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Clerkship
This four-week clerkship provides broad exposure to the OB/Gyn specialty, including experience in Labor & Delivery, clinics, OR, and immersion in a subspeciality within the department (MFM, MIGS, Gyn Onc, UPRS, REI). Students work directly with residents, physicians, advanced practice providers, and other health providers to care for a diverse patient population.
Locations
- Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
- Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center
Contact Us
Course Director: Stephanie Lambert, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Academic Specialists in Ob/Gyn
slambert@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Office: H3519C
717-531-0003 (ext. 322110)
Course Assistant Director: Jacqueline Bissonette, MD
Assistant Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Academic Specialists in Ob/Gyn
jbissonette@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Office: H3516E
717-531-0003 (ext. 280406)
Course Coordinator: Lori Corradino, M.Ed.
Education Program Coordinator, Obstetrics & Gynecology
lcorradino@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Office: C3602D
717-531-1339
Locations
Mount Nittany Health Obstetrics and Gynecology
1850 E. Park Ave.
Suite 301
State College, PA 16803
Mount Nittany Medical Center
Labor and Delivery
1800 E. Park Ave.
State College, PA 16803
Contact Us
Dr. Michael McShane
Clerkship director
mmcshane@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Phone: 937-371-7877
Sondra Struble
Clinical Curriculum Operations Manager
sstruble@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
814-689-6711
Electives
Fourth-Year Electives
All elective courses require completion of all third-year core clerkships.
Courses are limited to one Penn State College of Medicine student per rotation.
Courses may not be available for all dates due to other faculty obligations.
Fourth-year Electives: OBGYN 701, OBGYN 721, OBGYN 723, OBGYN 724, OBGYN 796, OBGYN 797, and UROGYN 741.
Fourth-year Advanced Electives: OBGYN 710 and OBGYN 742
Fourth-year CORE Acting Internship: OBGYN 722
OBGYN 710: Clinical Gynecologic Oncology Advanced Elective (4 weeks)
Credits: 5
Program director: Caitlin Farabaugh, MD (Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center)
Location: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Maximum number of students: One
When offered: All rotations
Length of elective: One month
Prerequisite: Third-year core clerkships
Report to: Course Director, Gynecologic Oncology Advanced Elective
Description: This elective involves active participation with inpatient/outpatient patients with gynecologic malignancies and includes experience with surgical and medical management of common gynecologic malignancies. Pathophysiology of common gynecologic malignancies and their treatment is stressed. Students participate actively and assume responsibilities commensurate with an advances elective course. This course qualifies as a surgical sub-internship.
OBGYN 742: Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Advanced Elective (4 weeks)
Program Director: Kristen Riley, MD (Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center)
Location: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Maximum number of students: 1
When Offered: All Rotations
Length of Elective: 1 Month
Prerequisite: Completion of third year core clerkships
Description: This advanced elective exposes students to a high-volume surgery service focused on complex benign gyn surgical problems, the multidisciplinary management of chronic pelvic pain and perioperative planning. Students will have equal time in the OR and clinic, round on inpatients, take one weekend gyn call, and present on a topic related to endometriosis.
OBGYN 701: Labor and Delivery Elective
Credits: 2.5
Program Director: Melissa Haslam, MD (Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center)
Locations: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Maximum number of students: One student
When offered: All rotations
Length: 2 weeks
Prerequisite: Third-year core clerkships
Description: This elective provides students with a two-week immersive experience in Labor and Delivery service. Students will have the opportunity to manage obstetric triage patients and complications in pregnancy, manage and support laboring patients, and participate in postpartum rounds, as well as vaginal and cesarean deliveries.
OBGYN 721: Clinical Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Elective
Credits: 5
Program director: Samantha Butts, MD (Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center)
Location: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Maximum number of students: One
When offered: All rotations based on availability (closed July 2024, October 2024, March 2025)
Length of elective: 4 weeks
Prerequisite: Third-year core clerkships
Description: This elective involves active participation in outpatient REI service; students are introduced to evaluation of infertility and modern treatment modalities, participate in surgical procedures, such as hysteroscopy and laparoscopy, and experience advanced reproductive technologies. Students participate in a monthlong project to broaden their knowledge of reproductive endocrinology and infertility.
OBGYN 723: Family Planning Elective
Credits: 2.5
Program Director: Stephanie Lambert, MD (Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center)
Location: Hershey
Maximum number of students: One Student
When Offered: All Rotations
Length of Elective: 2 weeks
Prerequisite: Completion of third year OBGYN core clerkship, approval by FP Program Director
Description: This course enhances patient-centered communication and counseling via outpatient clinical experiences in early pregnancy and contraception clinics at PSH and a Planned Parenthood affiliate clinic providing first trimester abortion care. Students practice history-taking, ultrasound imaging in early pregnancy, and patient-centered counseling. Students may assist in procedures under sedation.
OBGYN 724: Preparation for Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology Elective
Credits: 2.5
Program director: Jacqueline Bissonette, MD (Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center)
Location: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Maximum number of students: Limited to students pursuing ObGyn Residency (course cap: 14)
When offered: 3/31/25 – 4/11/25
Length of elective: Two weeks
Prerequisite: Third-year core clerkships; pursuing ObGyn Residency
Description: This elective is designed for students transitioning to Ob/Gyn residency. Through case-based learning and simulations, the course reviews basic obstetric skills, surgical techniques, ultrasonography, intrapartum management, and Ob/Gyn emergencies. Students will complete the APGO preparation for residency knowledge assessment to evaluate their progress towards meeting ACGME level-1 Ob/Gyn milestones.
UROGYN 741: UROGYNECOLOGY ELECTIVE
Credits: 2.5
Program Director: Jaime Long, MD (Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center)
Locations: Hershey
Maximum number of students: One student
When offered: All rotations
Length: 2 weeks
Prerequisite: Third-year core clerkships
Description: This 2-week elective will introduce students to the basics of female pelvic floor disorders including prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence, and others. A strong understanding of relevant anatomy and physiology will form the basis for a successful rotation evaluating, counseling, and participating in treatment of pelvic floor disorders.
OBGYN 796: Individual Studies
Credits: 5
Program director: Faculty research adviser
Location: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Maximum number of students: N/A
When offered: All rotations
Length of elective: 4 weeks
Prerequisite: Limited to students of Penn State College of Medicine
Description: Promotion of a scientific approach to basic questions in obstetrics and gynecology. Emphasize problem definition and methodology primarily involving but not limited to literature search and chart review. The educational goals and course of study must be submitted to the department’s medical student director for approval, and acceptance of educational responsibility by the designated faculty must be confirmed prior to approval of the course.
OBGYN 797: Special Topics
Credits: 5
Program director: Variable
Location: Variable
Maximum number of students: N/A
When offered: All Rotations
Length of elective: 4 weeks
Prerequisite: Completion of third year core clerkships, approval by ObGyn Department Student Director
Description: Clinical experience in one or more aspects of Obstetrics and Gynecology through work with a faculty physician. This course may include externships at non-affiliate institutions, as well as one-on-one work with a Hershey Medical Center faculty. The educational goals and course of study must be submitted to the OBGYN department medical student director for approval and acceptance of educational responsibility by the designated faculty must be confirmed prior to approval of the course.
Acting Internships
Maternal Fetal Medicine Acting Internship (OBGYN 722)
Credits: 5
Course director: James O’Brien, MD
Administrative coordinator: Lori Corradino, MEd; lcorradino@pennstatehealth.psu.edu; 717-531-1339
Location: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Maximum number of students: One
When offered: All rotations
Length of elective: 4 weeks
Prerequisite: Third-year core clerkships
Description: The MFM AI focuses on expanding knowledge regarding complex and multidisciplinary care of pregnancies with maternal medical and surgical co-morbidities and/or fetuses with complications. The AI experiences robust consultative services, coordination of care, surgical exposure with the MFM Medicine sub-specialists, and an increased exposure to fetal ultrasound and echocardiography.