Intern Ready: Ob/Gyn

Your Intern Ob/Gyn Survival Guide: Logistics And Life

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Starting OB/GYN residency can feel overwhelming. In this episode, we break down the practical survival tips every incoming intern needs — from managing patients on Labor & Delivery and Gynecology, to studying efficiently, thriving in the OR, and protecting your wellbeing through a demanding first year.

Topics Covered:

  • Your Job as an Intern – Be open to feedback, manage multiple patients, ask for help early, and set expectations with your chief.
  • On Labor & Delivery – Fetal heart rate interpretation, cervical exams, induction algorithms, magnesium management, and postpartum hemorrhage protocols. Golden rule: if you're thinking "should I call my senior?" — call.
  • On Gynecology – AUB workup by age, pregnancy of unknown location, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian torsion, and the post-op fever differential (5 W's).
  • How to Study Without Burning Out – Read about your patients, review bad outcomes, keep a "Learning Points" note, and use quick resources like UpToDate and ACOG Practice Bulletins.
  • In the OR – Know the surgical indication, patient background, positioning, closing, and anticipate next steps.
  • Communication – How to navigate emotional deliveries, fetal demises, complications, and difficult conversations with families.
  • Emotional Reality – Expect imposter syndrome and moral distress. Debrief, find your co-interns, and protect your empathy.
  • Physical Survival – Eat before shifts, carry snacks, compression socks, and protect sleep on golden weekends.

    • Recommended Resources:

    • UpToDate
    • ACOG Practice Bulletins
    • Infant Risk HCP – Pregnancy and breastfeeding med safety app
    • Reprotox
    • ASCCP – Pap/colpo algorithms
    • CDC STI App
    • US MEC/SPR – Contraception
    • OB Wheel (pregnancy dating app)
    • Open Evidence App
    • USPSTF – Preventive Care
    • MDCalc
    • NCCN App
    • FIGO App
    • POP-Q App

      • About the Speakers:

      Host: Lucy Brown, MD, MPH – Resident physician at Johns Hopkins GYN/OB. Dr. Brown is passionate about medical and resident education and will be pursuing a Fellowship in Complex Family Planning after residency.

      Guest Speaker: Jennifer Doorey, MD, MS – Academic Ob/Gyn at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. As the founder of MedReady, Dr. Doorey seeks to advance clinical medical education by developing resources for medical students and clinical educators.

      Intern Ready: Ob/Gyn is a podcast aimed at interns and off-service residents beginning their post-graduate training in Obstetrics and Gynecology. The views expressed are the speakers' own and do not constitute medical advice.

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      Intern Ready: Ob/GynBy Lucy Brown, M.D.