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OB/GYN Clerkships, Electives and Acting Internships

OB/GYN Clerkship

This four-week clerkship provides broad exposure to the OB/Gyn specialty, including experience in Labor & Delivery, clinics, OR, and immersion in a subspeciality within the department (MFM, MIGS, Gyn Onc, UPRS, REI). Students work directly with residents, physicians, advanced practice providers, and other health providers to care for a diverse patient population.

Locations

  • Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

  • Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center

Contact Us

Course Director: Stephanie Lambert, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Academic Specialists in Ob/Gyn

Course Assistant Director: Jacqueline Bissonette, MD
Assistant Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Academic Specialists in Ob/Gyn

Course Coordinator: Lori Corradino, M.Ed.
Education Program Coordinator, Obstetrics & Gynecology

University Park Clerkship

Locations

Mount Nittany Health Obstetrics and Gynecology
1850 E. Park Ave. Suite 301
State College, PA 16803

Mount Nittany Medical Center
Labor and Delivery 1800 E. Park Ave.
State College, PA 16803

Contact Us

Dr. Michael McShane
Clerkship director

Sondra Struble
Clinical Curriculum Operations Manager

Electives

Fourth-Year Electives All elective courses require completion of all third-year core clerkships. Courses are limited to one Penn State College of Medicine student per rotation. Courses may not be available for all dates due to other faculty obligations.

Fourth-year Electives: OBGYN 701, OBGYN 721, OBGYN 723, OBGYN 724, OBGYN 796, OBGYN 797, and UROGYN 741.

Fourth-year Advanced Electives: OBGYN 710 and OBGYN 742

Fourth-year CORE Acting Internship: OBGYN 722

  • Credits: 5

  • Program director: Caitlin Farabaugh, MD (Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center)

  • Location: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

  • Maximum number of students: One

  • When offered: All rotations

  • Length of elective: One month

  • Prerequisite: Third-year core clerkships

  • Report to: Course Director, Gynecologic Oncology Advanced Elective

Description: This elective involves active participation with inpatient/outpatient patients with gynecologic malignancies and includes experience with surgical and medical management of common gynecologic malignancies. Pathophysiology of common gynecologic malignancies and their treatment is stressed. Students participate actively and assume responsibilities commensurate with an advances elective course. This course qualifies as a surgical sub-internship.

  • Program Director: Kristen Riley, MD (Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center)

  • Location: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

  • Maximum number of students: 1

  • When Offered: All Rotations

  • Length of Elective: 1 Month

  • Prerequisite: Completion of third year core clerkships

Description: This advanced elective exposes students to a high-volume surgery service focused on complex benign gyn surgical problems, the multidisciplinary management of chronic pelvic pain and perioperative planning. Students will have equal time in the OR and clinic, round on inpatients, take one weekend gyn call, and present on a topic related to endometriosis.

  • Credits: 2.5

  • Program Director: Melissa Haslam, MD (Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center)

  • Locations: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

  • Maximum number of students: One student

  • When offered: All rotations

  • Length: 2 weeks

  • Prerequisite: Third-year core clerkships

Description: This elective provides students with a two-week immersive experience in Labor and Delivery service. Students will have the opportunity to manage obstetric triage patients and complications in pregnancy, manage and support laboring patients, and participate in postpartum rounds, as well as vaginal and cesarean deliveries.

  • Credits: 5

  • Program director: Samantha Butts, MD (Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center) Location: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

  • Maximum number of students: One

  • When offered: All rotations based on availability (closed July 2024, October 2024, March 2025)

  • Length of elective: 4 weeks

  • Prerequisite: Third-year core clerkships

Description: This elective involves active participation in outpatient REI service; students are introduced to evaluation of infertility and modern treatment modalities, participate in surgical procedures, such as hysteroscopy and laparoscopy, and experience advanced reproductive technologies. Students participate in a monthlong project to broaden their knowledge of reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

  • Credits: 2.5

  • Program Director: Stephanie Lambert, MD (Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center)

  • Location: Hershey

  • Maximum number of students: One Student

  • When Offered: All Rotations

  • Length of Elective: 2 weeks

  • Prerequisite: Completion of third year OBGYN core clerkship, approval by FP Program Director

Description: This course enhances patient-centered communication and counseling via outpatient clinical experiences in early pregnancy and contraception clinics at PSH and a Planned Parenthood affiliate clinic providing first trimester abortion care. Students practice history-taking, ultrasound imaging in early pregnancy, and patient-centered counseling. Students may assist in procedures under sedation.

  • Credits: 2.5

  • Program director: Jacqueline Bissonette, MD (Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center)

  • Location: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

  • Maximum number of students: Limited to students pursuing ObGyn Residency (course cap: 14)

  • When offered: 3/31/25 - 4/11/25

  • Length of elective: Two weeks

  • Prerequisite: Third-year core clerkships; pursuing ObGyn Residency

Description: This elective is designed for students transitioning to Ob/Gyn residency. Through case-based learning and simulations, the course reviews basic obstetric skills, surgical techniques, ultrasonography, intrapartum management, and Ob/Gyn emergencies. Students will complete the APGO preparation for residency knowledge assessment to evaluate their progress towards meeting ACGME level-1 Ob/Gyn milestones.

  • Credits: 2.5

  • Program Director: Jaime Long, MD (Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center)

  • Locations: Hershey

  • Maximum number of students: One student

  • When offered: All rotations

  • Length: 2 weeks

  • Prerequisite: Third-year core clerkships

Description: This 2-week elective will introduce students to the basics of female pelvic floor disorders including prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence, and others. A strong understanding of relevant anatomy and physiology will form the basis for a successful rotation evaluating, counseling, and participating in treatment of pelvic floor disorders.

  • Credits: 5

  • Program director: Faculty research adviser

  • Location: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

  • Maximum number of students: N/A

  • When offered: All rotations

  • Length of elective: 4 weeks

  • Prerequisite: Limited to students of Penn State College of Medicine

Description: Promotion of a scientific approach to basic questions in obstetrics and gynecology. Emphasize problem definition and methodology primarily involving but not limited to literature search and chart review. The educational goals and course of study must be submitted to the department's medical student director for approval, and acceptance of educational responsibility by the designated faculty must be confirmed prior to approval of the course.

  • Credits: 5

  • Program director: Variable

  • Location: Variable

  • Maximum number of students: N/A

  • When offered: All Rotations

  • Length of elective: 4 weeks

  • Prerequisite: Completion of third year core clerkships, approval by ObGyn Department Student Director

Description: Clinical experience in one or more aspects of Obstetrics and Gynecology through work with a faculty physician. This course may include externships at non-affiliate institutions, as well as one-on-one work with a Hershey Medical Center faculty. The educational goals and course of study must be submitted to the OBGYN department medical student director for approval and acceptance of educational responsibility by the designated faculty must be confirmed prior to approval of the course.

Acting Internships

  • Credits: 5

  • Course director: James O’Brien, MD

  • Administrative coordinator: Lori Corradino, MEd

  • Email: lcorradino@pennstatehealth.psu.edu

  • Phone: 717-531-1339

  • Location: Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

  • Maximum number of students: One

  • When offered: All rotations

  • Length of elective: 4 weeks

  • Prerequisite: Third-year core clerkships

Description: The MFM AI focuses on expanding knowledge regarding complex and multidisciplinary care of pregnancies with maternal medical and surgical co-morbidities and/or fetuses with complications. The AI experiences robust consultative services, coordination of care, surgical exposure with the MFM Medicine sub-specialists, and an increased exposure to fetal ultrasound and echocardiography.