Obstetrics & Gynecology

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"Over 500 completed residency applications are reviewed annually, with the selection committee granting approximately 60 interviews for six first-year resident positions."

- University of Washington Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Learn more about the obstetrics & gynecology residency selection process through our interview with Dr. Eugene Toy, Program Director of The Methodist Hospital obstetrics & gynecology residency program.

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See how Success on the Wards has helped others

Why pursue Obstetrics & Gynecology as a career?
2010 Obstetrics & Gynecology Salary

Overview of Residency Training

To become an obstetrician/gynecologist, four years of residency training are required. According to the AMA and AAMC, there are over 4,800 residents training in 246 ACGME-accredited obstetrics and gynecology residency programs. Seventy-four percent are USMDs, 17% are international medical graduates, and 9% are osteopathic graduates. 

2010 Match Data

Obstetrics and gynecology is a moderately competitive specialty. In the 2010 NRMP Match, nearly 1,200 residency positions were available. Eighty-four U.S. seniors failed to match.

Approximately 100 osteopathic students matched into an allopathic residency program. Another 130 positions were filled by international medical graduates. Osteopathic and international medical graduate applicants are considered independent applicants. In 2010, 49.4% of independent applicants failed to match. Osteopathic applicants may also apply to AOA-approved obstetrics and gynecology residency programs. There are 29 osteopathic residency programs in the field.

Why pursue Obstetrics and Gynecology as a Career?

Obstetrician/gynecologists discuss reasons why they chose to pursue a career in obstetrics and gynecology:

William Davis, MD
Marygrace Elson, MD
Jill Vibhakar, MD
Dr. Sujata Chandra (University of Alberta)
20 Questions with Andrew Beckwith, MD

2010 Obstetrician and Gynecologist Physician Compensation/Salary

Find out how much an obstetrician/gynecologist makes

Subspecialties of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Subspecialties in which obstetricians/gynecologists can pursue fellowship training leading to board certification include critical care medicine, gynecologic oncology, hospice and palliative medicine, maternal and fetal medicine, reproductive endocrinology/infertility, and female pelvic medicine/reconstruction surgery. 

Excelling in your Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship

Our book, Success on the Wards: 250 Rules for Clerkship Success, has an extensive chapter that will prepare you for this clerkship. Read page 9 of the first chapter for more information.




See how our book has helped others.

Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency Application

Almost all residency programs require applicants to submit their completed application through the Electronic Residency Application Service, also known as ERAS. ERAS does not, however, allow applicants to submit their curriculum vitae or CV as part of this application. Instead, ERAS requires all applicants to transfer information from their CV to the ERAS Application Form. It is the ERAS Application Form that is then sent to programs for review along with the the rest of your application.

Once the application is received, program directors will read it closely and carefully. The application will be used to assess the quality of your written communication skills. Programs place considerable emphasis on communication skills because effective communication has been shown to directly affect the quality of care given to patients.

Therefore, it is imperative that all information in your application is well communicated and error-free. In our experiences reviewing and editing applications, errors are common.

We have considerable experience reviewing and editing the ERAS Application Form can make sure that your application is polished, professional, and powerful.

Our ERAS Application Review/Editing Service can be purchased through our online store. All clients will work directly with Dr. Samir Desai, author of The Successful Match.

Important Information for the Aspiring Obstetrician/Gynecologist

A long, fulfilling professional career: a very personal view

Predictors of physician career satisfaction, work-life balance, and burnout

Professional liability and other career pressures: impact on obstetrician-gynecologists' career satisfaction

Fellowship training: the ever-changing subspecialty of maternal-fetal medicine

Women in obstetrics and gynecology: appreciating the past, looking to the future

A challenge for the 21st century: whither physician-scientists in obstetrics, gynecology, and the reproductive sciences?

Why obstetrics/gynecology, and what if it were not an option? A survey of resident applicants?

The evolving gender gap in general obstetrics and gynecology

Do factors that are important during obstetrics and gynecology residency program selection differ by applicant gender?