A Career in ObGyn Michele Hugin, MD, FACOG 9 February 2016

About me…  Only child  No doctors in my family  “candy striper” at El Camino Hospital  Graduated from Los Altos High 1983  BA and MS in Biology from UCSD 1988  MD Tufts University Boston 1992  ObGyn Residency 1996

My Current Job…  Attending Staff Physician at Valley Medical Center in San Jose (1996- present)  Generalist- obstetrics, gynecology, surgery, area of interest is Family Planning  Employed by the County of Santa Clara  Safety net Hospital  Residency training program  Stanford medical students come to our hospital

Path to Becoming an ObGyn  Undergraduate education  Requirements for Medical School- 1 year biology, 1 year physical and 1 year Organic chemistry, 1 year physics  Take the MCAT- standardized test of above subjects and psychology/social science  Application, essay, interview

So you got into Medical School…  Medical school 4-5 years  First 2 years in classroom- anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, second 2 years are “clinical”  Third year core rotations- medicine, surgery, pediatrics, ob/gyn, psychiatry  Fourth year electives  Residency  4 years for ObGyn (3 years from medicine and pediatrics to 6 years for Neurosurgery and Plastic Surgery)  Salary $45,000/year. 80 hr work week. $11.25/h

If you still want MORE training…  Fellowships in Ob Gyn  Gyn Oncology- cancer surgery, chemotherapy  Pelvic reconstruction  Infertility  High risk Obstetrics  Family Planning  Minimally invasive surgery

What about the money…?  Almost 90% of medical school graduates have debt  This debt can be $150,000  Average salary for ObGyn approx. $250,000  Malpractice insurance is high for ObGyn (highest is Neurosurgery)  It depends where you practice

How do I know if it’s right for me?  Do you enjoy a challenge?  Are you curious?  Are you not afraid to work hard?  Do you want to help people and be a positive force in your community?

Why did I become and ObGyn?  I liked Biology especially Physiology- I had a really great teacher in college who gave great presentations like pulmonary physiology on Everest  I tested into a helping profession (preschool teacher, clergy)  I’m a good listener  I wanted to make a difference in the lives of women

A day in my life… Clinic (office practice) see patients whop are scheduled for appointments pregnancy check ups well woman exams minor procedures under local anesthesia computerized charting Labor and Delivery manage laboring patients (preterm, term) scheduled cesarean sections triage patients (determine if they are in labor or not)

On other days… Operating room  Scheduled surgeries – major or minor, from 30 minutes to several hours on my feet teaching residents and medical students, small team of people fast paced work  If patients stay in the hospital I make “rounds” the next day to check on them Administrative work, preparing lectures, interviewing prospective residency candidates, doing research, making schedules

What qualities make a “good doctor”  Respect your patient  Be an advocate for your patient  Promote health  Be empathetic  Listen. “You can’t talk while you are listening”  Work cooperatively  Pay attention to detail

GOOD LUCK!