Before embarking upon their obstetrics and gynecology residencies, five KU School of Medicine-Wichita students signed up for boot camp.

A new elective course for fourth-year medical students, the boot camp curriculum spans a wide range of skills that Ashley Robbins, M.D., clinical assistant professor and OB-GYN clerkship director at KU School of Medicine-Wichita, considers essential for new doctors.

The new offering received an enthusiastic response.

“It seemed like a no-brainer in terms of trying to get a little ahead of the game, residency-wise,” said Reece Burns, M.D., a current resident who took the class in the spring.

Robbins structured the boot camp around four themes: patient care, clinical and general knowledge, communication and personal wellness.

“My own experience as a resident played a role, and I also met with residents to get their input” about which topics to address, she said.

To cover such a wide range of subject matter, Robbins called on other faculty members, current residents and members of the community.

Jolinda Kelley, a nurse navigator at Wesley Medical Center, served as one of the guest lecturers. She spoke with students about a key aspect of patient care: how to break bad news and have difficult conversations.

“In obstetrics in particular, that can come up on day one of your residency,” Robbins said.

Kent Bradley, M.D., clinical professor and vice chair of KU School of Medicine-Wichita Department of OB-GYN, taught advanced suturing and knot tying. Darren Farley, M.D., KU School of Medicine-Wichita clinical associate professor and faculty at Maternal-Fetal Medicine – Associates in Women’s Health, invited the students to his office to go work on their ultrasound skills.

Students got extra practice in the Simulation Center with both C-section and vaginal deliveries using a medical manikin. They also practiced simulated IUD insertion and cervical exams.

Robbins also worked closely with Tessa Rohrberg, M.D., assistant professor with KU School of Medicine-Wichita's Department of Family & Community Medicine, who developed the first family and community medicine boot camp last year. The faculty members collaborated on sessions applicable to both groups of students.

In one combined session, Samer Antonios, M.D., chief medical officer at Ascension Via Christi and KU School of Medicine-Wichita volunteer faculty with the Department of Internal Medicine, spoke to the students about “the U.S. health care system, hospital systems, and what to expect as they go through residency and become physicians,” Robbins said.

Robbins devoted a significant amount of the curriculum to wellness, bringing in experts such as Allison Roodman, Ph.D., a staff psychologist at the Kansas City campus. She led a session on mindfulness, stress management and self-compassion.

Students also learned about time management, navigating work-life balance and financial health. They even had a session with Mark Maloney, an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice litigation.

“He talked to them about things that he wished every doctor would know before they became a doctor and what to expect if they were ever named in a lawsuit,” said Robbins, who noted that nearly every doctor will one day be named in a lawsuit at some point in their career. “I think having that understanding before it happens is helpful.”

Throughout the boot camp, students had the opportunity to question and receive feedback from current residents and other new doctors.

“I enjoyed the course as a whole, but the most helpful parts were getting feedback from current and former residents,” said Burns, whose residency began this summer. He said that hearing about others’ experience made him feel more prepared to get the most out of his residency.

Robbins plans to continue adapting the boot camp to the changing needs of residents — particularly when it comes to nonclinical subjects.

“One of the biggest changes that has happened over time is the focus on wellness for residents and physicians,” Robbins said. “The procedures don’t change significantly from year to year, but we continue to learn more about wellness and work-life balance. That is the area of the boot camp I am hoping to continue to develop.”

She also plans to share the experience with other academic physicians.

“We are doing a research project and will be following up with the students two months into their residencies,” Robbins said.

She hopes to present their research to fellow academic obstetrician-gynecologists at an upcoming APGO conference.

For his part, Burns is already sold on the experience.

“If you’re interested in OB-GYN, this would be a good course to do before residency,” he said. “It’s a good way to get exposure to things that you will be exposed to in the next few months.”