubs that makes you look the part, but is still functional, comfortable, and stylish is something you quickly learn to hold on to. The New Urbane Scrubs Contemporary Fit is just that. I had the pleasure of trying out their scrubs in “steel gray”, which is the color our division uses so I can match the rest of the MFM team…

Here are some of the things that make these scrubs special:

●     Their exclusive fabric construction is the perfect balance of breathable and flexible to keep you feeling cool and less restricted – perfect for me running from clinic to Labor & Delivery. Seriously, these may be one of the most comfortable pair of scrubs I own…They are like yoga pants!

●     The fabric has been tested for durability, shade consistency, and color fastness to keep you them looking brand new after each wash.

●     Pockets for days to keep all my essentials on hand.

●     The scrubs come in a variety of sizes ranging from XS to 5XL

●     Despite their functionality, they are also stylish – look at that neckline!

You can find Landau Urbane scrub retailers here:http://www.urbanescrubs.com/.

***I received a pair of scrubs and compensation for this post. All opinions are my own. #LoveUrbane #AcornInfluencer #Ad ***

First Week of Fellowship Recap: What is Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Anyway?

Happy Friday Friends!

Today is the end of my first official week of fellowship *WHOOP* 

For those of you who may not be familiar with MFM, below is an awesome infographic from the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine that talks about what Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists do: 

Now that orienting is done, I am spending my first month on a rotation called "Research". The awesome difference between residency and fellowship is that I get dedicated time (some programs 12-18 months) to study the things that are important and interesting to me.  Residency is a "learn as you go" environment where there isn't much time to sit, ready, study, process, so this is HUGE!

First things first, I settled into my new digs...Pretty sure I am ready for my HGTV special now.

Desk before: 

Desk after: 

My new desk!!

Next, I worked on completing + continuing research things I couldn't finish during residency. 

At the same time, I began thinking about what "my thing" is going to be. I have so many interests and ways I want to impact the field. One of the many things that pulled me to MFM was the ability to be a voice to some of the most at-risk mothers in our care - advocating for and looking for ways to improve the health of ALL women regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or region. 

Did you know while moms are dying less for pregnancy-related reasons in other developed countries, in the United States maternal mortality is on the rise?! And for Black women it's happening more frequently than for anyone else. It is infuriating and it makes no sense. 

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen my story post this week... 

In short, I want to wage war on US maternal mortality. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) summarizes some of the embarrassing statistics on their website: 

Considerable racial disparities in pregnancy-related mortality exist. During 2011–2013, the pregnancy-related mortality ratios were–

• 12.7 deaths per 100,000 live births for white women.
• 43.5 deaths per 100,000 live births for black women.
• 14.4 deaths per 100,000 live births for women of other races.

If you aren't familiar with this issue, please read this wonderfully written account on ProPublica detailing one family's tragedy.

We can do so much better for our moms and babies... 

The next three years is going to me doing just that. I feel so blessed to be here. 

Talk to you soon!

xo

8 Things to Remember While Parenting in Residency

Four years ago when I finished medical school, I wrote an article for Student Doctor Network called Six Things to Remember While Parenting in Medical School.

A lot of what I wrote back then still holds true for residency, but I thought I would give an updated run-down on some important things to remember while parenting in residency...

1. It really is about quality of time over quantity. I used to think that people were saying this to me so that I wouldn’t feel badly about not being around all the time, but it really is true. Your kids want to be with you no matter whether it is during a 15 minute visit on Labor and Delivery, or a whole golden weekend. They love you and anything you do together can be memorable. The biggest thing is to make the most of the time that you do have with them.

Visitors on Nights during Intern Year

Visitors during Nights during Chief Year

2. Don’t forget to do something for yourself. Between working, and trying to be everything to everyone at home, it is easy to forget about yourself. You need those hobbies you had before this thing started - whether it is long bubble baths, writing, working out, or your favorite TV show. You have to TREAT YO SELF too. 

That Disney trip we took? Definitely mostly for me ;-) 

3. Residency is not going to be easy with children, no matter what specialty you choose, but it can be done. Social media sometimes can hurt us, because we are looking at everyone’s highlight reel and end products without seeing all of the outtakes or mess in between points A and B. Let me tell youThere is so much mess. And it is still going to be OK. 

4. Take the pictures (even if the school year is halfway over). Take the seemingly inconvenient overnight trip (even after being on the third hellish rotation in a row). Go to the movie. The time is going to pass you by and these moments are going to be things that you cherish with your fam when the going gets tough.

5. Make even the simple things a family affair. Isabelle always points out that she is willing to “rest” or “watch the news” with me. Train 'em up! 

6. Get creative about making what is important to you happen. You will be able to make it to :some: of the kids'/family things. It just takes a lot of advanced planning, and the support of your people who are willing to cover you if need be.

7. Ask for help. I have NO SHAME in sending out the yearly "recruitment email" to our extended family letting them know when we need them most during the year. 

8. Don’t forget to say thank you. And say it often - not just when you are all done. You didn't get here alone and don't forget it. 

The Last Month of Residency and Graduation!! **WARNING SO MANY PHOTOS**

Since my Nights rotation, June has been moving at rocket speed. Mainly because there was quite a bit to do in such a short amount of time... 

I got in some much, MUCH needed family time. Including attending this cutie's Pre-K graduation!

And being around for this guy's last week of third grade!

I was able to get in my last surgeries for my graduation requirements. 

We celebrated graduation with our Wake Med family (the other hospital we rotate through as residents).

I took my last 24 hour call as a resident (!!!). 

And we had our final Wednesday didactic session. 

Then on July 16, 2018, I graduated from residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. I still cannot believe it!

Residency is definitely one of the hardest things I have ever done. I talk all the time about the sacrifice of medicine...The family I wasn’t able to see, the friends I was not able to travel with, and the things I was not able to buy....haha

But I have never learned and grown so much in my life as I had over the last four years. Now that residency is behind me, I am one step closer to the final leg of my journey of becoming a maternal fetal medicine doctor.

My graduation weekend was amazing. My entire family was able to come down to celebrate with us. We all packed into my house and laughed, and joked, and spent every minute we could together. There were events all weekend, and it was exhausting. But, I wouldn’t have changed a thing because there is nothing better than being surrounded by the people you love. I'm so thankful for all of them. 

Friday during the day, my class met up for an afternoon at the spa, because what better way to celebrate the end of residency than with some top tier level TREAT. YO. SELF. 

Friday night was the annual Chiefs' Roast, where the 3rd year class lovingly pokes fun at each of the graduating Chief’s with a video tribute. It’s so hilarious because your families get to see all of the ridiculous personalities you work with, and the ridiculous personality they may not know that you have when you’re at work ;-) 

Saturday night was the graduation banquet. It is a wonderful formal affair where again, all of the graduates,  both residents and fellows, get a personal tribute and toast to their accomplishments.

Can I just have a moment for my dress and shoes? YAAAAS!

 

During the ceremony, I was honored to receive the Thaddeus L. McDonald - Espirit de Corps

Award (named for our own Dr. McDonald (pictured above), which is given to the resident who represents the best of teamwork, spirit and pride *tears*

My sweet friend Carolyn did my toast. She put so much thought and care into it, and it was amazing. I cannot wait to be her co-fellow this year <3

We followed it up with dancing well into the night.

Sunday everyone went home, and I was left with wonderful memories to carry me until we are all together again...

Yesterday, I sat for my OBGYN written Boards. Afterwards, my class and I met for lunch to celebrate - minus one of us that moved to VA right after graduation *tear*

Fellowship starts on Monday, and I am pumped!

xoxo

Below is the video part of my toast. I cannot say enough how blessed I am to have such an amazing group of family and friends lifting me along the way.