Student Teaching
The Wake Forest University School of Medicine introduced a new medical school curriculum in 1998 for students completing medical school in 2002 and thereafter. Dr. J. Mac Ernest from our department co-chaired the committee which developed this new curriculum. It involves teaching by clinicians throughout all four years of medical school. Many faculty members of the department participate in teaching of medical students during their first two years in a variety of settings.
The clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology rotation during the third year of medical school lasts six weeks. Students spend 3 weeks at Forsyth Medical Center covering Labor and Delivery and the high risk obstetric service. The other 3 weeks are spent at NCBH, where students are assigned to either the Gynecologic Oncology service or the general Gynecology service. Duties involve following patients and assisting with surgery and inpatient work. During their time at NCBH, students are also assigned to ambulatory clinics in a variety of settings including Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Downtown Health Plaza, Family Planning, Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics, OBG ultrasound at the Comprehensive Fetal Care Center, and Urodynamics and Dysplasia clinics.
Dr Leslie Kammire assumed responsibility for the third and fourth year rotations in May, 2006. Changes to the rotation include schedule changes for the third year students involving shift schedules. Weekly quizzes are given to the students to help them prepare for the NBLME exam given at the end of the rotation. The evaluation process has also been changed to give more weight to the student's clinical performance than to test scores.
The fourth year elective rotations in High Risk Obstetrics, Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Endocrinology are also coordinated by Dr. Kammire. The concept of the fourth year rotation has been broadened to increase responsibilities and challenges for fourth year students. They are expected to function in the capacity of an acting intern. During 2005-2006, a total of 7 students from our medical school took fourth year electives in Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition, there was one student from another medical school who took a fourth year rotation in our department.