Introduction
Kat Singh, MD - Program Director
Stephen Bacak, DO - Associate Program Director
The mission of the Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic is to provide vast clinical experiences and supportive guidance for obstetricians aspiring to become exceptional Maternal Fetal Medicine subspecialists accomplished in providing patient centered care and skilled at improving outcomes for pregnant persons with medical, obstetrical, and fetal complications.
The Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship is a subspecialty training program for Board Certified or Board Eligible Physicians who have successfully completed an Obstetrics and Gynecology residency training program.
- Patient care: The program will provide trainees with a great volume and breadth of hands-on clinical experiences with pregnant people with significant maternal medical co-morbidities, fetal structural and genetic abnormalities, and obstetrical complications. This will be achieved through outpatient and inpatient exposures at three hospitals within one system in Northeast Ohio along with multiple ambulatory sites. In addition, fellows will have opportunities to excel in advanced ultrasound performance and interpretation along with performance of maternal and fetal procedures. Breadth of cases, ultrasound numbers, procedural numbers, acute care cases are all tracked. Fellows will progress in ACGME milestones involving medical knowledge, systems-based practice, patient care, professionalism, and interpersonal and communication skills.
- Systems-based care: The program will provide fellows with training in professionalism, team communication, systems-based practice and care delivery by working at multiple sites with providers from a multitude of other specialties. Working with our Fetal Care Center, Cardio-Obstetrics Center, and other specialized programs within the Cleveland Clinic system provides an optimal setting to advance through these milestones.
- Scholarly activity: There will be structured, time protected research experiences with opportunities for both laboratory and clinical research to provide trainees with the skills for critical research interpretation along with the foundation for developing an independent program of investigation. The fellows complete a thesis project as outlined by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The thesis is presented to the Maternal Fetal Medicine division prior to graduation. Yearly projects are encouraged along with attendance and/or presentation at the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting. Fellows are encouraged to present at other meetings. A quality project is also expected during the time of the fellowship.
- Development as an educator: Fellows are involved in resident and medical student education. In addition to combined clinical opportunities, fellows participate in resident didactics and simulations. Combined research experiences are also encouraged. Advancement in this area can be followed by way of practice-based learning and professionalism milestone progression.
Fellowship Overview
The Maternal Fetal Medicine fellows rotate at three Cleveland Clinic hospitals in Northeast Ohio that provide care to more than 11,000 deliveries annually.
The Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship will include:
- 3 months of labor and delivery as the supervising physician.
- 1 month in surgical intensive care and medical intensive care units.
- 2 months of genetics training.
- Minimum 12 months of research.
- 15 clinical months that span both inpatient and outpatient care including Maternal Fetal Medicine, Pathology and OB Anesthesia.
- 3 months of flexible elective time.
Cleveland Clinic is a large academic institution, and fellows serve an integral role in coaching, mentoring, and educating medical students and OB/GYN residents. There are many opportunities to collaborate with other learners in the areas of research, formal didactics, career development, and clinical care. These additional academic experiences are one of the highlights of our fellowship program as they support career development and tools for future educators.
Clinical experiences take place at multiple Cleveland Clinic sites throughout Northeast Ohio.
- Cleveland Clinic Main Campus provides care to the highest risk patients with a large multi-state outpatient referral population. At this site, approximately 150 deliveries occur annually for the most complex patients with either maternal or fetal conditions.
- Fellows will gain experience in managing fetal abnormalities through our Fetal Care Center where patients may require in utero fetal procedures or surgery as well as immediate neonatal interventions.
- Fellows also care for patients in other specialized programs such as the Cardio-Obstetrics Clinic, Cerebrovascular-Obstetrics Clinic, or Complex Obstetric Surgical/Placenta Accreta Program.
- Education is provided by our large Maternal Fetal Medicine division along with other experts in the field such as anesthesiologists, psychiatrists, adult and pediatric cardiologists, pediatric surgeons, neurologists, endocrinologists, pathologists, geneticists, other pediatric subspecialists, and expert neonatologists.
- Regional Hospitals – Both facilities, Hillcrest and Fairview have a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit as well as adult and pediatric subspecialty support.
- Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital Obstetrical Department has patients from all backgrounds with approximately 4,500 deliveries per year with a full range of obstetrical services. Hillcrest Hospital serves the Eastern Region of Cuyahoga County.
- Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital Obstetrical Department also has patients from all backgrounds serving the Western Region of Cuyahoga County. This facility also provides approximately 5,500 deliveries annually with a full range of obstetrical services.
- Ambulatory Clinics and Family Health Centers – Fellows can see patients at several ambulatory clinic sites within Northeast Ohio.
Rotation Details
Labor and Delivery
This two month block during the PGY5 year and 1 month block during the PGY7 year where the fellows will be dedicated to the care of patients with complications in Labor & Delivery and antepartum units managed by the Maternal Fetal Medicine attending covering the inpatient service. This is a total inpatient experience where the fellows will spend 5 days/week on Labor and Delivery. During this time, the fellow will take call from home during one week of the rotation, along with rounding on the antepartum services during that designated week.
Surgical Intensive Care and Medical Intensive Care
This is a one month block during the PGY5 year where fellows will be dedicated to the care of patients in Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) for two weeks managed by the MICU attending covering the inpatient service. This will be followed by two weeks in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) supervised by that attending. This is a total inpatient experience where the fellow will participate in the daily activity in the MICU/SICU at the Main Campus.
Genetics
This is a two month block during the PGY5 year where fellows will be dedicated to genetic screening and diagnosis for women preconception, during pregnancy and after. The fellows work closely with our genetic counsellors during this clinical rotation, and learn to take genetic histories, construct pedigrees, and offer screening and diagnostic tests. In addition, fellows participate in invasive prenatal testing, if undertaken, and counsel patients before and after these tests. The clinical experiences occur at different Cleveland Clinic outpatient sites. Fellows also participate in a national genetics course with synchronous and asynchronous learning that is designed for Maternal Fetal Medicine fellows.
Outpatient MFM
Over the fifteen month period, fellows gain experience in obstetrical ultrasound, maternal-fetal medicine consultations, and high-risk pregnancy care, which includes providing consultation and prenatal care for patients with medical, obstetrical, and fetal complications in Northeast Ohio. The schedule consists of outpatient consultations, prenatal care for patients with complications, opportunities for patient counseling and ultrasound/ultrasound-guided procedures. During these rotation blocks, fellows participate in educational activities related to Pathology and OB Anesthesia.
Research (Protected)
This period is designated for developing projects, collecting data, analyzing results, preparing presentations and manuscripts. Fellows work with research mentors and participate in scheduled meetings to support project progress.
Advocacy
The Maternal Fetal Medicine faculty at all Northeast Ohio sites participate in community health programs sponsored through both state and federal initiatives. Fellows are encouraged to be involved in these initiatives, providing opportunities for leadership, quality improvement, and health policy development.
Education Requirements
The Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) fellows participate in various monthly and weekly educational conferences including the following:
Weekly OBGYN Grand Rounds - Fellows participate in weekly department Grand Rounds and serve as the Grand Rounds Presenters during their last year of fellowship.
Fetal Care Conferences – Fetal Care Directors conduct a multidisciplinary meeting to discuss patients and coordinate care services. This includes education presentations by faculty including MFM, Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Surgery and Genetic Counselors.
Ultrasound and Prenatal Diagnosis - This educational meeting discusses topics around ultrasound, topics related to genetic counseling, fetal diagnostics, fetal treatment and fetal counseling. This is led by MFM and Genetic Counseling for how to optimize ultrasound and ultrasound procedures for accurate prenatal diagnosis.
Monthly Maternal Care Meeting - MFM faculty with assistance from MFM fellows present complex maternal cases to create a care plan and provide education.
Monthly MFM Section Meeting – MFM faculty, fellows and support staff meet to discuss’ divisional workflows related to outpatient offices, inpatient management of care, implementation of new guidelines that are created and implemented into practice, fellowship updates, updates on care model at all other Cleveland Clinic locations, abstracts/projects discussions and billing updates.
MFM Fellowship Didactics - Faculty led lectures regarding topics for Maternal Fetal Medicine and related clinical specialties, professional development and business of medicine. A three-year curriculum has been created to address the competencies in MFM fellow education, ABOG and requirements of examinations.
Quarterly MFM Journal Club - This multidisciplinary journal club reviews key articles that apply to the MFM field. Teaching fellows’ best practices on how to critically evaluate research articles/studies.
Monthly Ultrasound Quality Meeting - This meeting is designed to improve the training skills of MFM providers, fellows and sonographers through optimizing ultrasound equipment, development of protocols and communication pathways, and fostering a culture of quality improvement.
Monthly MFM Guidelines Meeting - This session is dedicated to evaluating, updating or creating evidence -based care paths as it pertains to Maternal Fetal Medicine clinical practice and guidelines for Labor & Delivery and General Obstetrics.
Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship Support in Research Meeting - This meeting occurs every other month and aims to provide fellows with support through group brainstorming, collective project review, collaborative problem solving, and encouragement of joint research initiatives.
SMFM Fellow Lecture Series - This is a web-based lecture series put on by experts and leaders in MFM, Ultrasound, Genetics, and Neonatology.
Quarterly SIMS Events - Fellows work with residents and other specialties on simulations in ultrasound, birthing and OB emergencies.
Monthly Research Seminars with the Vice Chair of Research at Obstetrics and Gynecology Institute for research support.
Scientific Meetings
Fellows are invited to participate in the Annual Cleveland Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Research Day and senior fellows present at Obstetrics and Gynecology Institute’s Research Day in the spring.
Fellows have the opportunity to attend Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine, First Year Fellow’s Retreat, Critical Care/Simulation Course, National Ultrasound Course and many others.
Graduate Courses
First year fellows are required to attend the Fall and Spring Medical Biostatistics courses hosted by Cleveland Clinic. These courses are intended for clinicians and researchers who are beginning their research careers, seeking to enhance their understanding of biomedical literature, aiming to deepen their knowledge of evidence-based medicine, or in need of a comprehensive review of statistical principles.
Current Fellows
Class of 2028
Lea Russell
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
Residency: University of South Carolina, School of Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology
Class of 2027
Hannah Bowers
Medical School: East Tennessee State University - Quillen College of Medicine
Residency: University of Tennessee, College of Medicine-Chattanooga
Class of 2026
Easha Patel
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
Alumni
- 2022- 2025; Sarah Graves, MD – VCU Health Virginia Commonwealth
- 2021- 2024; Justin Moore, MD – Akron Children’s Hospital
How to Apply
The Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship accepts two fellows per year. All positions are filled through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) match.
The Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship accepts all applications, including international candidates through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The application requirement aligns with those of the standard ERAS Fellowship Application.
Application Timeline
Adheres to the standards established by the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
Invites
Invitations are sent via ERAS/Thalamus in line with the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine dates.
Interested applicants are invited to consult our GME New Applicant Information Page for further details.
Additional Information
For further information, please contact:
Alexandra Gardlock
Sr. Education Program Manager
Obstetrics and Gynecology Institute
gardloa@ccf.org | 330.603.5325
