Fellowship in Family Planning

History

The first Fellowship in Family Planning began 12 years ago at the University of California San Francisco. Currently there are 11 obstetrics and gynecology fellowship sites and 2 family medicine sites. Each site graduates 1 or 2 fellows a year. Ob/Gyn sites include Columbia, Emory, Johns Hopkins and Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School among others. You can find more information by visiting the Fellowship website: http://www.familyplanningfellowship.org/

Program at the University of Chicago

The Fellowship in Family Planning provides physicians with the opportunity to gain high-level research experience and clinical skills in all aspects of family planning. The main objective of the Fellowship at U of C is to provide physicians with the opportunity to gain high-level research experience and clinical skills in abortion and family planning. Fellows work with a team of faculty members who have extensive training in abortion, contraception and research. Clinical care is provided through the Ryan Residency Training Program Clinic giving fellows ample opportunity to teach residents and medical students. The comprehensive five-day outpatient clinic is fully integrated into the University of Chicago’s obstetrics and gynecology practice located in the underserved South Side of Chicago.

The clinic care component of the fellowship includes:

  • All methods of pregnancy termination
  • All diagnostic methods to confirm uterine and tubal pregnancy, including ultrasound
  • Anesthesia and pain control
  • Treatment of complications
  • Sterilization
  • Gynecologic surgery

Through the development of a structured clinical research project, fellows learn about study design, grant writing, and statistical analysis. Fellows are also presented with opportunities to participate in ongoing research done within the Section of Family Planning and the Ob/Gyn department as a whole. Depending on individual interests fellows can work on clinical, basic science and/or social science research.

The clinical research component of the fellowship focuses on:

  • Training in epidemiology and biostatistics
  • Study design
  • Grant Writing
  • Presentation at grand rounds and national conferences
  • Guidance and potential funding for research studies in family planning to further the fellow’s ability to become an independent investigator

Fellows receive a Masters in Health Studies from the University of Chicago. This program is geared specifically towards post-doctoral students and provides intensive education in biostatistics and clinical research. At the conclusion of the 1 year program fellows are expected to develop a Masters’ thesis of publishable quality.

The Fellowship also provides exposure to public policy and the opportunity to work in an international setting. Fellows are provided with annual salaries, health insurance, loan repayment assistance, potential salary support upon completion of the fellowship, funding for international work experience, funding to attend conferences and potential funding for research. For more information about how to apply to the Fellowship in Family Planning at the University of Chicago please visit www.familyplanningfellowship.org

 

Family Planning Journal Club

On the third Friday of each month a journal club covering family planning and reproductive health issues will be held for residents in the Ob/Gyn department to discuss new research and share best practices. Journal club discussions are led by the fellows in family planning.

 Chicago City-Wide Family Planning Journal Club

 The objective of the Chicago City-Wide Family Planning Journal Club is to bring together family planning fellows, former fellows, practitioners, family planning faculty and other interested parties on a regular basis to:

  • Discuss current research in family planning methods and services
  • Provide family planning fellows the opportunity to present their research to and receive feedback from colleagues
  • Review case studies and share best practices
  • Create the foundation for family planning research collaboration between Chicago institutions; and
  • Keep abreast of current legislative and political issues related to family planning to ensure the future viability of the field

 Meetings are held every other month and are led by alternate members of the group.