Complex Family Planning Fellowship
About the Fellowship Heading link
Program Length: 2 years
Program Application: CFP Fellowship Application
Accreditation: The UI COM Complex Family Planning received ACGME-accreditation in September 2021.
Our Fellows Heading link
Clinical and Surgical Experience Heading link
The Complex Family Planning (CFP) fellowship is a two-year program comprised of clinical, research and policy rotations. Fellows will gain experience with a wide breadth of inpatient and outpatient family planning care and graduate with outstanding clinical knowledge and skills in complex contraception, abortion and miscarriage management.
The program’s primary clinical teaching sites are the University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics (UI Health) and The Center for Reproductive Health (CRH). The CRH is a referral center for the community and surrounding states and provides full-service family planning care, including routine and complex abortion and contraceptive care and management of pregnancy loss.
Research Heading link
Fellows will learn how to conduct meaningful research in the field of family planning. We will provide mentorship and coursework that is necessary for our fellows to complete a research thesis during their 2-year program.
Fellows will benefit from a multi-leveled research mentorship team. Our research faculty assists our CFP Faculty in mentoring the Fellows. Our Faculty provide mentorship through all stages of research – from study design and IRB application to statistical analysis and dissemination of findings.
Research training and education options
All Fellows will complete Introduction to Research Methods. This week-long course sponsored by the Complex Family Planning Fellowship national office. reviews fundamentals of research design, methodology, biostatistics and epidemiology required for fellows to begin thinking about their own research project and thesis.
Fellows then have the option to choose from the following degree/certificate options:
Research Faculty Heading link
Irina Buhimschi
Phone:
Email:
Quetzal Class
Phone:
Advocacy Heading link
We aim to develop physician-advocates by providing our fellows with skills, knowledge and real world experience in advocacy. Fellows will participate in advocacy-focused didactics and receive training in policy development, media training, and state and federal legislation around reproductive health policy. CFP Faculty will supervise and mentor fellows in developing peer review journal responses, social media-based opinion pieces, popular press letters, and other media contributions as are aligned with the professional career goals of that fellow.
Fellows are encouraged to participate in up to 8 weeks of one these policy-focused electives:
- ACOG Policy Rotation–This is a 4-week policy and advocacy training experience in Washington, DC. Fellows are involved in creating advocacy materials on family planning topics, media interviews, presentation of family planning topics to interdisciplinary audience.
- Physicians for Reproductive Health Leadership Training Academy–This is a yearlong intensive media and advocacy training during which time expert instructors in leadership development, communications, policy, and medical education will help the Fellows develop and utilize the necessary skills to become effective, lifelong advocates for reproductive health.
- ACOG Congressional Leadership Conference –This annual Spring event is an opportunity for OBGYNs to learn skills in legislative advocacy.
Global Health Experience Heading link
Fellows may choose to travel to a domestic or international low resource setting during their training. Fellows can choose to plan this experience on their own or to work with Dr. Gelila Goba, the Director of the UIC Global Women’s Health Fellowship, and our multiple faculty members in the Global Health Section. The UIC Department of OB/GYN has an active collaborative partnership with Mekelle University in Ethiopia to strengthen the existing OB/GYN residency program at Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, and to support medical student education, faculty development, and research through Mekelle University. Please visit the Global Health Website for further information:
Our Mission and DEI Heading link
Our Mission
The mission of the UI COM Complex Family Planning Fellowship is to train obstetrician and gynecologists to become experts in the field of Complex Family Planning. We provide a robust clinical and educational training environment that fosters evidence-based complex family planning (CFP) patient care, interdisciplinary research and advocacy rooted in public health principles and reproductive rights and justice.
Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diversity is a core value of our Fellowship program and we strive to recruit and retain faculty, staff and fellows that reflect the diverse nature of the patients we care for. We also strive to create an environment that is inclusive and promotes mutual respect among one another. Our Section is committed to the education of our faculty, fellows, residents and students across age, race, ethnicity, culture, gender identity, socioeconomic status, political beliefs, ability and sexual orientation. Our program is dedicated to training and educating fellows to provide the highest possible level of care to all, guided by the values of empathy, advocacy, equity, and collaboration.