No abstract

Background: Alabama has the second highest rate of infant mortality of any state in the United States. This high rate of infant mortality is related to closure of rural labor and delivery units, closure of rural hospitals, lack of access to obstetric care and lack of OB/GYN and family physicians obstetrics providers. Obstetrician/ gynecologists or family physicians trained in obstetrics are essential for hospitals to provide obstetrical care. This study was designed to determine if the production of obstetrician/gynecologists by the University of Alabama School of Medicine was comparable to other similar medical educational institutions. Materials and Methods:A list of 6271 graduates of the University of Alabama School of Medicine from the Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Huntsville campuses from 1974 to 2015 was obtained from the published records of the main campus in Birmingham. Variables included the years of matriculation and graduation, full names, specialty choice, name and location of PGY1 institution and name and location of residency.Results: A total of 435 medical students assigned to the Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Huntsville Campuses matched into OB/GYN from 1974 to 2015. Some 334 graduates practiced OB/GYN (84.9%). Thirty graduates switched from other specialties into OB/GYN. Twenty-two graduates who matched into OB/GYN, changed specialties or the specialty was unknown. Among the graduates who matched into OB/GYN, 67 pursued fellowships and practiced subspecialties. Conclusions:On average, 6.9% of medical students from the University of Alabama School of Medicine matched into OB/GYN compared to the national average of 5.9% The production of obstetrician/gynecologists is consistent with the most recent data from the ACOG Workforce Study.

Background:The University of Alabama Family Medicine/Obstetrics Fellowship in Tuscaloosa, Alabama was one of the first such training programs in the United States. This study updates the original study on success of the fellowship published in 2013.

No abstract