Message from the Program Director
Dear Applicant,
Welcome to the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School Division of Urogynecology. We are excited that you are here and want to be a part of this rapidly growing specialty. Our group at UMass provides the best care to our patients and the best training for our fellows. We pride ourselves in supporting patient autonomy and respecting the multicultural backgrounds of our racially diverse patient population in counseling regarding their pelvic floor disorders.
Intrinsic to this process is having to be able to offer all treatment to patients, including conservative and surgical approaches. The division provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for the full spectrum of female pelvic floor dysfunction including pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, fecal incontinence, defecatory dysfunction, and urethral diverticula. We perform leading-edge innovative therapies including robotic and laparoscopic surgery for prolapse, transvaginal vaginal reconstruction, minimally-invasive slings for incontinence, Burch urethropexies, sacral neuromodulation, Botox for overactive bladder, and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. To round out the training experience, fellows can travel to Rwanda with me to perform obstetric fistula repairs and anal sphincteroplasties on women who suffer from devastating birth injuries. In addition, fellows become well-versed in offering non-surgical therapies for prolapse and incontinence; which include physical therapy, bio-feedback, and pessaries. One of the strengths of our clinical teaching program is graduated autonomy for fellows through weekly continuity clinics and a busy surgical caseload.
The division welcomed its first Urogynecology fellow in 2004 and was accredited by the American Board of Obstetrician & Gynecologists in 2007. The program was accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in 2014. It is currently a 3 fellow (1 fellow per post-graduate year), 3 year program. In 2015, UMass Chan Medical School expanded to include Baystate Medical Center in Springfield as a part of its clinical training program. Our relationship with Baystate has continued to develop into greater surgical experience for our fellows.
We have an active research program with two monthly meetings which are focused on study design and research methods. Several thesis projects have been randomized controlled trials which are registered through clinicaltrials.gov. Kathy Leung is a dynamic biostatistician who is dedicated to the department of obstetrics and gynecology. She has been instrumental in numerous resident and fellow research projects. Residents are also encouraged to pursue research projects through the division.
Residents in Obstetrics and Gynecology rotate in Urogynecology during their second and fourth years and are encouraged throughout their four years to attend our weekly didactics which include lectures, journal clubs, case presentations, and research meetings. A fourth-year medical student elective in Urogynecology is offered. Urogynecology fellows are encouraged and expected to assume a teaching role for the residents so they are well-prepared for an academic career.
Last, but certainly not least, UMass is a wonderful place to work. The Institution, Department, and Division are supportive like no other place I have worked previously. While fellows work hard during training, it is also a time of immense satisfaction. We value your personal life and family, appreciate your individuality, and respect your time off.
We welcome you to learn more about our Division and the opportunities here. You won't be disappointed.
Sincerely,
Cynthia D. Hall, MD, – Fellowship Director
Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology