Educational Objectives

The fellowship program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine is designed to fulfill the educational objectives listed in the ACGME Program requirements for GME in Maternal-Fetal Medicine (2018). We seek to train future academic leaders in perinatal research and clinical experts in both the maternal and fetal aspects of the specialty. We approach our goals by selecting fellows with either basic science interests or strong interests in clinical research. We foster these interests by offering the fellows a flexible curriculum in a near ideal environment for growth. Competency-based objectives as listed in the two publications listed above form the basis of the curriculum. Research, clinical and procedural development and performance of the fellows are carefully monitored and navigated to ensure a successful outcome.

The Center for Advanced Fetal Care at University of Maryland Medical Center is a member of The North American Fetal Therapy Network (NAFTNet), and as such, we afford the fellow an intensive exposure to invasive fetal therapy. Our fellows have a unique opportunity to work in one of the few Fetal Therapy Programs in the country led by MFM fetal surgeons rather than pediatric fetal surgeons.

Fellows with an interest in basic science research have the opportunity to pursue research under the direction of Loren P. Thompson, PhD, and others in our department’s extensive basic science research division. As a department, we are undertaking a program to increase collaboration with our basic science colleagues, which promises to further enhance the fellows’ involvement in basic science. 

In all three years, fellows are expected to initiate, complete and report at least one research project, typically to be presented at the annual meeting of The Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine. Presentations to the Society for Reproductive Investigation, International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology and the ACOG-ACM are also encouraged. Under the direction of Ozhan Turan, MD, associate program director for Perinatal Research, fellows, research mentors and others from the MFM faculty meet weekly for research seminars with the fellow to facilitate study design, IRB submission, data collection, data analysis and manuscript and presentation preparation. These skills prepare the fellow to design, conduct and interpret results of their chosen research project, which must be completed and undergo formal thesis defense prior to completion of the Fellowship Program.