Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology

Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program

The University of New Mexico's Perinatal Program is committed to the care of women and their newborns throughout the state. We believe the quality of patient care depends on continuing education and research. At the same time, research loses significance without commitment to patient care.

Fellowship Goals

The educational program in Maternal-Fetal Medicine is designed to prepare practitioners to provide quality perinatal care. A basic understanding of perinatology is a primary goal. A practical application of this knowledge is achieved through direct involvement in patient care.

The program is integrated with the divisions of neonatology and medical genetics, and the departments of pediatrics and anesthesiology. Allied health professionals also play an important role in the program. Nurses, dieticians, social workers and others assess, plan, implement, and evaluate all aspects care of the perinatal high-risk family in both inpatient and outpatient services. MFM nurses coordinate the services provided by the multidisciplinary team. Dieticians and master-prepared social workers with primary responsibility to the perinatal patient provide their individual expertise in meeting the special needs of the high-risk clients.

Development of specialized areas of clinical or investigative expertise is expected of each trainee. Fellows completing the three-year program will be capable of fulfilling the necessary requirements for subspecialty certification of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Educational Content

Lectures:

Weekly perinatal, ultrasound, and genetic conferences are held throughout the academic year.

Journal Club: A Journal club is held once a month

Clinical Conferences:

A MFM patient care Conference is held weekly to discuss ante partum patient care.

A Morbidity-Mortality Conference is held monthly to specifically review maternal-fetal and neonatal morbidity-mortality.

Every two weeks a Perinatal Conference is held to discuss ongoing patients with the neonatologists.

A Genetics Conference is held weekly to review patients seen in genetics clinic. Didactic presentations are also given.

A weekly Diabetic Conference is held to discuss patients seen in the diabetic clinic.

Research Planning and Review Conference: Once a month.

Visiting Professor Program: Appropriate guests of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology participate in the education of fellows.

Courses: Two graduate level courses are required. Several others are approved to meet special interests.

Clinical Experience

The three-year fellowship includes a minimum of one month each of neonatal -medicine, obstetric anesthesiology, ultrasonography, and genetics. Elective time-off service is also available. Approximately 30% of the clinical experience time is spent as the senior member of a health care team providing antepartum outpatient and inpatient care.

All the fellows actively participate in care and/or serve as consultants on a regularly a scheduled basis, including night coverage. Each fellow will serve as the primary consultant to the obstetrics services for a minimum of four months during training.

Research Projects

Together with an assigned mentor, Fellows will select an area for a specific investigation or thesis. Collaborative projects may also be undertaken, but each individual must develop a specific area in which he/she has primary responsibility. Completion of the fellowship requires completion of an approved thesis.

Research activities are currently ongoing in physiology, endocrinology, diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders, fetal pulmonary biochemistry, labor, and other areas.

Formal presentation at scientific meetings and publication of significant research projects are expected.

The fellowship is structured so that the thesis will be completed by the end of the fellowship.

The Perinatal Center

The Perinatal Center is an interdisciplinary unit encompassing clinical services, maternal intensive care, obstetric anesthesia service, and transport services. All essential services for outpatient and inpatient care are available.

Clinical services handle more than 1,000 outpatient visits to the High Risk Obstetrics Clinic, nearly 3500 deliveries, more than 600 newborn intensive care admissions, and more than 300 perinatal genetic visits each year. Approximately 500 OB ultrasound scans are done per year and approximately 400 OB transports are accepted each year. Both fixed wing and helicopter air transports are provided by the University Hospital Lifeguard Program.

The professionals staffing the center continue to participate in education and research while remaining committed to quality patient care.

Selection Process

Selection of fellows will be made according to the Matching Program guidelines. The Program accepts one fellow each year.

The yearly stipend is competitive with similar programs at other academic centers. Fellows receive the same basic fringe benefits as faculty.

Upon acceptance, candidates who wish eligibility for certification of special competence in maternal-fetal medicine by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology must submit an application no later than 3 months prior to the beginning of training.

Application Information

Applicants should provide 3 letters of recommendation and arrange a personal interview prior to completing the application form.

The application form should be completed by both the applicant and the program director before submission to the secretary of the board for final approval. For more information, please contact Dr. Kimberly Leslie, Program Director at (505) 272-6907 or email at llacour@salud.unm.edu.