Application Deadlines 

Currently, there is no uniform deadline for applications, but this is in the process of changing.  Many programs are looking at standardizing the application process with a single electronic application and possibly moving towards utilizing the ERAS Website (possibly starting with the 2009/2010 cycle).

Many fellowship programs participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).  The NRMP allows applicants and program directors the ability to examine all of their options before committing by establishing a uniform timeframe for the application processes.  When programs have varying timeframes, it limits the ability to consider all of the options as some programs would have an earlier timeframe than others; thus potentially forcing a premature decision.

Applicants need to contact the programs of their choice directly for the applications.  Applications are usually due between June 1st and July 1st.  The interview season for fellowships typically begins in July and ends late October.   NRMP facilitates the match by allowing the program directors and the applicants to submit a final listing of their choices in preference order. The NRMP then uses that list to match the programs and applicants.

We recommend you learn more about the NRMP by visiting their Website at http://www.nrmp.org/fellow/match_name/obgyn/about.html.

Recommendations for the Application Process
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Step 1 – Embrace the interviews. Yes, it is expensive and the umpteenth interview is hard to be fresh and excited about -- but this is an important opportunity. When else do you spend 30 minutes with the leaders in the field of Urogynecology just chatting about your ideas? It will be years before you can get this type of attention again. This is career building, and the relationships you start to forge on the interview trail will be useful later when you look for jobs, look for collaborators, need mentors, etc.  You will see all the people you interview with at meetings in the future because the field is small enough that everyone knows each other.
 
Step 2 – Ask the fellows' what their day-to-day schedule is like. It is easy to make assumptions based on the fellowship you are most familiar with, but there is a wide variety to fellowships. Some have more autonomy than others. At some you are truly a junior faculty member. At other programs, you may have less autonomy.
 
Step 3 – Know your own goals. There are private practice Urogynecologists who operate a ton.  There are academics who balance teaching/research/clinical duties and other physicians who focus solely on research.  You should know what you want from a fellowship training program and a general direction you envision for your career before you start the interview process.
 
Step 4 – Read about all the research done at a program before interviewing. What are the faculty members doing? How prolific are they?  Does the program support the fellows performing and presenting their research? At some programs, there are established research projects and the fellows contribute to those long-standing projects. At other programs, you initiate your own research from the ground up. There are pluses and minuses to both: if it is established, your mentors are probably big researchers in the field and you get that mentorship. If you start from scratch, then you develop your own ideas, but the research will probably be less grand.
 
Research is a huge part of fellowship (all accredited programs require that 1/3 of your time be protected for research). Even if this is not your main interest now, it may become more important to you after you devote that much time to it. Make sure that you have access to outstanding mentors. Research mentors may not be your fellowship attendings -  so you may ask if other resources/mentors have been used. Is it possible to get a masters degree or complete additional research training? Research time is structured very differently depending on the program.  Some programs have one solid year of research and some programs have research time in half day, weekly, monthly, or quarterly rotations.  It really depends on the program.  There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of research set up.  Some programs require their fellows to obtain a masters degree during their fellowship.  Some programs offer a masters degree to their fellows, but do not require it.  Some programs do not offer this as an option.  Again, decide what you are looking for in your fellowship training. 
 
The published abstracts from the AUGS and SGS meetings will give you a good sense of what programs are busy. Some programs are heavy hitters every year, some alternate with heavy and light years. If the program you are interested in is not mentioned, look at the abstracts from the previous year.

Step 5 - Research  past graduates of the fellowship program.  What are they doing now?   Are they doing what you want to be doing?

Step 6 - Vaginal vs. Abdominal vs. Laparoscopic approaches.  What kind of surgery is performed at this program?  Some programs are mostly abdominal and others are mostly vaginal.  A few programs offer advanced laparoscopic procedures and a few programs offer robotic training.  Some programs are very traditional in their approach to surgical procedures and other programs are very progressive.  Decide what kind of surgical training you want, because this is not standardized throughout the many different programs.
 
Step 7 – Congratulations!  You matched!  Apply for your state medical license the day you match in your fellowship. Permanent medical licenses sometimes take up to eight months to obtain.