A Career in ObGyn
Michele Hugin, MD, FACOG
9 February 2016
About me…
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Only child
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No doctors in my family
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“candy striper” at El Camino Hospital
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Graduated from Los Altos High 1983
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BA and MS in Biology from UCSD 1988
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MD Tufts University Boston 1992
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ObGyn Residency 1996
My Current Job…
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Attending Staff Physician at Valley Medical Center in San Jose (1996present)
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Generalist- obstetrics, gynecology, surgery, area of interest is Family
Planning
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Employed by the County of Santa Clara
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Safety net Hospital
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Residency training program
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Stanford medical students come to our hospital
Path to Becoming an ObGyn
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Undergraduate education
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Requirements for Medical School- 1 year biology, 1 year physical
and 1 year Organic chemistry, 1 year physics
Take the MCAT- standardized test of above subjects and
psychology/social science
Application, essay, interview
So you got into Medical School…


Medical school 4-5 years
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First 2 years in classroom- anatomy, physiology, pharmacology,
second 2 years are “clinical”
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Third year core rotations- medicine, surgery, pediatrics, ob/gyn,
psychiatry
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Fourth year electives
Residency
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4 years for ObGyn (3 years from medicine and pediatrics to 6 years
for Neurosurgery and Plastic Surgery)
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Salary $45,000/year. 80 hr work week. $11.25/h
If you still want MORE training…
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Fellowships in Ob Gyn
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Gyn Oncology- cancer surgery, chemotherapy
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Pelvic reconstruction
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Infertility
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High risk Obstetrics
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Family Planning
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Minimally invasive surgery
What about the money…?
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Almost 90% of medical school graduates have debt

This debt can be $150,000
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Average salary for ObGyn approx. $250,000
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Malpractice insurance is high for ObGyn (highest is Neurosurgery)
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It depends where you practice
How do I know if it’s right for me?
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Do you enjoy a challenge?
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Are you curious?
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Are you not afraid to work hard?
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Do you want to help people and be a positive force in your
community?
Why did I become and ObGyn?
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I liked Biology especially Physiology- I had a really great teacher in
college who gave great presentations like pulmonary physiology on
Everest
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I tested into a helping profession (preschool teacher, clergy)
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I’m a good listener
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I wanted to make a difference in the lives of women
A day in my life…
Clinic (office practice) see patients whop are scheduled for appointments
pregnancy check ups
well woman exams
minor procedures under local anesthesia
computerized charting
Labor and Delivery
manage laboring patients (preterm, term)
scheduled cesarean sections
triage patients (determine if they are in labor or not)
On other days…
Operating room
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Scheduled surgeries – major or minor, from 30 minutes to several
hours on my feet teaching residents and medical students, small
team of people fast paced work
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If patients stay in the hospital I make “rounds” the next day to
check on them
Administrative work, preparing lectures, interviewing prospective
residency candidates, doing research, making schedules
What qualities make a “good
doctor”
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Respect your patient

Be an advocate for your patient
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Promote health
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Be empathetic
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Listen. “You can’t talk while you are listening”
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Work cooperatively
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Pay attention to detail
GOOD LUCK!