Obstetrics & Gynecology at Oakland
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is it like to do a residency at Kaiser Oakland?
- Do you consider foreign applicants for interviews?
- Is research a requirement for graduation?
- What is the patient population like at Kaiser Oakland?
- Is there protected teaching time?
- What is your pass rate on the Board exam?
- Is the East Bay a nice place to live?
- Do you have some sort of downloadable PDF file that I can download and print out for future reference?
- What is your call schedule like?
- What do you your residents do after graduation?
1. What is it like to do a residency at Kaiser Oakland?
Residency training at Kaiser is truly unique. Our facility is a referral center so the breadth and depth of pathology isextensive. All of the sub-specialty groups within obstetrics and gynecology are represented and offer experiences that will leave the graduate confident in their skills and abilities. Some advantages of the Kaiser system include: a huge database to be able to perform research and answer interesting clinical questions, a robust electronic record that is easily referenced, a truly diverse patient population and great support services (social work, case managers, discharge planners).
2. Do you consider foreign applicants for interviews?
We receive about 300 applications each year for four positions. From that pool we select about 70 individuals to interview. Over the past 5 years from the 350 individuals interviewed only 10 have been foreign medical school graduates. These individuals attended schools in Australia, Canada, England, Germany, India and Japan.
3. Is research a requirement for graduation?
Yes, residents are required to present their research project at the KOGBARRS (Kaiser Obstetrics and Gynecology Bay Area Residency Research Symposium). This symposiumis held in conjunction with the Kaiser Santa Clara and Kaiser San Francisco Obstetrics and Gynecology residency programs.
4. What is the patient population like at Kaiser Oakland?
Oakland was identified as the second most diverse city in the United States (Long Beach was number one). This translates into an unsurpassed exposure to different cultures and backgrounds as well as pathology. During a clinic afternoon you may have a homeless teenager who is pregnant and then a professor at Berkeley followed by a recent immigrant who does not yet speak much English. We have excellent translation services for a variety of languages and many of our staff and residents speak languages other than English as their primary language. Approximately 10% of our obstetrical population receives their Kaiser coverage via Medi-Cal.
5. Is there protected teaching time?
Monday afternoons from 2 pm till 5 pm are designated as protected teaching time. We have a curriculum plan that takes two years to complete and is based upon the CREOG learning objectives. Didactics, case-based learning, simulation, and mock orals are all part of this training time. Noon conferences occur on most days and include M&M, Ultrasound, Pathology, Grand Rounds, Pre-Operative Conference and Journal Club. Wednesday afternoon bedside rounds and Thursday morning case-based learning additionally occur for the Gynecology Team.
6. What is your pass rate on the Board exam?
We have had a 100% pass rate on the written Board exam for the past seven years.
7. Is the East Bay a nice place to live?
The East Bay is one of the the best place to live in the Bay Area.. The temperature moderable year round. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is available and can get you most anywhere in the Bay area without driving. The East Bay hills abound in all sorts of opportunities for outdoor activities.
8. Do you have some sort of downloadable PDF file that I can download and print out for future reference?
Yes - click here to view a pdf overview of our program.
9. What is your call schedule like?
We have a night float system. Sunday through Thursday the night float covers from 8PM till 9AM. Friday and Saturday are traditional overnight calls. The Obstetrical Team covers from 5-8PM so residents on other services have only weekend call approximately two to three times per month.
Friday: 5:30PM-8AM (17.5 hours)
Saturday: 8AM-8AM (24 hours)
Sunday: 8AM-8PM (12 hours)
10. What do your residents do after graduation?
Most residents (90%) go into general OB/GYN practice. Doing a residency at Kaiser trains physicians to work in the Kaiser system, and about 70% of graduates that choose general OB/GYN practice do go on to work for Kaiser. About 10% of our graduates go on and do a fellowship.
