OB-GYN Residency
Administration and Organization

As described in the Introduction, the residency is governed by the National Capital Consortium (NCC), which is under the direction of the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, who is also the Designated Institutional Official (DIO). The NCC is in turn accredited by the American Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to govern residency training programs; the NCC is considered the sponsoring institution per the ACGME. The Executive Director of the NCC heads the Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC), which includes the Program Directors from all the NCC programs, as well as the Directors of Education at each hospital affiliated with the NCC.

The program itself is under the direction of the Program Director, who is directly responsible to the Executive Director of the NCC. The program Director works closely with the Associate Program Directors; one representing the Army, and one representing the Navy. The individual hospital administrative structures form different lines of authority; each hospital has a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; however, with the integration of the facilities, there is now an Integrated Department Head who oversees both Departments. Each Division within the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology is headed by a Division/Service Chief. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at USUHS is under the direction of the Chair, who works closely with the educational and clinical services at each of the hospitals as well as directing the research division within the university.

The Program Director and Associate Program Directors form the “core” personnel accountable for the administrative responsibilities of the residency program. As described, the Program Director, the Associate Program Directors, and the Division/Service Chiefs form the Education Committee for the program, which reviews and develops curriculum. In addition, the Leadership Group, which consists of the USUHS Chair, Integrated Department Head, and the Program Director, review both administrative and educational aspects of the program, as well as provide long-term planning for future developments. Find the current program administrators in Contacts.

American Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME):

As described, all residency programs fall under the direction of the ACGME. The ACGME visits programs on a periodic basis; based on these visits, programs are accredited for a certain time period until a subsequent visit. The maximum accreditation is 5 years; for Obstetrics and Gynecology programs, 5-year accreditation is granted to < 5% of programs nation-wide. Our program received the maximum 5-year accreditation as of the last site visit; we are the only DoD Obstetrics and Gynecology program to have received consecutive maximum accreditation.

WORK HOURS: As of 1 July 2003, all ACGME-accredited residency programs were required to adhere to an 80-hour work week restriction, averaged over a 4-week period. Additional restrictions were also placed, including one day off in 7 (averaged over 4 weeks), no less than 10 hours off-duty between shifts, and after a 24-hour work shift, additional hours (maximum of 6) were only allowed for certain activities. For further information regarding the work hour regulations, please see the ACGME web site. In order to comply with these changes, most residency programs modified schedules, staffing, and other aspects of their programs to adhere to these requirements. In our program, some of the changes included institution of a Night Float call system at WRNMMC, modification of the call coverage at WRAMC, modification of clinic schedules, adjustments in timing of rounds, and modifications of rotation schedules. As a result, the program is in compliance with work hour regulations. Resident work hours are reviewed on a frequent basis, and adjustments made as necessary to ensure compliance. Top