Family Centered Maternity Care Fellowship

The Program

The 1-year Family-Centered Maternity Care Fellowship trains family physicians to provide family­ centered maternity care, interconception through delivery, focusing on the special needs of patients in urban underserved communities. Working in the complex social setting of the Bronx, maternity care fellows develop expertise in caring for patients at two federally qualified health centers with over 300 prenatal patients per year. Fellows learn to address the social realities of medicine in an underserved, economically challenged, urban environment. Residents care for patients in labor, conduct vaginal deliveries and assist in cesarean sections.

Fellowship Objectives>> 

Curriculum

Inpatient 

Most of the fellow's labor and delivery experience occurs at the Wakefield Campus of Montefiore Medical Center. Fellows work closely with obstetric and family medicine residents under the direct supervision of Family Medicine and Obstetric attending.

Block Rotations 

Fellows also spend dedicated time on the following rotations:

Required 

• obstetrical ultrasound
• high-risk obstetrics
• neonatology
• labor and delivery

Fellows may also spend dedicated time on rotations based on their interest and availability:

• genetics
• infertility
• reproductive health
• other elective

Outpatient 

• 5 half-day sessions per week in family medicine clinic
  • prenatal clinic/groups
  • family medicine continuity clinic
  • supervising resident clinic
   
• remainder of sessions per week for fellow clinical education (rotations)

Call 

• Limited in house call required
• Fellows are encouraged to deliver their own patients
• Fellows participate in weekend call on the Family Medicine Wakefield Postpartum and Newborn Service every 4-6 weeks

Faculty Development 

• Weekly meeting with OB fellowship faculty member assessing learning goals
• Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) instructor course
• Participation as ALSO instructor candidate in local ALSO course
• Training in Centering Pregnancy and Parenting models
• Present at weekly conferences for family medicine residents and attending
• Coordinate monthly FM-OB Journal Club
• Optional administrative experience as Chief Resident for family medicine maternity care
• Fellows are required to present at least one scholarly project at a Regional or National conference

Teaching 

Fellows are trained to be educational leaders for the next generation of family physicians providing maternity care. Fellows teach students and residents and complete research projects that advance medical scholarship related to societal risks in pregnancy.

Application & Admission

Selection Process 

Two fellows are accepted to the program each year.

Applicants to the Family Centered Maternity Care Fellowship must have completed an accredited residency training program in family medicine. Candidates must be in good standing and either board certified or board eligible. Residents must have a New York State license to begin fellowship.

A selection committee made up of the maternity care faculty will review each application received. Selection of candidates to interview will be based on the following:

1. Proven clinical competence
2. Excellent communication skills
3. Prior training and commitment to maternity care
4. Feasibility of success in the field

Candidates from racial and ethnic minority groups are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to candidates who seem likely to become leaders in the field.

Application Preparation 

A complete application includes the following:

1. Curriculum vita
2. Personal statement including the following:
   1. Why has the applicant chosen to pursue maternity care training?
   2. What career goals (research, clinical, academic) does the candidate have in mind?
   3. What expectations does the candidate have of the fellowship program?
   4. Where does the candidate plan to practice?
    
3. Three letters of recommendation
   1. one letter must be from the director of the applicant’s residency training program
   2. one letter should be from a physician who can assess the applicant’s procedural skills
   3. one letter should be from an Obstetrician who has worked with the resident
    

Application Deadline 

Applications are due by November 1 of the year preceding the start of the fellowship

Interviews 

Selected applicants will be contacted for interviews. Interviews are conducted from September through December, and will be notified of decisions no later than December 15th.

State of New York Medical Licensure 

All fellows will need an active New York State license at the time of initiation of the fellowship.

Contact

For more information, contact Rebecca Williams, MD, rewillia@montefiore.org 

Faculty

Family Medicine 

Rebecca Williams, MD, MHPE, FAAFP (bio) 

Mary F. Duggan, MD (bio) 

Maria Gervits, MD

Obstetrics 

Nancy E. Judge, MD (bio) 

Neonatology 

Sheri Nemerofsky, MD