Career PowerPoint

1. Obstetrician/Gynecologist
(OB/GYN)
Emily Freeman

2.  A diversified specialty concerned with the delivery of medical and surgical
care to women
 This field combines two specialties: obstetrics, which focuses on the care of
women before, during, and after childbirth; and gynecology, which involves
the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the female reproductive system,
breasts, and associated disorders.
 Relationships with patients are long-term and are often maintained through
the postmenopausal stage of a patient's life.
 Obstetrician-gynecologists (Ob-Gyn) often serve as consultants to other
physicians. In many cases, the Ob-Gyn is the primary care physician, with
whom female patients have regular contact and obtain medical advice and
counseling.
Introduction: What is
obstetrics/gynecology?

3.  Obstetrics, for a long time, was the province of female midwives, but in the 17th century,
European physicians began to attend on normal deliveries of royal and aristocratic
families. From this beginning, the practice grew and spread to the middle classes.
 The invention of the forceps used in delivery, the introduction of anesthesia, and Ignaz
Semmelweis’ discovery of the cause of puerperal (“childbed”) fever and his introduction
of antiseptic methods in the delivery room were all major advances in obstetrical
practice.
 Asepsis in turn made cesarean section, in which the infant is delivered through an incision
in the mother’s uterus and abdominal wall, a feasible surgical alternative to natural
childbirth.
 By the early 19th century, obstetrics had become established as a recognized medical
discipline in Europe and the United States.
 In the 20th century, obstetrics developed chiefly in the areas of fertility control and the
promotion of healthy births.
A brief history of Obstetrics

4.  Gynecology as a branch of medicine dates back to Greco-Roman civilization, if
not earlier. The renewal of interest in diseases of women is shown in the
huge encyclopedia of gynecology issued in 1566 by Caspar Wolf of Zürich.
 In the early and mid-19th century, physicians became able to successfully
perform a limited variety of surgical operations on the ovaries and uterus.
 The American surgeon James Marion Sims and other pioneers of operative
gynecology also had to combat the violent prejudice of the public against any
exposure or examination of the female sexual organs.
 The two great advances that finally overcame such opposition and made
gynecologic surgery generally available were the use of anesthesia and
antiseptic methods.
 The separate specialty of gynecology had become fairly well established by
1880; its union with the specialty of obstetrics, arising from an overlap of
natural concerns, began late in the century and has continued to the present
day.
A brief history of Gynecology

5.  The obstetrician’s main tasks are to diagnose and bring a woman through pregnancy, deliver
her child, and give the new mother adequate postnatal care. The most important surgical
operation performed by obstetricians is cesarean section. Episiotomy, a surgical procedure in
which an incision is used to enlarge the vaginal opening to facilitate childbirth, is also
common.
 Gynecologists make routine examinations of cervical and vaginal secretions to detect cancer
of the uterus and cervix. They perform two main types of surgical operations: repairing any
significant injuries caused to the vagina, uterus, and bladder in the course of childbirth; and
removing cysts and benign or malignant tumors from the uterus, cervix, and ovaries. The
modern practice of gynecology requires skill in pelvic surgery; a knowledge of female
urologic conditions, because the symptoms of diseases of the urinary tract and the genital
tract are often similar; and skill in dealing with the minor psychiatric problems that often
arise among gynecologic patients.
OB vs. GYN?

6.  The growth potential for Obstetrics/Gynecology from 2012 to 2020 is 18%.
 During residency training, an OB/GYN’s annual salary may range from $45,000 to
$60,000. Salary will increase with each year of training.
 After residency is completed, the starting salary is generally between $200,000
and $250,000 per year.
 As of 2012, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median salary for
physicians in obstetrics/gynecology was $301,737.
 It is important to note that OB/GYN malpractice insurance premiums are among
the highest for physicians. The listed salaries do not take into account these
insurance costs, which can reach six figures for a single provider.
Growth Potential and Salary Range

7.  Education
 Bachelor’s degree
 Medical school
 Training
 Residency
 Sub-specialty fellowship if desired
 Licensing and/or certification
 Most OB/GYNs will seek board certification from the
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Criteria for being an OB/GYN

8.  General classes needed for passing the MCAT:
 Chemistry – composition of matter, how they interact, combine, change
 Biology – living organisms: behavior, origin, distribution
 Physics – nature, mechanics, energy structure of atoms
 Psychology/sociology – the mind, its functions, how it affects behavior
 Organic chemistry – chemistry of carbon compounds
 Biochemistry – chemical/physiochemical processes that occur within
living organisms
 In-depth classes that directly affect the job:
 Anatomy/physiology – principal organ systems and their structures,
functions of cells and organs within biological systems
 Health science internship – ideally will deal specifically with clinical
experience in this specialty area
Relevant Academics

9.  Energetic and enthusiastic
 Empathy and sensitivity
 Good coping skills
 Avoid letting stress and challenges get in the way of providing excellent
care
 Enjoyment of being in the Operating Room or the office
 Problem solvers
 Strong interpersonal skills to work as a team and to communicate
effectively and easily with patients
 Quick thinking for making adjustments to plans
 Physical dexterity
 Ability to adapt to different environments quickly whether at the office
and then running to the Operating Room
Skills/qualities required

10.  The Medical University of South Carolina requires:
 A good MCAT score and GPA
 At least 90 semester hours (preference to applicants who have a
baccalaureate degree)
 No prerequisite courses, but suggests biology, chemistry, organic chemistry,
physics, anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology, embryology, genetics, and
physiology
 3 letters of recommendation (2 from science faculty, 1 from non-science
faculty)
 Noncognitive traits desirable in future physicians such as integrity,
enthusiasm for medicine, interpersonal skills, judgment, and compassion
 Accomplishments, including leadership, volunteer experiences, shadowing,
clinical exposure to medicine, and research
Medical School Program of Interest

11.  The Emory University School of Medicine Gyn/Ob Residency requires:
 USMLE Step 1 and 2 results – a minimum score of 220
 Three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a member of
your medical school’s obstetrics and gynecology department
 Personal statement
 Medical school transcript
 Dean’s letter
 Other factors:
 Medical school and reputation
 Election to Alpha Omega Alpha Medical School Honor Society, if applicable
 Research, community/volunteer, and society activities/roles
 Demonstrated commitment to the field
Residency Program of Interest

12.  Investigative: 24
 Searching for facts, figuring out problems
 Artistic: 18
 Creativity in their work, work that can be done without following a
set of rules
 Social: 25
 Teaching
 Giving advice
 Helping and being of service to people
 Careers that fit my interests and preparation level in Job Zone
Five (extensive job preparation) include many physician
specialties
 Current GPA: 3.87
Why am I a good candidate?

13.  I love solving problems, but also like structure. I think being an
OBGYN provides a good combination of following a plan that has
been laid out but also going with the flow when unexpected things
arise.
 I love helping other people, and being an OBGYN gives you the
opportunity to help not only women, but babies as well.
 I love babies, and I think that coaching women before, during, and
after their pregnancy, as well as working to keep the mothers healthy,
would be an incredibly rewarding and interesting job.
 I know that having a baby, or just going to the gynecologist, can be
nerve-racking, so I want to make people feel comfortable and
prepared and give them good advice that they will value and follow.
 I have wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember!
Why I want to be an OBGYN

14.  Obstetrics/gynecology is a diversified specialty field that deals with both
women and childbirth, and treatment of the female reproductive system.
 Although both obstetrics and gynecology have been practiced for centuries,
doctors continue to discover new specialties and treatments.
 The growth potential for Obstetrics/Gynecology from 2012 to 2020 is 18%.
Because women will always have babies and have reproductive issues, there
will always be a demand for OBGYNs.
 Education and training for this job is long and hard, but it will be rewarding if
you are willing to put in the work.
 Being an OBGYN requires many skills, in both a doctoral and an interpersonal
context, but if you wake up every morning and love your job, the hard parts
will be worth it.
 I believe I have the qualities that it takes to be a good OBGYN and a good
doctor in general, as I love to solve problems and help people.
Conclusion

15.  How to Become an OB/GYN Doctor. (n.d.). Retrieved August 30, 2015, from
http://www.innerbody.com/careers-in-health/how-to-become-an-obgyn-doctor.html
 Kokemuller, N. (n.d.). Characteristics for an Obstetrician. Retrieved September 1, 2015, from
http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/characteristics-obstetrician-5531.html
 Obstetrics and Gynecology. (n.d.). Retrieved August 29, 2015, from
https://www.aamc.org/cim/specialty/list/us/336850/obstetrics_and_gynecology.html
 Obstetrics and Gynecology. (2015). Retrieved August 29, 2015, from
http://www.britannica.com/topic/obstetrics
 O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move. (n.d.). Retrieved August 30, 2015, from
http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip
 Robertson, P. (2013, April 1). Career Information: Obstetrics & Gynecology. Retrieved
September 1, 2015, from http://meded.ucsf.edu/ume/career-information-obstetrics-
gynecology
 Ultrasound Department. (n.d.). Retrieved August 29, 2015, from
http://www.northdoverobgyn.net/ultrasound.html
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