Stephanie Romero, MD, FACOG
MFM Course Lecturer and Facilitator
Dr. Romero completed her MFM fellowship at the University of Utah. She is double board certified in OB/GYN and MFM. She is Assistant Professor and Assistant Program Director at the University of South Florida in OB/GYN and MFM. To say that she loves to teach is an understatement. During her residency, she was recognized for her teaching by the nurses, faculty and medical students. She is the perfect faculty to help spearhead our innovative approach to teaching for our MFM Interactive Review Course.
For ABOG 2017 MFM ORAL Exam Candidates
Your thesis is due October 28th. Make sure you have checked and re-checked the requirements, including page setup. It is also a great idea to have someone read over it and make sure your thesis manuscript is a good representation of the hard work you did on your research.
The case list isn’t due for another 4 months, but this is also a good time to make sure you are entering the data and checking to make sure you have patients that represent all of the different categories you need to fill for the case list. If you find that you are missing some patient experience types, now is the time to find ways to get more clinical exposure so you can be sure to get those last rare conditions covered.
Interested in a Thesis review? It's still not too late to submit it to ABC, although our deadline for submission is Friday, September 30th.
Case List Tip:
As you’re constructing your case list, even if you already have enough patients to fill one of the categories, go ahead and keep the names of others that come along. You never know when the patient you thought would be part of your diabetes list will meet the criteria for another section that’s harder to find patients for, such as fetal infections, and you’ll need to move her over. So having too many potential candidates for a section is never a bad idea - you can always eliminate the extras later!
For ABOG 2017 FPMRS ORAL Exam Candidates
ABC FPMRS Webinar, Thesis Reviews, Case List Reviews and Mock Orals to begin this fall! Starting in October, potential Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery oral board candidates can get the guidance they need through online webinar sessions with structured cases, have a fresh set of eyes review their thesis and case list materials, and also have phone or in-person mock oral exams. Visit our FPMRS page for full descriptions.
Thesis Review Tip:
Thesis submission (4 copies) deadline is October 28th and there are specific guidelines for both the format and your cover sheet, so be sure to check the FPMRS bulletin on the ABOG website under the Publications tab. Also, it is a great time to start gathering your references for citations within your thesis. For some, it may have been a while since last reviewing your work and thesis review is often in the details. Knowing the broad strengths and limitations of your study design is the first step to a successful defense at the oral boards. Also, doing a quick literature search for new publications, which support or refute your work, is helpful. It is still more than five months away, but stockpiling your review materials will go a long way when crunch time comes in March. ABC's deadline to submit your thesis for review is Friday, September 30th.
Do or Die in Dallas
ABC is with you every step, even once you arrive in Dallas for your ABOG oral board exam. We will be providing private mock oral exams, our signature round robin structured case of the day, case list review or whatever you need for last minute polishing or cramming for your big day.
For ABOG 2016 ORAL Exam Candidates
NOVEMBER Exam Candidates
OK, the exam is next month, so it’s time to pull it all together. You need to come out running with mock oral exams. Plan to meet with those who reviewed your case list earlier and ask them to give you a mock oral. It’s also time to call for reinforcements and recruit other sources, such as local and regional colleagues, academicians, subspecialists and generalists. After each mock oral, go back for a targeted review of missed topics. Make a new game plan and try it out with the next mock oral.
A great way to finish strong, or to salvage what’s left for you procrastinators, is to come to one of ABCs one day Oral Exam Workshops. Don’t want to reinvent the wheel? Our Oral Exam FAQs itemizes those questions most frequently asked for specific topics.
Half of your exam is the case of the day. You can simulate the exam with either our Structured Cases Workshop or our Structured Cases CD. These are invaluable study guides that can be used for self-study or more importantly, have others quiz you so you can practice out loud. Speaking of practicing out loud, our Structured Cases Webinar Archives is divided into twelve sessions. Each session cover four cases-of-the-day. The faculty-led discussion of the answers and grading gives you that ah-hah factor to totally nail this portion of your exam. You’ll end up with 72 cases.
Did we mention mock oral exams? The number one regret of past candidates is they wished they had taken more mock oral exams. Although we’re a fan of using those familiar resources aforementioned, now’s the time to call in the “A” team, as in the ABC faculty. ABC offers Case List Reviews, Mock Oral Exams and our signature, one-of-a-kind structured cases by phone. We can take it up a notch by offering eye-to-eye mock oral exams on Skype, but you’ll need to provide the glaring, white light.
The icing on the cake is our Do or Die In Dallas session. Dr. Krishna Das, yeah - the lady who wrote THE book, Pass Your OB/GYN Oral Exam, will be in Dallas November 6th through 9th. She’s seen it all and can warm you up for your big day with last minute polishing (or cramming for some) through private sessions on whatever you need … mock orals, structured cases, etc.
- If you don’t know the exact answer, but do know something about the topic, then qualify your answer with what you doknow, such as “I know it is a laboratory serum tumor marker for epithelial ovarian cancers. It is most helpful as a marker for recurrence of disease, but has limitations as a screening tool. I cannot recall what the CA stands for, but I can readily look it up in our laboratory reference manual at my office”.
- If it’s vaguely familiar, it is better to respond, “I cannot recall at this time”.
- If you have absolutely no idea, then respond, “I don’t know”.
DECEMBER Exam Candidates
Your exam is in two months – crunch time and holidays. You WILL and MUST budget time for your family - remember them? Forewarned is forearmed, so don’t set yourself up for that guilt trip of studying vs. family. You can do both if you’re organized.
Half of your test is defending your case list. Send your case list NOW to your following local/regional consultants or colleagues for recommendations in DEFENDING your case list:
|
Case list component |
Reviewer |
|
OB |
MFM, generalist |
|
GYN |
GYN ONC, Urogyn, generalist |
|
Office |
Generalist, REI, FP, IM |
Make sure you give them a strict deadline, say two weeks; and set a date now to discuss their recommendations. The ABC faculty can also review your case list one-on-one at the fall course or can provide a Comprehensive Case List Review.
We offer a November 16-20 Review Course, timed perfectly for your exam. Even, or perhaps especially, if you’ve take another review course, this will be so well worth your while. We offer a streamlined exam-focused review in only five days. For the past four years, we’ve covered 99% of the exam topics. There will be no doubt as to what you need to study with three short weeks remaining before your exam. If you can’t come to us, let ABC make a house call and you can order the course recorded on DVD or CD.
A great way to finish strong, or salvage what’s left for you procrastinators, is to come to one of our Oral Exam Workshops. Don’t want to reinvent the wheel? Our Oral Exam FAQs itemizes those questions most frequently asked for specific topics.
Half of your exam is the case of the day. You can simulate the exam with our Structured Cases CD. An invaluable study guide that can be used for self-study or more importantly, have others quiz you so you can practice out loud. Divided into 12 one-hour sessions, our Structured Cases Webinar archives provide you with 72 cases and are available for you to access as much as you want, right up to your exam.
The ABC faculty is available to provide specific services in mock oral exams, case list reviews and structured cases - both at the course and later by phone.
Finally, we’ll be there in Dallas with you. Dr. Zena Homan will host our Do or Die In Dallas December 4th through 7th. She can warm you up for your big day with last minute polishing (or cramming for some) through private sessions on whatever you need … mock orals, structured cases, etc.
JANUARY Exam Candidates
Think you’re coasting, eh? A common regret is to get caught up in the holiday festivities and procrastinate studying until afterwards. Big mistake because – duh - at that point, the test is in three weeks.
Avoid tricks by sending your case list around Halloween to your following local/regional consultants or colleagues for recommendations in DEFENDING your case list:
|
Case list component |
Reviewer |
|
OB |
MFM, generalist |
|
GYN |
GYN ONC, Urogyn, generalist |
|
Office |
Generalist, REI, FP, IM |
Make sure you give them a strict deadline, say two weeks; and set a date now to discuss their recommendations. The ABC faculty can also review your case list one-on-one at the fall courses or can provide a Comprehensive Case List Review.
Come to our November 16-20 Review Course to get crackin”. Definitely attend our Oral Exam Workshop the day before (on November 15th) and our Structured Cases Workshop on November 16th to best prepare. You can take off the next week for Thanksgiving.
Half of your exam is the case of the day. You are so lucky that your exam is in January, as you can pace yourself listening to our Structured Cases Webinar Archives! Each one hour archive covers 4 high-yield topics, so you’ll end up with 72 cases!
If the webinar was a rude awakening, you can get even more practice with our Structured Cases CD. This is an invaluable study tool that can be used for self-study or more importantly, have others quiz you so you can practice out loud. If you tap into all three Structured Cases products, you’ll walk away with over 150+ unique cases!
Did you come to our April or September course? Well y’all come back now, here? We invite you to come back to Charlotte, NC during our November 16-20 course for 1 or 2 days specifically for face-to-face mock orals. If you bring your binder back, we’ll let you sit through lectures for free while awaiting your next mock oral.
Subspecialty Fellows Sitting for their 2016 ABOG General Oral Board Exam
By now, you’ve experienced that rude awakening of just how much you forgot in your off-specialty subjects. That’s where they get the expression, “If you don’t use it, you lose it”. Our review course is IDEAL for fellows, as we tell you just what you need to know; then you can joyfully repress it again after your test. Even if your exam is not until January, there is A LOT to relearn, OK, for some of you, to learn.
We strongly recommend you come to our November 16-20 Review Course to gather all the material you will need for 90% of your test. For those of you who attended a previous course, but your exam is not until December or January, we’ll even let you come back to the November course for a day or two just to take mock oral exams. Heck, bring back your syllabus and we’ll let you sit through the lectures for free while you are waiting for your next mock oral exam.
A great way to grab the bull by the horns is to come to one of our one-day Oral Exam Workshops. Don’t want to reinvent the wheel? Our Oral Exam FAQs itemizes those questions frequently asked for specific topics and covers ALL of the case list categories.
Half of your exam is the case of the day. You can simulate the exam with our Structured Cases CD. They are invaluable study guides, especially for subspecialists, so you can challenge yourself with your off-specialty subjects. Our Structured Cases Webinar archives are ideal for subspecialists, as you can listen specifically to those off-specialty topics - ouch, better to find out now than on your exam!
You can always reach out for a comprehensive case list review on all, or just your off-specialty sections, of your case list for anticipated questions on your cases. Finally, we encourage you to tap into our Do or Die In Dallas, led by none other than our Course Director, Dr. Krishna Das, who will ready you for last minute polishing or cramming.
For ABOG 2017 ORAL Exam Candidates
You cannot apply for the 2017 oral exam until February 1, 2017. However, if you wait until this long to enter cases, you’re already EIGHT months behind, since the collections started JULY 1st. BIG MISTAKE! Call or e-mail ABOG now to get your case list software.
Don’t fret about details of how to enter the data. You’ll change your mind at least a half dozen times before it’s all said and done. For all GYN patients, start a habit of collecting H&Ps, operative notes, pathology reports and discharge summaries. For all OB patients, keep a file of the prenatal forms, delivery notes, discharge summaries and postpartum notes. Don’t worry about the office patients yet. Take a stab at entering the data on the case list forms and just use your common sense.
Rest assured, we will offer our Case List Construction Workshop during our April 2017 review course. Start today in creating a good habit of collecting and entering cases.
Chief Residents Planning a Subspecialty Fellowship & ABOG General Oral Board Exam
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 as to 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 notes, pathology reports and discharge summaries. For the OB patients, keep a file of the prenatal forms, delivery notes, discharge summaries and postpartum notes. Don’t worry about the office patients at all, as you may compile this only during your fellowship.
Subspecialty Fellows Planning for their 2017 ABOG General Oral Board Exam
You can now sit for your general oral boards anytime during your fellowship. Furthermore, you can only take the general oral boards once during your fellowship. If you somehow neglected to collect cases in your off-specialty from your chief year, begin to piece together how to gather those cases from your residency institution. GYN Oncologists, REI and Urogynecologists will need an OB list and MFMs need a GYN list. If you take call for these off services, you can use those cases.
For ABOG & AOBOG 2017 WRITTEN Exam Candidates
The exam is in 6 & 8 months respectively. For you ABOG folk, the $1470 application and examination fee is due THIS month by October 18th. A late fee of $345 kicks in until November 17th, followed by a really swift kick of an $825 late fee until December 17th. No applications are accepted after December 17th. For those of you taking your AOBOG exam, the $1175 examination fee is due by February 23rd.
Since ABOG no longer reports your objective score on the exam, you have no idea if you sailed through or missed passing by one point. So, unfortunately, now the only correlate is the CREOG in-service-training exam. If you’re a chief resident, you must use this as a gauge to predict board performance, so you must/should prepare for this.
For those wanting to score big on their CREOGs or to explode out of the gate for your written board exam, come to our November 16-20, 2016 Review Course. This is an excellent opportunity to gather your exam-focused study material and let us put you on a customized study plan for the next six months.
Knowing the content is only half the strategy; the other is applying it. Our education specialists, Martin and Jane Jolley, will conduct their signature Test Taking Skills Workshop on November 17th. If you have not scored > 200 on your CREOG in-service training exam, failed your written board exam, or have just wished your score reflected your knowledge, this workshop is a must. In just 2 months you can perfect their method and test drive it on the January CREOG exam. Faithful users typically score one standard deviation or 20 points higher! Just imagine the possibilities for your board exam!
For AOBOG Oral Exam Candidates
For those preparing for their April 21-22, 2017 exam, you really want to get a head start by coming to our November 16-20, 2016 Review Course. Did you know that our syllabus even highlights the core topics? We also have an evening session that puts each core topic under the microscope and painstakingly goes through potential exam topics. Our AOBOG Combo Package is specially designed to provide you with the best of both worlds. Attend our November review course, then start the New Year with our Oral Exam Webinar. Drs. Diane Evans, DO, Mitch Kahn, DO and Hazem Kanaan, DO guarantee to get you through the core topics by the April test dates. If you sign up for all 3 sessions, you will receive a FREE ½ hour telephone mock oral exam! Since its debut in 2011, we’ve been batting a 99% pass rate for webinar attendees.
ABOG Maintenance of Certification
Part II Lifelong Learning
ALL 45 articles are due by December 15th. I know a rare few of you haven’t even done any. If you’re desperate, you need to pass 80% of 120 questions, so that’s only 30 of the 45 articles; however, you only get 25, rather than 35 Category I CME credits.
Remember also that you must have enrolled in at least one practice module each year. If you have not, that can also be grounds to yank your certification - YIKES!
For those of you in your third year, you should have started the Safety Course. You cannot enter it until you have completed 60 questions from the 1st or 2nd quarter articles. The Safety Course is accessed only on-line, so if you’re one who likes to print out the articles and questions, you’re out of luck.
Part III, Secure Written Exam
For those of you in MOC Year 6, you must register by November 15th and pass a written exam by December 15th. We have three products to help you prepare for and pass your written exam. For those of you who have always tapped into a review course as you prepare for your board certifying exams, you’ll take great comfort in our five day November 16-20 Review Course. This is not the same type of review course as in the past. Just as you’ve evolved and practice evidence-based medicine, our course is designed for the adult learner, is exam-focused, and all lectures follow the national ACOG guidelines. Heck, you’ll walk away with loads of every day practice tips, too.
Since 2009, our Annual MOC Manuals summarize each of the articles AND have written questions. Think of them as Cliff notes, as they will save you oodles of time. You are also accountable for Safety and Professionalism. Remember you completed the Safety course in your third year, but you could not print out the articles. Fortunately, ABC had the foresight to create a Safety Course Manual as well.
Finally the Board has acknowledged that an emphasis will be placed on both the Compendium and the articles. So don’t you think the highest yield will be those MOC articles that overlap with the Compendium?
Oh, just in case you think you’re coasting after you pass your written exam, think again. You still have to read the 2016 articles. No rest for the weary!
AOBOG Recertification Written Exam, Osteopathic Continuous Certification in Obstetrics & Gynecology (OCC)
Everyone has entered into the mandatory OCC cycle. Although the recertification written exam has now been phased out, you must take a formal proctored written exam in either year 5 or 6 of the OCC cycle.
The exam is offered only once a year at the ACOOG conference. Next year, the April 26-31, 2017 conference will be held in Palm Springs. If you’re a generalist, it’s a walk in the park. If however, you have limited your practice (eg. GYN only, laborist, subspecialist, etc.) then it’s not a walk, but a triathlon. You’re going to need to train, so we suggest our November 16-20, 2016 Review Course for a comprehensive, exam-focused review.
Additionally, you must complete 5 Practice Performance Assessments (PPA) in each 6 year OCC cycle. These 5 PPAs must be completed by September 15th of the year your certificate expires.
You can do it…we can help.