Featured Faculty - Chetanna Okasi, MD, FACOG
Dr.Okasi graduated with honors from Harvard University with a BA in Biology. She went to medical school at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
She started out in General Surgery, but saw the light and changed to OB/GYN, completing her residency at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. She is board certified in OB/GYN. Dr.Okasi got all caught up in the mock oral exam process when preparing for her oral board exam. She became impassioned with oral exam techniques that were the most helpful to her and is anxious to share those with you.
ABOG & AOBOG 2014 WRITTEN Exam Candidates
Are you still reeling from the CREOG in-service training exam? Are you regretting that you didn’t take it seriously? Well, how’s this for a reality check? ABOG no longer reports your score; it’s only pass or fail. Thus your ONLY predictor of your passing your written boards is your CREOG score!
We strongly advise taking a BOARD review course, not just a review course. Our May 5-9 course is an exam focused review. In just five days, we’ll cover 90% of the exam topics. Our faculty base their lectures on ACOG clinical guidelines. Most importantly, every lecture concludes with written exam questions, which are are compiled into a handy dandy packet for later testing and reinforcement.
All of us are a bit rusty with written exams. Our education specialists, Martin and Jane Jolley specialize in standardized written exams and have created a program just for those taking their written board exam. If you want to assure that you nail the exam or if you have traditionally struggled with written exams we recommend you sign up for their test taking workshop at our May course.
Everyone is always looking for written questions. Our Written Exam Webinar is strategically timed for three months before your exam. You will be challenged with 500+ written questions. Unlike other webinars that assign homework and are student-led teaching, our webinar invites a live, interactive discussion of the answers, and test-taking skills with our faculty.
Still looking for more questions? Our Written Questions Manuals consist of 1000+ questions that are organized by the major exam subjects: OB, GYN, Office, REI, Oncology, & FPM. Even sweeter, they are further organized by subtopics, such that you can beeline to questions to immediate check your subject review. No more wasted hours of sifting through sources with random questions!
Test Taking Technique
You pretty much have to know everything about OB/GYN. However, for you lists folk, both of the boards give a breakdown of the categories
You ABOG folk go to the 2014 Bulletin via abog.org to section IX for a list of topics covered on the exam. They break it down by OB, GYN, Office Practice/Preventative/Primary Care, and Cross Content Areas. Although the examples in parentheses are not meant to be all-inclusive, you would be a fool to not know them
You AOBOG folk go to aobog.org and click on “For a list of study topics”. Yours are broken down into GYN, GYN ONC, RE, OB, MFM. Notice you don’t have Cross Content topics.
But hey, did we mention we cover 90% of exam topics in just five days at our course?
ABOG 2014 ORAL Exam Candidates
You can finally officially apply on-line for the 2014 oral exam on February 1 at www.abog.org. Your application and the application fee of $840 are due March 15. Don’t risk overlooking this menial, but necessary administrative task. If you delay, you will incur stiff late fees.
Surely you already have your case list software, but if you do not, then stop everything and order it now from the ABOG website.
Remember that case list collections started JULY 1, 2012 or seven months ago! So now you’re over the hump and only FIVE MONTHS LEFT to complete your collection of cases.
By this time you must be in a routine for entering your cases. ABC recommends that you keep a stash of case list forms in your surgery and L&D locker. Right after you dictate your operative or delivery notes, then complete the case list form. Once a week, then enter this data into your case list software.Don’t fret about details of how to enter the data. For now, just use your clinical sense. You’ll change your mind at least a half dozen times before it’s all said and done.
You should now have three binders for each of the three sections, OB, GYN, and Office. For each GYN patient, compile their case list sheet, H&P, operative note, pathology report, and discharge summary. For all OB patients, keep a file of the prenatal form, delivery note, discharge summary, and postpartum note. For the office patients, file the case list sheet, appropriate copies of the office visit(s) and supporting labs, imaging studies, etc. By now, you should have at least half of the 40 office categories collected. Your goal is to have ¾ of the cases collected by March.
If you have been using the ABOG case list software, chances are you are now appreciating why your predecessors grumble they would have never used it. Don’t fret – it was helpful to at least get you familiar with the process. However, if you want to take full control over the optimal construction, we recommend you customize your own software.
Rest assured, this is really pretty easy. Come to one of our one day case list construction workshops that are scattered throughout the country and scheduled for as early as April and through June. We’ll show you how to raise your case list head and shoulders above the other candidates. For those who are OCD, order your copy of the Pass Your Oral Ob/Gyn Board Exam by Dr. Das for a complete step-by-step guide.
If the weather outside is frightful, then our Oral Exam Webinar is delightful. Drs. Diane Evans and Chetanna Okasi will spend 1 1/2 hours weekly on each topic and show you exactly how to prepare for an oral exam. It starts this month and covers ten core topics in just three months. Sign up for one, two or all three sessions. They are strategically divided into OB, GYN, and Oncology/Urogynecology. Don’t worry, all sessions are archived. It will catapult your studying and leave no stones unturned for preparing for additional topics.
If you’re really anal, come to our May 5-9 BOARD review course. The advantage of starting in the spring is that you have a good idea of the topics on your case list. You don’t have to do any heavy duty studying until August, as your only priority from May to August 1 is getting that case list done and to your strategy. However once August 1 hits, ee gads, there is precious little time to study if your exam is the first month in November. Thus coming to a review course in the spring greatly facilitates exploding out of the starting blocks.
AOBOG Oral Exam Candidates
The May exam is closed, but your $2500 examination fee is due Feb 1. Applications for the October, 2014 exam, along with the $750 application fee, are available March 1.
If you are preparing for your fall exam,then it’s time to register for a review course. Our May 5-9 BOARD review course is perfect for a streamlined exam focused review. Did you know our syllabus even highlights the ten core topics? Don’t be lulled into thinking your exam just covers ten topics. Each core topic is just an umbrella for many other spin off topics. Then of course there’s that “surprise topic” they save for the end.
Not only will we cover 95% of your test topics, we also have the faculty skilled in giving you mock oral exams. Since 2011, 99% of our board coarse attendees passed their AOBOG oral exam. All agreed our signature Structured Cases CDs closely simulate the exam content and conduct, and were instrumental in their passing.
Test Taking Technique
This is an oral exam. You can study more, but if you can’t persuasively articulate then all that work is for naught. Our Osteopathic oral board exam webinar, taught by Dr. Diane Evans DO, FACOOG goes through EACH of the ten core topics AND invites each participant to interact. It starts THIS month and is strategically timed just for you May examinees. Each monthly session is strategically grouped into OB, then GYN, then Oncology/Urogynecology. If you sign up for all 3 sessions, then you get 3 mock oral exams, that you can use for the month of April, just before your exam. Oh heh, did we mention that 100% of webinar attendees since its debut in 2011 have passed their exam?
Chief Residents Planning A Subspecialty Fellowship
Subspecialty fellows are permitted to select 20 patients from their Chief resident year for their off specialty case list. In other words, GYN Oncologists, REI and Urogynecologists will need an OB list and MFMs need a GYN list. Thus make sure to hold onto that residency log!
Refer to the ABOG Bulletin on how those 20 patients are selected. To be on the safe side, we recommend you collect at least 30, so you can strategically select the final 20 later. For those patients, keep a file of the following: for the GYN patients, collect the H&Ps, operative note, pathology report, and discharge summary. For the OB patients, keep a file of the prenatal form, delivery note, discharge summary, and postpartum note. Don’t worry about the office patients at all, as you may compile this only during your fellowship
A word of caution – right now you are at your peak for general OB/GYN knowledge. Believe it or not, two years from now, your knowledge base will regress to that of an intern. Yes it’s true, if you don’t use it, you lose it. So those really cool, esoteric, bizarre, once-in-a career cases now will be a nightmare to defend later. Your greatest allies are your junior residents. If they can’t easily defend that case, then discard it and “go fish” for another.
You can do it, we can help.
Test Taking Technique
For many candidates, Oncology is a love/hate relationship. Commonly, many don’t even have any oncology on their GYN case list, since most generalists refer the patient to the gyn oncologist upon the diagnosis or even suspicion of cancer. Nonetheless you will be held accountable for oncology on your oral exam.
As a resident, oncology is practically second nature for you. Make sure to choose some oncology cases for your case list if you will be using your chief log for your GYN case list. Just go with the bread and butter cancers, such as ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers. You’ll be glad you did, as it will be easier to retain or relearn these topics two or more years from now.
Subspecialty Fellows Planning for their 2014 ABOG General Oral Board Exam
You cannot sit for your general oral boards until at least your second year of your fellowship. Furthermore, you can only take the general oral boards once during your fellowship.
If you neglected to collect cases in your off specialty from your chief year, you must get back to your residency institution to gather those cases AND enter them into your software. GYN Oncologists, REI and Urogynecologists will need an OB list and MFMs need a GYN list. If you currently have to take call for these off services, you can use those cases.
If you are retrospectively collecting cases, go with your comfort zone. Dang, how could you have forgotten so much in such a short time? Unfortunately it’s true, if you don’t use it, you lose it. Go with the bread-and-butter cases. Remember this is your general boards. We recommend you chose those cases that reflect high-yield topics. Our Test Topics Manual and the Pass Your Oral Ob/Gyn Board Exam by Dr. Das will be an excellent step-by-step guide.
You can do it, we can help.
Test Taking Technique
For many candidates, Oncology is a love/hate relationship. Commonly, many don’t even have any oncology on their GYN case list, since most generalists refer the patient to the gyn oncologist upon the diagnosis or even suspicion of cancer. Nonetheless you will be held accountable for oncology on your oral exam.
If you are using cases from your chief residency log for your GYN case list, make sure to choose some oncology cases. Just go with the bread and butter cancers, such as ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers. You’ll be glad you did, as it will be easier to retain or relearn these topics if you have a specific patient prototype.
ABOG Maintennance of Certification (MOC) Part II (ABC)
Time to pay to play. Your renewal fee of $395 for Part II or Annual Board Certification is due with your application. You must apply every year, let me repeat that, EVERY year, and access to the MOC assignments will not be allowed until your application and fee are received. The list of journal articles for the first quarter came out mid-January. Make a New Year’s resolution to finish the first quarter before you file your taxes in April.
For those of you in MOC Year 6, you must pass a written exam by Dec 15, 2014. RELAX, it’s only 100 questions and you answer two books of fifty questions. You get to chose which “selectives” for each exam.
Selective Exam A (50 questions)
Selective Exam B (50 questions)
Welcome and congratulations to those who just passed their oral exam. Thought you could finally rest? Well think again!! New diplomats must enter and start the MOC process by January 2014.
Test Taking Tip
For those of you in MOC Year 6, you can take the exam anytime starting January 1. For you generalists who have truly read, not skimmed, the MOC articles, we recommend you take the exam right away. Heck if you pass, then you get to prop your feet up and chill for the rest of the year.
If you didn’t pass, there is no financial penalty to retake the exam. Actually,you can retake the exam up to four times if necessary. However now you need to study. Our Annual MOC Manuals, summarize each of the articles, so it will save you oodles of time.
Lucky for you, and especially if you’re a subspecialist, we have a one day MOC Written Exam Workshop May 4 the day before our five day course. Come for just that day if time is tight, but better yet, stay for the May 5-9 reviw course to fill in all gaps. We will cover high yield Compendium articles and associated written questions. So far, we’re batting 100% pass rate for all course and workshop attendees!
Additionally, if you’re feeling a bit rusty or you had to repeat your primary written exam, our education specialists, Martin and Jane Jolley specialize in standardized written exams and have created a program just for those taking their written board exam. Sign up for their test taking workshop at our May course.
AOBOG Recertification Written Exam, Osteopathic Continuous Certification in Obstetrics & Gynecology (OCC)
This exam is usually a piece of cake, that is if you are a generalist. If you’re planning to take the October, 2014 exam and are a real gunner, you could take our May 5-9 course. Although probably overkill, it’s fun and refreshing to attend our review course. This is all you need.
The breakdown of the OCC exam is as follows:
General Obstetrics 25%
Maternal Fetal Medicine 10%
Gynecology (office and surgery) 40%
Reproductive Endocrinology 10%
Gynecologic Oncology 10%
Miscellaneous 5%
Test Taking Tip
Since the OCC process is still in its infancy, we want to remind you to sign up for your Practice Performance Assessments (PPA). You need to complete five in your six year cycle. Start the New Year off right and knock out one this year.