Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Fellowship

The mission of the fellowship is to provide advanced training to fellows in the clinical care (both nonsurgical and surgical) of patients with pelvic floor disorders, utilizing an environment to provide respect, while preserving core values of excellence in medicine.

The program also strives to instruct fellows in research techniques, mentor them in planning and performing meaningful research, and ultimately change practice patterns.

Objectives

• To educate our fellows to be excellent practitioners and leaders of URPS within the academic or public sector
• To provide diverse and balanced academic training that includes high-volume clinical and surgical experience
• To provide a diverse learning environment that fosters multi-disciplinary approaches to research, development, education, and implementation.
• To provide an environment that supports a high quality of life for our fellows and their families in the community
• To sustain a reputation as a highly regarded fellowship program, recognized by the quality of faculty and graduates of our program, as well as the commitment from our stakeholders in maintaining program sustainability

Structure of the Fellowship

A three-year fellowship program in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery is structured to provide each fellow with broad-based experience in all the clinical and research aspects of urogynecology.

Our rotations switch at the end of each month and include the following.

• Research: 12 months
• Urogynecology: 12 months
• Combined Urogynecology/Urology: 12 months

Application Process

Application to the UAB Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Medicine Fellowship Training program should be done via ERAS. To qualify for this fellowship, the applicant should have completed or plan to complete a residency program in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the US or Canada and be in good standing with the American Board of these specialties. All applicants are also required to meet UAB employment requirements including the institutions’ smoke-free policy.

The basic criteria for downloading an applicant file into ERAS consists of the following items:

• Three letters of recommendation
• Letter of recommendation from Program Director
• Personal statement
• Photo
• CV
• CREOG Scores should be emailed directly to Machelle Campbell

The deadline for applications is late January each year as set forth by AUGS.

Number of positions available each year: 1

Fellow Resources

Medical Education

Tuesday Resident-Student Conference (7 a.m.) will be held the first Tuesday of each month. The fellows will alternate with each other and division/department faculty in leading a 30-45min lecture or interactive discussion on a wide array of URPS specific topics, as well as general gynecologic subjects. These lectures are attended by both the rotating URPS fellows and GYN residents. The intent of the lecture series is to provide fellows with teaching/learning experiences while covering the CORE Curriculum Objectives outlined by CREOG for residents. Presentations and Interactive Conferences presented by fellows will be evaluated by faculty and residents in the audience.

Friday afternoon URPS PreOp Conferences will be held every Friday (except of the 5^th Friday of each month) from 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Friday afternoon URPS Fellowship Case Review will be held on the first Friday of every month at 2:30 p.m.

Journal Club is held on the second Friday of each month at 2:30 p.m.

Fellows Milestone Conference is held on the third Friday of each month at 2:30 p.m. These conferences are related to the following Milestone learning topics selected by our subspecialty’s education committee. These will be directed by a variety of faculty members. We are always open to outside speakers as well. Topics may include:

• General pelvic floor Evaluation and anatomy and physiology of the female pelvic organs
• UI and overactive bladder physiology, pathophysiology, and treatment
• Anal incontinence & defecatory problems: physiology, dysfunction, and management
• POP: demographics evaluation and management
• Urogenital fistula and urethral diverticulae: pathophysiology and Treatment
• Painful bladder syndrome: definitions, possible pathophysiology, and Treatment
• UTIs: pathophysiology and management
• Neurourology
• Research design and statistical analysis.
• PGY7 Fellow Thesis Presentation is held in July of each year.

Friday afternoon (fourth Friday of the month), the Monthly Fellowship Meeting will be held at 2:30-3:30 p.m. and will include Fellow Development Modules.

Friday OB/GYN Department Morbidity and Mortality Conference and Grand Rounds (12:30 p.m. – lunch is provided) conferences are held weekly. They are, for the most part, interactive and include Urogynecology topics ¼ of the time. Fellows must attend unless they are unable to leave an ongoing surgical case.

NOTE: When a 5^th Friday of the month occurs, URPS will deem these as Fellow Wellness time. This will incorporate four half days of leave available for the fellow to participate in any wellness activity that best suits your individual needs.

Leadership

David Ellington, M.D.

Fellowship Director
Professor
dellington@uabmc.edu
Room 10382

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