Specialized Women's Health Fellowship

Introduction

A program designed to create the women’s health leadership of the future.

The two-year curriculum promotes a comprehensive definition of women’s health that is interdisciplinary in its nature. Although the fellowship is administered through the Ob/Gyn & Women's Health Institute and the Medicine Institute, several other departments and institutes participate in training.

• View the Specialized Women's Health Fellowship Flyer

At Cleveland Clinic, we embrace the women’s health leadership triad:

• Clinical skills
• Focused research
• Interdisciplinary education.

Our faculty has done significant research and publishing on the topic of women’s health education.

• The evolution of women's health education: the Cleveland Clinic's women's health fellowship as a model.

The program creates a diversified learning environment that values patient care, research and education equally.

Speaking of Women’s Health

The Speaking of Women’s Health program is a great opportunity for fellows to engage with educating the populace and adding to your published works.

Be Strong...Be Healthy...Be In Charge with Speaking of Women's Health

Speaking of Women's Health (SWH) is a national health education program from Cleveland Clinic's Center for Specialized Women's Health. The programs mission is "to educate women to make informed decisions about health, well-being and personal safety for themselves and their families".

Under the leadership of Holly L. Thacker, MD, SWH consists of a rich, interactive, digital platform offering health and lifestyle tips, delicious recipes, free treatment guides, and a free eNewsletter.

• Visit SWH at speakingofwomenshealth.com.

In everything we do, it is our objective to provide up-to-date information from credible experts in a fun and entertaining way – so that women can better care for themselves and their families.

Clinical Skills

A core element of the fellowship is for women’s health scholars to develop their clinical skills alongside experienced healthcare providers including women’s health internists, gynecologists, breast surgeons, psychiatrists and radiologists. This practice leverages the diverse resources of Cleveland Clinic, including the Center for Specialized Women’s Health on the main campus, and women-centered practices at regional family health centers

Numerous clinical skills will be developed:

• Perform a physical examination, using proper technique as dictated by situation.
• Gather essential and accurate information about the female outpatient.
• Make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient information and preferences, up-to-date scientific evidence and clinical judgment.
• Develop and carry out patient management plans.
• Work with health care professionals, including those from other disciplines, to provide patient-focused care.
• Perform cervical polypectomy, vulvar biopsy, IUD placement/removal and diaphragm fitting.
• Serve as a patient advocate.
• Practice cost-effective health care and resource allocation that does not compromise quality of care.
• Demonstrate proficiency in the diagnosis of headache syndromes in women including tension-type headaches, migraine headaches, mixed headaches and catamenial migraines.
• Understand the common and unique medical needs of women with multiple sclerosis and other neurologic conditions affected by hormone status.
• Become proficient in the techniques of endometrial biopsy.
• Participate in the evaluation and ongoing management of menopausal women including women with POI.
• Perform a comprehensive musculoskeletal exam on women with sports medicine problems.
• Differentiate between various menstrual bleeding disorders.

Focused Research

It is important for the scholar to understand the application of research skills in an interdisciplinary arena. We ensure that the Women’s Health Fellowship program takes advantage of the core strengths of Cleveland Clinic by guiding scholars toward areas such as cardiovascular diseases in women, breast cancer and osteoporosis. You will be required to present at medical conferences and scholarly meetings. You will also be invited to give lectures at interdisciplinary grand rounds and continuing medical education (CME) conferences.

• You are required to keep an educational portfolio which is a compilation of academic work and other forms of material evidence of learning progress and academic accomplishment including publications, lectures, conference materials, awards, honors, certifications, recommendations, and written evaluations.
• Formulate researchable questions and conduct patient-centered literature searches using systematic reviews and EPIC database.
• Evaluate the clinical literature applying knowledge of epidemiology, biostatistics and research study design.
• Facilitate the learning of students and other health care professionals.

The Center for Specialized Women’s Health encompasses holistic care of women, often with complex medical conditions, and provides cutting edge evidence based therapies. The research program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of women’s health concerns. Collaboration between the multidisciplinary staff at the Center with a diverse group of clinicians from across Cleveland Clinic and Case Western University allows for novel approaches and the dissemination of the latest breakthroughs in women’s health research. Our staff have worked along with the Case Western School of Dentistry to examine periodontal issues in women taking bisphosphonate therapy and with Cleveland Clinic's Department of Radiology to assess compliance with osteoporosis screening. Ongoing areas of study include treatment of osteoporosis, gynecologic concerns after bone marrow transplant, resident education, cervical cancer screening, sexual dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse and stress incontinence.

Interdisciplinary Education

By definition, women’s health cuts across multiple specialty areas. The Women’s Health Fellowship targets key areas for deeper knowledge into disease states as they affect women throughout the female life cycle. You will gain proficient training in common ambulatory gynecology procedures including contraception management, endometrial biopsies, colposcopy to name a few.

Rotations will include:

• Ambulatory Gynecology Clinic
• Bone Center Clinic
• Urogynecology Clinic
• Specialized Gynecological Clinic
• Psychiatry Clinic
• Cardiology Clinics
• Sports Medicine/Orthopedic Clinic
• Endocrine Clinic
• Breast Clinic
• Breast Cancer Clinic
• Menopause Clinic

Weekly Rotation Schedule

• Approximately 1½ days in the Center for Specialized Women's Health (core curriculum)
• ½ day research
• 2 days in medical clinic
• 1 day various elective conferences, professional development

How to Apply

To apply, please do the following:

1. Download the Women's Health Fellowship Application
2. Fill out the application and prepare supporting materials. Every applicant should include (with the application) one letter from their Program Director, and two letters of recommendation. INTERNATIONAL GRADUATES: In addition to these requirements, please send a certified copy of your E.C.F.M.G. certificate.

Email or mail the application and materials to:

Alexandra Gardlock, M.Ed
Sr. Program Manager
Ob/Gyn & Women's Health Institute
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Avenue, A-81
Cleveland, OH 44195
330.603.5325
gardloa@ccf.org

Faculty and Fellows

Faculty

• Holly L. Thacker, MD
• Pelin Batur, MD
• Oluwatosin Goje, MD
• Lynn Pattimakiel, MD
• Andrea Sikon, MD

Current Fellows

Class of 2026

Nayoung Sung, MD
Medical School: Soon Chun Hyang University College of Medicine
Residency: Kern Medical Center - Family Medicine

Class of 2025

Madeline Cohn, DO
Medical School: University of North Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: MetroHealth Main Campus Medical Center – Family Medicine

Rachel Novik, DO
Medical School: Ohio University, College Of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: St. John West Shore Hospital - Family Medicine

Alumni

• Tiffany Cochran, MD, MA
• Tara Iyer, MD
• Alexa Fiffick, DO, MBS
• Anna Camille Moreno, DO
• Sabrina Sikka, MD
• Taryn Smith, MD
• Mamooda Qureshi, MD –BC IM
• Marie Budev, DO, MPH –BC IM
• Anisha Singh, MD, BC IM
• Pelin Batur, MD, FACP, CCD, NCMP BC IM
• Julie Elder, DO, NCMP
• Jennifer Edman, MD BC FM
• Mala Sivandy, MD, NCMP, BC IM
• Nziavake (Nikki) Masimasi, MD, NCMP, BC
• Maria (Candy) Buencamino MD, CCD, NCMP, BC IM
• Lynn Pattimakiel, MD NCMP, CCD, BC IM
• Sobia Khan, MD, NCMP, CCD, BC IM
• Kristi Tough, MD, NCMP, BC IM
• Lauren Weber, DO, NCMP, CCD, BC FM
• Manisha Yadav, MD, NCMP, CCD, BC IM
• Foluke Alli, MD, NCMP, BC FM
• Crystal Lee-Billing, MD
• Elim Shih-Fitzgerald, MD, NCMP
• Heather Foreman Hirsh, MD, NCMP

About Cleveland

Cleveland, an ethnically diverse mid-sized city located on Lake Erie, features a host of cultural and recreational attractions. Downtown Cleveland is approximately 2 miles from the Cleveland Clinic campus.

• Learn more about the city we call home.