Obstetrics and gynecology residency: who is it right for, and what is life in the specialty like?
Dr. Miriam Varshaviak takes you inside obstetrics and gynecology residency: admissions, rotations, call shifts, research, life as a specialist, career options, and who the specialty is really right for.
Key points
- Obstetrics and gynecology residency lasts six years. Residents may take five or six call shifts a month in the early years, with fewer later on; days start early and call shifts are highly active.
- The specialty combines three major worlds—gynecology, obstetrics, and fertility—with work on wards, in delivery rooms, clinics, and operating rooms, blending clinical thinking with hands-on practice.
- Admission is considered competitive. External call shifts let candidates learn about a department and assess fit while allowing the department to see how they work before the admissions committee.
- The field especially suits people with a clear passion for it who can function under pressure and responsibility, enjoy hands-on work, and communicate with sensitivity and empathy.
- To choose a residency, Dr. Varshaviak recommends direct exposure: speak with residents, take rotations during internship, visit departments, and ask the questions that matter to you.
Chapters
- 00:52 Introduction to Dr. Miriam Varshaviak
- 03:23 Why she chose obstetrics and gynecology
- 04:27 A day in the life of an OB-GYN resident
- 08:17 Rotations and the residency program
- 11:44 Challenges at the start of residency
- 13:22 Residency admissions
- 14:48 Combining residency with research
- 16:15 A small or large hospital: where is it better to train?
- 17:41 A specialist's day-to-day work
- 19:39 Combining work with a hospital position
- 20:48 Fellowships and further training after residency
- 23:17 How long doctors continue taking call
- 24:35 Private-practice options
- 26:36 The lifestyle of an OB-GYN specialist
- 27:53 Who is the specialty right for?
- 30:27 Advice for medical students and interns
- 31:02 What Dr. Varshaviak would do differently
Frequently asked questions
How long is obstetrics and gynecology residency?
Obstetrics and gynecology residency lasts six years. Dr. Varshaviak describes a demanding and varied program, with more call shifts in the early years and fewer as residency progresses.
What does the obstetrics and gynecology residency curriculum include?
The OB-GYN residency curriculum includes exposure to gynecology, obstetrics, and fertility. The interview covers ward and delivery-room work, high-risk pregnancy, procedures and surgery, and rotations that become more focused later in training.
What does day-to-day life in an OB-GYN residency program look like?
An OB-GYN residency program includes early starts for ward rounds and the morning meeting. Some rotations finish in the afternoon, alongside highly active emergency-department and delivery-room call shifts with increasing responsibility.
How do you get accepted into obstetrics and gynecology residency?
Admission to obstetrics and gynecology residency is described as competitive. Dr. Varshaviak explains that candidates commonly take external call shifts before the admissions committee, allowing both the candidate and department to assess fit.
What subspecialties and career paths are available after OB-GYN residency?
Subspecialty training is one path discussed in the interview, alongside fellowships and further training. The video also presents career options as a specialist in hospitals, community medicine, and private practice.
Who is obstetrics and gynecology the right specialty for?
Choosing a medical specialty should be based on real exposure to the work. According to Dr. Varshaviak, OB-GYN suits people with passion for the field who function well under pressure and responsibility, enjoy hands-on work, and communicate with sensitivity and empathy.
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