OB-GYN Residency Program Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Inova's History with Residency Programs? Expand Content Inova Fairfax Hospital and Inova Women’s and Children's Hospitals have a long history in preparing residents and medical students from nearby medical schools. We have primary residencies in internal medicine, surgery, family medicine, podiatry, psychiatry, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology and pediatric emergency medicine. We have traditionally had residents from Georgetown, George Washington, and Howard universities in medicine, obstetrics, and psychiatry. Many of the attending staff in our program have teaching appointments at University of Virginia School of Medicine–Inova Campus. Where Is Falls Church, Virginia and What Is the Local Community Like? Expand Content Falls Church, Virginia, is approximately 10 miles West of Washington, DC. It is located in a suburban area that has enjoyed explosive growth over the past 20 years. High-tech industry has established itself along the Dulles Corridor between Washington, DC and Dulles International Airport and with it has come an influx of new communities, retail centers and entertainment venues.  Fairfax County has one of the best public school systems in the country and it has been ranked by US News and World Report as a top region for young professionals. Click here to learn more  Does the Program Participate in Eras and Match? Expand Content Yes. What Are the Restrictions on Year of Graduation? Expand Content We do not have an absolute limit on time from medical school graduation but we prefer that applicants be within 5 years of graduation from medical school to apply to our program. What Are the Minimum Score Requirements for USMLE? Expand Content We do not have a minimum USMLE score requirement but we do expect applicants to have passed all USMLE exams that they have taken to date. Do You Sponsor H and J1 Visas? Expand Content ECFMG sponsors J1 visas and the Inova institution sponsors H-1; we do accept both visas. Do You Require Applicants to Be Certified by the ECFMG Before the Interview? Expand Content No, an applicant needs to be certified by ECFMG by the time he/she matches with us. Do You Offer Observership or Externship? Expand Content No.  Does the Program Consider Applications from Foreign Medical Graduates? Expand Content Yes. What Is the Program's Application Deadline? Expand Content The program's application deadline is October 1.  How Many Categorical and Preliminary Positions Does the Program Offer Each Year? Expand Content Our program has six categorical positions available each year. No preliminary positions are currently offered. Is Pre-Match Offered? Expand Content No. Does Passing USMLE Step 3 Increase the Competitiveness of the Applicant? Expand Content No. Must I Have My USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK or COMLEX Level 1 and Level 2, at the Time of Submitting My Application? Expand Content These exams are highly recommended to have completed and transcripts submitted on ERAS. Are There Specific Requirements Regarding Letters of Recommendations? Expand Content We require three (3) letters of recommendation from US or Canadian physicians, including, if possible, the chair of Ob/Gyn or designee and a dean's letter (or equivalent). How Does the Program Incorporate Didactic Teaching and Lectures? Expand Content Our program has four hours of protected teaching time every Friday, from 8 a.m. to noon. Inova Fairfax Hospital OB-GYN Department’s Grand Rounds and morbidity and mortality conferences are held Mondays from 8 – 9 a.m. Didactics include simulations via lectures, skills labs and simulation exercises. In addition, there are dedicated teaching rounds on each rotation. All daytime and night float residents participate in the program’s formal teaching conferences. Are House Staff Required to Do Research? Expand Content Yes. All residents are required to participate in research during the course of their training. We have a research curriculum that starts intern year and culminates in either a peer-reviewed publication or a regional/national presentation. During the summer months, the weekly Monday morning Grand Rounds are replaced by the Summer Research Didactics series. All residents will have a faculty research mentor. Our annual OB-GYN Department Research Day is held in the Spring to present the senior residents’ final projects. How Many Days of Vacation Do Residents Receive? Expand Content Four weeks (28 days) of PTO (paid time off), vacation, or sick days per academic year. Our leave time strictly follows the ABOG Certification Exam requirements/criteria of training time and leave time. How Often Are Residents on Call? Expand Content While this may vary by rotation, all residents will have a minimum of one (1) complete day off per week (averaged over 28 days), should be off duty the day following an overnight call with a minimum of 8 hours off between duty shifts and 14 hours off-duty for 24 hour shifts. The incorporation of “night float” teams will minimize the need for 24 hour call periods. In scheduling work hours, our goal is to have learners who are well rested and motivated to gain the most out of the clinical experiences to which they are exposed. Does the Department Provide Meals, Scrubs, Parking and Transportation? Expand Content The Department provides meal tickets for residents when they are on call. In addition, all teaching conferences include refreshments. Scrubs are provided by the hospital via ScrubX machines with an allotment set up. Each resident will receive 2 physician coats. Free parking is included for all residents (located close by the new hospital in the green garage). Per our policy, a two-way cab service is provided if a resident is too fatigued to drive home safely. Do Residents Receive Training and Exposure to Robotic Surgery? Expand Content Yes. There is a robotics curriculum in place to allow residents to graduate with robotics certification. Which Rotations Do Our Residents Have Exposure To? Expand Content The residents have exposure to the gamut of general and subspecialty areas in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Additionally, residents have rotations in family medicine, emergency medicine and the medical-surgical intensive care unit. A third-year elective experience allows residents to further individualize their training. For more details, see the "Curriculum/Didactics" tab. Do You Have DOs In Your Program? Expand Content Yes.  How Would You Describe the Dynamic Between Residents and L&D/OR Staff? Expand Content Our residents get to work alongside great staff. There are plenty of opportunities for interprofessional development. Our twice daily "safety rounds" meetings and monthly interprofessional fetal heart rate tracing rounds have fostered a collaborative relationship between nursing and residents. Do the Residents Teach Medical Students? Expand Content Yes. In 2021, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus became a regional campus for the University of Virginia School of Medicine. There is a robust "Residents as Teachers" curriculum and a dedicated block rotation to assist with the development of teaching skills. How Would You Describe the Kind of Support Available to Residents? Expand Content Mentorship is a key component in developing residents through this academic and clinical journey. Our residents are assigned various faculty mentors to support their growth: A life mentor (to assist with the transition to residency) An upper-level resident mentor A career mentor (once the resident’s goal for practice or fellowship is decided) A research mentor A morbidity and mortality conference mentor For more information about our program’s mission, see the "About" tab. Are There Opportunities for Global Health Experiences? Expand Content Yes. A resident interested in pursuing a global health experience will be assigned a mentor to facilitate the experience.