Women's Health

Mario Castellanos, M.D. (right), Director of Medical Women’s Health Division, begins an examination with a review of the patient’s medical history.

The Medical Women’s Health Division enhances the education and training of residents and fellows in the comprehensive care of women. Physicians are taught to approach women through a biosocial model and promote wellness by preventing disease, treating medical disorders and providing ambulatory gynecologic care. The Division’s educational objectives are met by providing residents with a core curriculum and rotations through subspecialty clinics.

During the primary care rotations, residents participate in multiple specialty clinics which provide the clinical knowledge and experience to focus on psychosocial issues, breast health, cancer screening, cardiovascular disease prevention, osteoporosis treatment an prevention, gender differences of chronic medical problems, medical disorders during pregnancy, and ambulatory gynecology.

The medical gynecology clinic is dedicated to the comprehensive care of women. During these sessions, residents are directly supervised by attending physicians with an expertise in women’s health. Attending preceptors evaluate the residents’ competency in performing a complete well-woman assessment, including gynecologic care and necessary procedural skills. Group discussions are held after each clinic, and pertinent topics and journal articles are reviewed.

The didactic component of the women’s health curriculum is extensive. During the ambulatory block rotation, morning conferences emphasize important common problems. Women’s health symposiums and Grand Rounds are presented by hospital faculty and national experts.

The Division is actively involved in various research studies pertaining to women’s health including clinical studies and basic research. Resident projects have been published in peer review journals and presented at national and local meetings.

RETURN TO: Education Section Home RETURN TO: SIUH Home