Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship

The fellowship training program in Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) at the UC Davis Medical Center is a three-year program that includes 24 months of clinical training and 12 months of mentored focused research. There will be one fellow accepted annually into the program, with a total of three fellows. The clinical training includes instruction in on all aspects of MFM, including obstetrical, fetal, medical, and surgical complications of pregnancy under the direction of the MFM core faculty. Each fellow will complete 18 months of clinical training in MFM core areas, 6 months of electives including 2-week rotations in NICU, Pathology and Anesthesiology, and 12 months of protected research time. The research experience will have either a basic science research focus or a clinical research focus, with intensive mentorship in either area. Research are available with mentors at the main campus in Davis CA as well as the health sciences campus in Sacramento CA.

The UC Davis Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship starts on August 1 and will conclude three years later on July 31.

Applicants interested in applying for the fellowship training program in Maternal-Fetal Medicine can submit their application through the ERAS website. Individuals interested in obtaining additional information should contact Melissa Garcia, Health Education Supervisor for Obstetrics and Gynecology, at 916-734-6952 or via e-mail at melgarcia@ucdavis.edu.

The UC Davis Complex Family Planning fellowship starts on August 1 and will conclude two years later on July 31.

Applications must be completed and turned in by Monday, May 1, 2023.
Invitations to interview will be sent to applicants on Monday, June 15, 2023.

In addition to the ERAS application, applicants are requested to send copies of CREOG scores directly to Melissa Garcia. This program requires a minimum of three letters of recommendation. If a rotation was completed at a fetal surgery center and that letter is not included as one of the letters of recommendation, please send that to Melissa as well.

We aim to train...

Leaders in the field of MFM by providing outstanding clinical and research training.
Outstanding clinicians with an expansive knowledge in inpatient and outpatient clinical care of patients with complex medical conditions.
Excellent surgeons, independently competent in the breadth of complex obstetric procedures and care of complex obstetric complications.
Clinicians with strong understanding in the care of complex fetal abnormalities that may or may not undergo fetal surgery.
Physicians with compassion in counseling patients in clinic and participate in the weekly multidisciplinary conference focusing on diagnosis and care plan for complex fetal patients.
Providers competent in the principles of extensive Obstetric ultrasound for prenatal diagnosis and train in fetal reduction by KCl injection, amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling.
Physicians with an appreciation for research, either in their own academic careers as clinician scientists, or with an appreciation for and understanding of ongoing investigation that allows critical interpretation of the literature and application to patient care.
Physicians who recognize the importance of continued lifelong learning, with a commitment to staying current in practice and the related literature as the field moves forward.
MFM specialists that are excellent in practice but also recognize their own limitations and know when to ask for help.

Dr. Herman Hedriana Herman Locsin Hedriana, M.D.
Professor
Division Chief of Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Dr. Herman Hedriana returned to UC Davis’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine division in Obstetrics & Gynecology in March 2018. He was an Assistant Professor in Residence from July 1994 through June 1998 and for over 19 years, he has been Volunteer Clinical Faculty. Dr. Hedriana's main focus is premature birth risk assessment including preterm labor evaluation and effective use of antenatal corticosteroids. He feels patient safety, welfare, and their right to information comes first. He has been an active volunteer for March of Dimes for 15 years, involved in prematurity prevention, health care disparities, and healthcare policies involving different communities in California.

Nina Boe, M.D.
Clinical Professor

Dr. Boe's clinical interests include prenatal diagnosis, pregestational and gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and complications with twin gestations. Her research activities focus on improved screening procedures for diabetes in pregnancy.

Shannon Clark, M.D.
Associate Physician

Dr. Clark is board certified in Family and Community Medicine, and also completed a fellowship in Clinical Obstetrics. Her specialty interests focus on the care of pregnant women with mental illness or substance abuse. Dr. Clark also created and runs a weekly medication management and support group for women with mood disorders from pre-conception through one-year post-partum. The “CONNECTED” clinic provides medication management, education, advocacy and supportive therapy. The group setting aims to promote the development and delivery of health infants by treating and supporting the emotional well-being of the mother as an adjunct to prenatal and post-partum care.

Nancy Field, M.D.
Clinical Professor

Dr. Field's areas of interest include management of diabetic pregnancies, medical complications and fetal growth abnormalities during pregnancy, and fetal sonography. Her research currently focuses on outcomes in diabetic pregnancies.

Dr. Amelia McLennan Amelia McLennan, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor

Dr. Amelia McLennan joined the Maternal-Fetal Medicine division after completing her fellowship at Columbia University in New York, NY. She offers care for women with a range of high-risk medical, surgical, and fetal conditions during pregnancy. She has special clinical interest in ultrasound, prenatal diagnosis, genetic testing, multiple gestations, and fetal therapy.

No Photo Available for Dr. Carolyn Reyes Carolyn Reyes, M.D.
Associate Physician

Dr. Carolina Reyes joined the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine in 2019. She is returning to academics after serving as an Attending Physician in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Valley Children’s Specialty Medical Group in Sacramento, CA; MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington DC; Virginia Hospital Center-Physician Group; and the Medical Director, Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Virginia Hospital Center. Dr. Reyes’s extensive academic experience includes: Associate Professor of Clinical Ob/Gyn at Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California; Attending Staff at Cedar Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California; Assistant Professor in Residence at University of California, Los Angeles, Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California; Senior Scholar, United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; and Assistant Professor at George Washington University, Washington DC. Dr. Reyes is looking forward to working with our Residents and Fellows while helping our patients and their families grow.

No Photo Available for Dr. Krishna Singh Krishna Singh, M.D.
Director, UC Davis Prenatal Diagnosis Center
Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor

Dr. Krishna Singh joined the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine in 2020. She is triple board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, and Medical Genetics and Genomics. She has brought her expertise in Prenatal Genetics to the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the Fetal Treatment Center. Dr. Singh has specialty in diagnostic evaluation and advanced molecular testing of fetuses and adults with rare genetic disorders.

Veronique Tache, M.D. Véronique Taché, M.D.
Associate Professor
Residency Program Director

Dr. Taché specializes in taking care of women with high-risk pregnancies. Her clinical interests include fetal growth abnormalities, multiples and higher order multiples, prevention of preterm birth, maternal coagulation disorders and endocrine disorders.

Debra Wright, M.D.
Clinical Professor
Medical Director of Maternity Services

Debra D. Wright is a Health Sciences Clinical Professor at the UC Davis Medical Center in Obstetrics & Gynecology. The scope of her practice encompasses women’s health care from the teen years through menopause. Her medical expertise includes well woman care, pregnancy and delivery, menstrual problems, contraception, management of abnormal pap smears, and treatment of menopausal symptoms and problems.

No Photo Available for Nourha Osman, M.S., C.G.C. Nourhan Osman, M.S., C.G.C.
Licensed Certified Genetic Counselor

Bio coming soon

Laila Rhee, M.S., C.G.C.
Licensed Certified Genetic Counselor

Ms. Rhee is a genetic counselor specializing in prenatal counseling primarily to women and families with high risk pregnancies. She has a special interest in fetal congenital heart disorders, neuromuscular disorders and infertility. Respecting autonomy and rights of the patient, she wants to provide genetic information and support so that patients make informed decisions about their medical care and make the best possible adjustment for their family.

No Photo Available for Kathryn Rice, M.S., L.C.G.C. Kathryn Rice, M.S., L.C.G.C.
Licensed Certified Genetic Counselor

Bio coming soon

David Schrimmer, M.D.
Volunteer Clinical Faculty for Didactics and Non-Clinical Teaching

Bio coming soon

The primary location for the program is at the UC Davis Medical Center (UCDMC) in Sacramento, California. The Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine also provides services in the Northern California region that extends north to the Oregon border, south to the San Joaquin Valley, east to Reno, Nevada, and west to the Bay Area. All Division members are on the faculty of the UC Davis School of Medicine.

UC Davis Medical Center

UC Davis Medical Center is a 625-bed acute-care teaching hospital with the only level 1 trauma center in inland Northern California. Facility expansion over the last 15 years in Sacramento has resulted in more than 3 million square feet of buildings over a 140-acre campus, which includes a recently completed 14-floor hospital tower, state of the art outpatient facility (where the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is located), and research buildings. The pavilion includes 48 state of the art operating rooms, plus ICU’s and Emergency Department. There is a level 1 Children Surgery Center and a separate unit for the Fetal Care and Treatment Center anchored by Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Fetal Surgery, Neonatology and Fetal Echocardiography sections.

The Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship is a three year program briefly described below. Applicants interested in applying for the program or obtaining additional information should contact the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at 916-734-6938.

1^st Year Fellowship

High Risk Obstetrical Service - The first six months of the fellowship in year one is spent on Maternal-Fetal Medicine Core Services. For two weeks out of each clinical month, the fellow will be the attending on labor and delivery staffing all procedures and attending on the postpartum rounds with the residents. In addition, they will spend a separate 2 weeks managing the antepartum service and fielding all MFM consultation and maternal transfer requests.

Basic Science Research - The second six months will be devoted to perinatal research and electives including a 2-week rotation for each, Anesthesiology and Pathology. Currently there are multiple areas of research in addition to the OB/GYN Department, including outcomes-based research in the Center for Research and Primary Care, basic science research in the Nutrition Department, Primate Center, MIND Institute or the Genomic Center.

2^nd Year Fellowship

Clinical - For 2 weeks of each clinical month during the second year the fellow will attend on labor and delivery at University of California Davis Medical Center as they did during the first year. The particular week will not be when the first-year fellow is primary attending. During the remaining three to four weeks of each clinical month, the second-year fellow broadens his/her experience in prenatal diagnosis and medical genetics and high-risk pregnancy consultations (Core MFM). This will include ICU rotations in either MICU or SICU or combined at 2 weeks in each ICU.

Research - In the second six months of year two the fellow will return to their research experience as detailed above, under the supervision of the appropriate section leaders as well as elective opportunities including 2 weeks in the NICU. They will continue with increasing independence on the part of the fellow. At this point in the fellowship the fellow should have developed a specific area of investigation which her/she is studying with less intensive supervision by the staff.

3^rd Year Fellowship

Clinical - The last six months of the third year the fellow functions almost at the level of faculty in that he/she oversees high-risk clinics and a consultative clinic at the UC Davis Medical Center. For two weeks per clinical month the third year fellow will attend on labor and delivery as he/she has done the previous years. Their role will be one of clinical faculty with less but still present clinical faculty supervision.

Research - The research experience in the last six month of year two is continued in the first six months of year three in order to provide one continuous year of research opportunity as well as elective opportunities of the fellow’s choosing. By this point in the fellowship the fellow should be developing data which should be the basis for grant submissions and the supervising faculty work to ensure that the fellow achieves his/her level of success.

All Years

During all 3 years of fellowship the fellows will rotate on a one-in-four week schedule to cover the MFM service. Additionally, they will take either one 24-hour or two 12-hour In-House Calls per month, except during their elective rotations.

Overview of Fellow Didactic Expectations

Fellows will be expected to provide some lectures to residents and medical students during the training program. The fellows are responsible for commenting on Obstetric issues during the monthly Obstetric Morbidity-Mortality conference. There is a weekly teaching session in Maternal-Fetal Medicine set as weekly Fellow Didactic Lectures (including case reviews, online SMFM lecture series and Journal Club). The Fellow Didactic Lectures include genetics, pathology and management of complex obstetric patients. Other conferences include weekly Department Grand Rounds, weekly Fetal Care and Treatment Center management conference, and resident didactic lectures. Fellows are required to complete graduate level courses in Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Trial Design.

FELLOW DIDACTICS

Dr. David Schrimmer and Dr. Herman Hedriana are in charge of fellow didactics and for selecting the topic/articles for journal club.

Chapter review

At the beginning of the academic year a lecture schedule is developed by faculty with the assistance of the 3^rd year fellow with the didactic topics and assigned faculty for the year. A topic for the month will be provided with the required reading material (book chapters and selected articles). The format for these sessions consists of an informal question and answer session with the assigned faculty and all fellows.

Journal Club / Case List Review

Several times per year the entire division of MFM meets for journal club/case review sessions. Several weeks prior to journal club, articles will be chosen and assigned to the fellows for presentation. Presentation involves an informal discussion of the background, methods, results, summary of the findings, and the implications for clinical practice should also be discussed. Fellows are expected to have read all the articles and to be prepared to answer questions related to the articles.

Approximately half of this session is dedicated to case list review. These sessions are used to reinforce understanding stemming from the didactic lecture series and focuses on the topics that were recently presented. The case reviews are done in a Q & A format, based on the fellows’ recent clinical cases

Each fellow must complete 12 months of focused research training and experience. The Division members are fortunate to have active collaborations with both basic scientists and clinical researchers. Each fellow will be required to declare a focus in either basic science or clinical research, and complete a minimum of two manuscripts, one of which will be from the thesis project and should be publishable. The second can be either a clinical research project or a quality improvement project.

The 12 months of research are split between all three years. 6 months of electives may be used additional research time as needed. Three 2-week rotation in neonatology, pathology and anesthesiology are taken out of the elective schedule.

It is expected that a topic for the research year will be decided during the first clinical year, in consultation with the Program Director and designated mentor. Research opportunities are collaborative and encouraged. This may be with other departments, sections and divisions. Opportunities to do research are limitless and includes: Gynecologic Oncology, Urogynecology, Family Planning, College of Engineering, Public Health, Primate Center, UC Davis Data Lab to name a few.

Mentored Clinical Research Training Program

UC Davis Health has established a K-30 intensive training in Mentored Clinical Research, which includes formal graduate level course work in epidemiology, clinical study design, and statistics. The Mentored Clinical Research Training Program (MCRTP) provides a solid foundation for clinical/patient-oriented research for junior faculty, clinical and pre-clinical fellows, and post-doctoral scholars. The MCRTP centers around three core elements: didactic instruction, mentored research, and special experiences.

The didactic instruction provides scholars a standardized set of skills critical to all types of clinical and translational research. The instruction includes a 12-week summer curriculum followed by a two year core curriculum and electives that can be tailored to best meet each scholar’s career development needs. The didactic curriculum is a combination of established and new courses explicitly designed for the MCRTP. MFM fellows are required to complete only the fall curriculum Epidemiology and Study Design, and Medical Biostatistics. Other courses are available as time permits.

The UC Davis Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship places value on trainees with diversity of thoughts, experiences, and perspectives. Care is taken to interview candidates who come from a variety of backgrounds including geographic, socioeconomic, racial, cultural, gender identity, sexual orientation, and training. These factors are considered when evaluating the pool of applicants, as diversity is core to the mission of our program. The program is open to alternative certification pathways which comply with the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology requirements for graduate medical education, professionalism and professional standing.

The UC Davis Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion works to create a climate of inclusion reflected in structures, policies and practices; the demographics of UC Davis Health community; the attitudes and values of its members and leaders; and the quality of personal interactions.

For the ninth consecutive year, UC Davis has been recognized as a leader in LGBTQ health equality in the Healthcare Quality Index, an annual survey conducted by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the country’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization.

Sacramento is one of the most ethnically and socially diverse cities in America. Throughout your training here you will learn to care for patients from around the world and prepare yourself to provide quality healthcare to women who need it.

The Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellows are given two half days off each year for preventive health appointments. The Institution has named a GME Director of Wellness and has an additional full time Psychologist dedicated to GME who provides night and weekend clinical hours. Wellness has been included in orientation activities, to talk about ways to maintain wellness during training, and to emphasize to incoming residents and fellows that this is an institutional priority. Faculty development for mentoring and support skills is also an ongoing initiative of the department. Grand rounds and workshops exist to develop these skills, and mentoring is reviewed at the annual faculty review with the department chair.

UC Davis strongly promotes that health and well-being can be learned and continually practiced to enhance quality of life. Individual health and well-being include awareness, commitment, and open-mindedness. Community health and well-being includes collaboration, integrity and inclusion. UC Davis Health has a focused Staff and Faculty Health and Well-being program to provide support for physicians when personal or work issues arise, with confidential and free services. More information is available at

https://safetyservices.ucdavis.edu/units/occupational-health/health-well-being.

Professional liability insurance is provided by the Regents of the University of California. Fellow benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as disability insurance; life/accidental death and dismemberment insurance; physician lab coats, laundry services; and maternity/paternity leave. Annual vacation leave (20 working days per year) plus protected conference and fellowship-specific educational workshops are included.

Salaries are set at the level of PGY-5 (first year fellow), PGY-6 (second year fellow), and PGY-7 (third year fellow). Salaries are established annually and are subject to change from union bargaining.

Sacramento, California’s capital, is the sixth largest city in California and the ninth largest capital in the Unites States. We are located in the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers. We are known for our large urban parks, including a 26-mile river parkway and bike trail along our rivers. California has a lot to offer! Be sure to check out what there is to discover in "Gold Country."

As of 2017, Sacramento was the fastest-growing city in California with a vibrant sports scene. The Sacramento Kings basketball team plays in the new state-of-the art Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento. The city received a new MLS designation with Sacramento Republic FC and will build a stadium starting 2020.

We have a large running community that appreciates the surrounding even terrain. Every December, UC Davis Health System sponsors the California International Marathon. Our residents, fellows and faculty participate in the relay with 4-5 teams running alongside each other.

Sacramento is the Farm-to-Fork capital of America with an ever-increasing food scene. We are fortunate to have some of the best produce in the world all year round, with numerous farmers markets throughout the city. We have the largest certified organic market in the country.

Sacramento is known for its love of beer, with over 50 breweries in the surrounding area. Take the ‘brew bike’ and participate in beer week to get a taste of our nationally recognized breweries. But, don’t be fooled that beer is “king.” Wine country abounds to the east, south and west. Downtown Napa is slightly more than one hour’s drive from Sacramento and only 20 minutes south are the closest wineries in Clarksburg. Further south, Lodi, is the largest producer of grape juice for wine production in the world. To the west are rolling hills of wineries mixed with Orchards in “Apple Hill” region half-way to Lake Tahoe. Whatever your preference, beer and wine abound.

We also have, per capita, an inordinate amount of independently owned coffee shops. Three of our favorite coffee houses (Temple Coffee, Old Soul Co. and Chocolate Fish) were selected nationally as the Top Coffee in 2018.

There are many quaint neighborhoods, with old town Sacramento giving you a glimpse to the past and the gold rush days.

Despite being in California, we have 4 seasons. Winters are mild and rainy. Summers are sunny, hot and dry. Spring and fall weather is among the most pleasant in the state with beautiful foliage. You have easy access to beautiful Lake Tahoe or the Pacific Coast, all day trips from Sacramento.

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SACRAMENTO BEFORE MOVING HERE

1) It’s One of the Most Diverse Cities in America

Sacramento was once named the most diverse city in America by TIME. Los Angeles and New York City might be called the great melting pots of America, but the multiplicity of cultures in Sacramento blend together smoothly to create more of a cultural mosaic than a melting pot. This makes Sacramento one of the most integrated cities in America.

2) You’ll Eat the Best Cheeseburgers of Your Life in Sacramento

In N’ Out, Five Guys, McDonald’s….wherever you’ve had your best burger before, forget about it before you move to Sacramento. Sacramento is famous for its burgers. Don’t believe us? Pay a visit to the Squeeze Inn, which serves burgers so famous they’re known all across the state of California. Their secret is to use lots of cheese – you get a slice of cheese that’s about twice as large as the burger bun!

3) We Have More Sports Teams Than You Think

Most people know Sacramento because of the Sacramento Kings. Sure, being a Sacramento Kings fan can be tough, at times, especially as the team goes through a bit of a rebuild. But beyond cheap NBA tickets, Sacramento has plenty of other sports teams to support, including the Sacramento Republic FC pro soccer team, the Sacramento River Cats minor league baseball team, and the Sacramento State Hornets athletics, which play in the Big Sky Conference. In Davis, just a short ride over the “causeway” that leads west out of Sacramento, UC Davis athletic teams are in the same conference, resulting in a great rivalry – the big football game every year is the “Causeway Classic.”

4) We Have a Ridiculous Number of Nicknames

Ask five people on the street about Sacramento’s nickname and they might give you five different answers. Some of the most common nicknames include “City of Trees,” “The Camellia Capital of the World,” and “The Big Tomato.” Well, at least that’s what some tourists call the city. To locals, most people just call it “Sac” or “Sactown”.

5) Being Eco-Friendly is In Our Nature

Sacramento, like many cities in California, is taking a proactive approach to environmental sustainability. Unique eco-friendly features in Sacramento include the SMUD energy distribution system along with a recent $100 million investment into renewable energy. You don’t have to walk far around town to spot solar panels on someone’s roof.

6) One of the Best Hospitals in America

UC Davis Medical Center calls Sacramento home. That medical center was recently ranked as one of the 50 best hospitals in America by News & World Report, which compared 5,000 hospitals across the nation. Key areas of specialization include cancer care (ranked 39th in the nation), as well as orthopedics (ranked 50^th). Of course, we are most proud of Gynecology, which ranked 16^th in the nation.

7) We Produce a Lot of Almonds

California produces more than 90% of the world’s almonds (and 98.5% of America’s almonds), and many of those almonds pass through Sacramento. Almond maker, Blue Diamond, calls Sacramento home, and that means millions of pounds of almonds are being processed through the factory every day.

8) It Has Snowed Three Times in Sacramento

Don’t like snow? Sacramento might be the city for you. There have been three significant snow fall events in Sacramento since 1900. That’s right: three. Sure, it might snow a couple times in December or January, but it rarely sticks to the ground.

9) Lake Tahoe is a 2-Hour Drive Away

It doesn’t snow in Sacramento, but you can still get your skiing fix on a day trip. Lake Tahoe is just a two-hour drive away. That’s a great way to spend the winter, but it’s also a popular summertime destination for Sacramento residents.

10) Our Region is Known for Farmer’s Markets

Sacramento is the major metropolitan area in the middle of vast amounts of farmland. Of course, that means lots of produce, flowers, meat – you name it. Farmer’s markets about in Sacramento, Davis and around the entire region. Within the last few years, the Davis famer’s market was named one of the Best Farmer’s Markets in the United States by American Express, the only California market on the list, as well as one of the top 25 markets across America by Parade Magazine. Sacramento farmer’s markets are, simply, huge! Sustainable agriculture is an important part of living in the city. As a result, the farm-to-fork movement originated here with most top-end restaurants working with menus that change daily based on what is available locally. Even our renowned Michelin star restaurant, ‘The Kitchen,” completely changes its menu every month. Bon Appetite!