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Gynecology

Overview

A one month rotation in gynecology is part of each resident's second year experience. The curriculum has a broad family practice focus, and includes inpatient and outpatient exposure, as well as STD clinic, geriatric gynecology, and Altoona Family Physicians Colposcopy Clinic.  Residents also see patients of the Women's Health and Wellness program of the Altoona Hospital.  Colposcopy clinic and Women's Health and Wellness are also part of the Outpatient Family Medicine rotation in the second year of training continuing the residents exposure to colposcopy and gynecology.

Attending physicians are from Altoona Family Physicians as well as two other OB/Gyn practices. Faculty maintain membership in the American Society of Cervical Cytology and Pathology. All of the OB/Gyn physicians who work with family practice residents enjoy teaching and working with residents. Time is spent in both the office and operating room with gynecologists from a busy obstetrics and gynecology group.

All residents become skilled in colposcopy. First year residents observe procedures during Outpatient Family Medicine I. First and Second year residents attend yearly colposcopy course. Third year residents have the opportunity to help present a case or short topic at colposcopy course. A faculty member is always present during colposcopy and as the resident progresses, will allow him or her to do more until the resident is doing the whole procedure. Residents also are skilled in endometrial biopsy.  The volume of colposcopy procedures is high due to patients from the Women's Health and Wellness program of the Altoona Hospital and Altoona Family Physicians practice.

Our colposcopy course gets excellent evaluations from participants and is given each year by Altoona Family Physicians faculty, a pathologist and visiting faculty. This course includes both didactic and hands-on training in a series of workshops.

An extensive gynecology library including CD roms and videotapes for colposcopy training is available in the Altoona Family Physicians library.

The hours on this rotation are generally from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

There is no scheduled call on this rotation. (The resident would only have call if he or she scheduled weekend call during this month to do one of his or her several weekend calls for the year.)