Program Overview

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Medical College of Wisconsin Obstetric Anesthesia Fellowship

The division of Obstetric Anesthesiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin offers a 1-year ACGME-accredited fellowship program. The program provides subspecialty training focusing on the anesthetic care of obstetric patients throughout their pregnancy and labor and delivery experience.

Program Overview

The Obstetric Anesthesiology fellowship is responsible for the specialty training of Obstetric Anesthesiology physicians that ensures their competency and autonomy for independent practice in caring for the Obstetric patient populations. The program provides a supportive culture for faculty, housestaff, and administrative personnel to promote innovation and excellence in OB Anesthesiology training, as well as a commitment to the principles of life-long learning and healthcare equity.

Program Goals

The program's goal for the fellows is to gain an increased level of knowledge of routine and high-risk OB Anesthesia care, extending clinical knowledge and skills to include the most complex obstetric anesthesia cases. The program aims to build bridges and coordinate care between the intersecting practices of Obstetric Anesthesiology, Obstetrics, Neonatology, and Nursing, and to become an educator and advisor for anesthesiology colleagues and colleagues in other fields.

Faculty

The primary faculty members guiding the OB Fellows through their program include:

• Meredith A. Albrecht, MD, PhD, Associate Professor
• Maria Muravyeva, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor

Rotations

The Fellowship in Obstetric Anesthesiology at MCW is a 12-month program that commences on July 1. The year is divided into 13 blocks, each lasting 4 weeks. The rotations include:

• L&D Unit (67 blocks)
• Neonatal Intensive Care (2 weeks)
• Maternal-Fetal-Medicine (1 block)
• Adult Congenital Heart Disease (1 block)
• Transfusion Medicine (1 week)
• Research (3 blocks)
• High-Risk Obstetric Anesthesia Clinic (one afternoon every week)

L&D Unit

The fellow will be exposed to the full array of obstetric cases on the labor and delivery unit, including fetal cases, high-risk obstetric cases in the main OR, and out-of-OR experiences, as well as all non-obstetric cases for pregnant patients in the main OR.

Neonatal Intensive Care

The fellow will join the level IV NICU, which offers the highest level of care possible. The rotation will be focused on neonatal care during the first hour of life.

Maternal-Fetal-Medicine

This rotation provides an introduction to Maternal-Fetal-Medicine. The fellow will gain experience in high-risk antepartum care, care of pregnant women in critical condition requiring admission to the intensive care unit, fetal testing, and exposure to fetal procedures.

Adult Congenital Heart Disease

The fellow will gain unique experience in taking care of pregnant women with cardiac disease in one of the leading programs in the nation for adult congenital heart disease.

Transfusion Medicine

The fellow will work with a transfusion medicine attending and learn about workflow through the blood bank, including ABO/Rh typing and antibody screening, resolution of discrepancies, and develop an understanding of blood collection, component preparation, and storage.

Research

Numerous research opportunities are offered to fellows, including participation in ongoing multicenter trials and QI projects. Fellows receive a total of three blocks of research time, which can be arranged by request.

High-Risk Obstetric Anesthesia Clinic

The fellow will have a unique opportunity to work with experts in adult congenital heart disease, cardiology, maternal fetal medicine, and obstetrics to develop individualized care plans for each high-risk, complex patient.

Didactic Program

The didactic program includes:

• Obstetric Anesthesiology lecture series
• Monthly SOAP-sponsored Virtual Obstetric Anesthesiology Grand Rounds
• Multidisciplinary lectures
• Journal Club
• Leadership lectures
• Joint Fellowship Lecture Series
• Simulation training

Certification

Fellows will receive certification in:

• Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) for ethics in human subjects research
• Neonatal resuscitation

Moonlighting Opportunities

Internal moonlighting for the OB Anesthesiology Fellow is available in the Operating Room under direct supervision of an Attending Physician.

Application Process

The application process includes:

1. Completing application forms and submitting required documents
2. Registering as an applicant with SF Match
3. Scheduling an interview
4. Ranking programs with SF Match

Application Checklist

The application checklist includes:

1. Common Application for Fellowship in Obstetric Anesthesiology
2. Common Application Supplementary Questions
3. Personal statement
4. Current Curriculum Vitae
5. Three letters of recommendation
6. Copy of medical school diploma
7. Copy of USMLE scores
8. ECFMG certificate (if applicable)

Selection Process

Applicants will be contacted via email if selected for an interview. Interviews are usually held between January and May.

Important Dates

• January - May: Submit applications and register with SF Match
• January - May: Interview period
• June: Rank list deadline and Match Day
• July 1: Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellowship start date