What is it like to do a residency at Kaiser Oakland?
Kaiser Permanente OB/GYN Residency Programs at Oakland is an academic program rooted in our community which we believe provides the best of both worlds. Kaiser Permanente, as an integrated health care system, is a nationally renowned health care delivery system that provides outstanding comprehensive care with a focus on quality and patient safety. Our partnership with Highland (Alameda Health System), our community hospital, provides an opportunity for our residents to care for the most vulnerable in our community. Highland is a nationally renowned trauma center and Kaiser Oakland is a regional referral center so the breadth and depth of pathology is extensive and our patient population is incredibly diverse. Our diversity in our staff, residents and patients is our strength. All of the subspecialty groups within Obstetrics and Gynecology are well-represented and offer experiences that will leave the graduate confident in their skills and abilities. Our faculty are dedicated to teaching and have consistently added creative ways for our residents to learn and grow. At the end of training, our graduates have an excellent foundation to practice as an obstetrician and gynecologist generalist or go on to a fellowship.
What specifically is the patient population like at Kaiser Oakland?
Oakland is one of the most diverse cities in the United States. This translates into an unsurpassed exposure to different cultures and backgrounds as well as pathology. During a clinic afternoon you may have a homeless teenager who is pregnant and then a professor at Berkeley followed by a recent immigrant who does not yet speak much English. We have excellent translation services for a variety of languages and many of our staff and residents speak languages other than English as their primary language. Approximately 10% of Kaiser Oakland’s and approximately 90% of Highland’s obstetrical population receives their Kaiser coverage via Medi-Cal.
Is there protected teaching time?
Yes. Tuesday mornings from 9AM to 1:30PM are designated as protected teaching time. We have a curriculum plan that takes two years to complete and is based upon the CREOG learning objectives. Didactics, case-based learning, OB Olympics, GYN Olympics, surgical simulation and mock orals are all part of this training time. In addition, every Thursday morning there is a Grand Rounds series which includes: Obstetrics M&M, Surgical M&M, Radiology Conference, Resident Research Presentations and invited speaker Grand Rounds. There are also noon conferences which include: Hospital-wide Grand Rounds, Perinatal M&M, Perinatal Ultrasound, pre-operative conference and Journal Club. Every Tuesday morning there is also an hour of case-based learning for the Gynecology Team.
Is the East Bay a nice place to live?
The East Bay is one of the best places to live in the Bay Area. The temperature is moderate year-round. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is available and can get you most anywhere in the Bay Area without driving. The East Bay hills abound in opportunities for outdoor activities. Exciting cultural opportunities and incredible restaurants are widely and easily available.
What is your call schedule like?
We have a night float system Sunday through Thursday. Monday through Thursday nights the night float team covers 6pm until multi-disciplinary rounds at 8am. On Sunday, night float starts at 8PM. Friday and Saturday are traditional overnight calls (24-hour shifts). The Obstetrical Team covers until6pm Monday through Thursday. Residents have weekend call approximately two to four times per month.
Friday call: 6:00PM-8:00AM (day shift is on regular rotation)
Saturday call: 8:00AM-8:00AM (24 hours)
Sunday call: 8:00AM-8:00PM (12 hours)
Are Kaiser residents eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)?
Yes. Residents are officially employed by the Kaiser Hospital Foundation, which is a 501c3. This means that payments made while in residency at Kaiser Permanente will count towards PSLF.
For additional information about our program, you can download our brochure.