The OB/GYN rotation was an enjoyable and educational rotations. Throughout the rotation, I had the opportunity to become actively involved in patient care across multiple settings including the gynecology clinic, gynecology on-call service, and labor and delivery. I was able to independently obtain patient histories, perform physical examinations, present patients to providers, and complete documentation on many of the patients I evaluated. The providers consistently reviewed my presentations and notes, provided constructive feedback, and helped strengthen my clinical reasoning and decision-making skills.

One of the aspects I enjoyed most was the variety of experiences available throughout the rotation. In the gynecology clinic, I worked with several different providers and was exposed to a wide range of patient concerns, from routine annual examinations to more complex gynecologic complaints. I participated in performing pelvic examinations, observed and assisted with IUD evaluations and removals, and reviewed ultrasound findings. Seeing fetal development on ultrasound and correlating clinical findings with imaging helped reinforce many concepts I had previously learned in the classroom. Labor and Delivery was another rewarding experience. I had the opportunity to scrub into and assist with cesarean sections and interact with patients throughout labor and the postpartum period. Being able to follow patients from prenatal visits to delivery and postpartum care provided a unique perspective on the continuum of women’s health.

This rotation also exposed me to a diverse patient population, many from underserved and minority communities. I learned that women’s health extends far beyond managing obstetric and gynecologic conditions. Many encounters involved discussions regarding family planning, contraception, access to resources, financial concerns, prenatal education, and social support systems. These experiences reinforced the importance of treating the whole patient and understanding the social factors that influence health outcomes. During my on-call and overnight shifts, I had the opportunity to work closely with nurses and other members of the healthcare team. These experiences helped me better understand inpatient workflow, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the important role each team member plays in patient care. I learned a great deal from both providers and nursing staff and appreciated the supportive learning environment throughout the rotation.

Overall, this rotation significantly improved my confidence in women’s health. I developed stronger skills in patient interviewing, oral presentations, clinical documentation, pelvic examinations, and obstetric and gynecologic evaluation. More importantly, I was able to participate in the care of women at many different stages of life and pregnancy, making this one of the most meaningful and rewarding clinical experiences of my training.