FPMRS Fellowship Program

The Department of Urology, in concert with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at MUSC, is proud to offer a fellowship in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS).

Fellowship Application

Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS)

The goal of this fellowship is to promote the mission of MUSC, which includes the University, MUSC Physicians, and the Hospital, by the following:

Providing outstanding training to a qualified candidate in the disciplines of Voiding Dysfunction/ Female Urology/Urogynecology/Pelvic Floor Reconstruction/Neurourology beyond that required for Board Certification/Eligibility in either discipline. This individual will, upon completion of the Fellowship, be uniquely and expertly qualified to serve the needs of an aging and currently underserved population in these areas.
Providing a uniquely structured curricula for the education of urology and gynecology residents through a series of conferences organized by the faculty and fellow(s).
Enhancing the clinical research capabilities and therefore academic productivity of the urology and gynecology departments with respect to the generation of scholarly activity and original scientific work (e.g. abstracts, scientific papers, book chapters, presentations at scholarly meetings, grant applications, etc).
Providing a mechanism for internal quality assurance, peer review and compliance with respect to the clinical activities of the departments of urology and gynecology, which are of common interest, defined and participated in by both contributing entities of the fellowship. This will ensure optimal patient care, outcomes and quality of life for our patients above and beyond that which can be achieved by either department in isolation.

Clinical Structure & Academic Plan

From residency, the fellow should be somewhat grounded in the general principles of the evaluation and management of pelvic floor conditions in the female and male prior to beginning the Fellowship. The fellowship will provide additional insight and expertise in these disorders through a concentrated and high volume exposure to both simple and complex cases. Similarly, it is assumed and expected that the fellow will have obtained adequate training in the general principles and techniques of surgery in general and pelvic surgery in particular, as well as the pre- and post-operative care of surgical patients during his/her residency. Therefore the fellow’s principal role in the surgical theatre is not to learn surgical technique, but rather surgical approach, judgment and theory. The residents will retain the primary role in assisting the attending surgeon in the OR with additional assistance provided by the fellow. The fellow will take on a gradually increasing role and responsibilities in the OR as the year progresses depending on his/her desires and their capabilities as determined by the faculty.

Fellowship Program Structure

Directors

Eric S. Rovner, M.D., Dept. of Urology

Faculty

Lindsey Cox, M.D., Dept. of Urology

Adjunct Faculty

Ross Rames, M.D., Dept. of Urology
Steven Swift, M.D., Dept. of OB/ GYN
Autumn Edenfield, M.D., Dept. of OB/GYN

Staff

Rebecca Cumbee PA, Department of Urology
Emily Depue PA, Department of Urology

Location of Clinical Activities

All clinical activities will occur either at the main MUSC campus including the Rutledge Tower outpatient clinics, or the East Cooper facility in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (approximately 8 miles from MUSC).

Weekly Schedule (Subject to Change)

Monday: OR
Tuesday: OR
Wednesday: Clinic and Urodynamics
Thursday: OR
Friday: Clinic and Urodynamics

Within the structure outlined above, the fellow may have a half-day “Fellows Clinic.”

The weekly schedule is subject to change depending on faculty availability and other factors. The fellow will participate in the Urology faculty call schedule.

Academic Plan

It is expected that the fellow will be productive in a scholarly fashion over the course of the academic year. This may include novel independent research under the direction of a faculty member, assistance with ongoing research projects or otherwise. Scholarly activity will likely lead to production of one or more scientific abstracts for presentation at scientific meetings. The fellow may participate in or author various book chapters, reviews, case reports, and other scholarly activities under the direction of a faculty member.

The fellow will be primarily responsible for organizing and assigning cases as necessary to the residents for presentation at a monthly FPMRS conference.
The fellow will be responsible for presentation at monthly FPMRS didactic conference for the residents and medical students.
The fellow will participate in Urology Grand Rounds and other relevant department activities.

Duration, Salary & Benefits

Duration: 12 month fellowship to run July 1 to June 30

Title: Clinical Instructor

Salary: TBD

Benefits: Malpractice insurance + MUSC health and vacation benefits

Vacation: 3 weeks to include interviewing

Meetings: Reimbursement of reasonable expenses (coach airfare, hotel, etc.) associated with attendance and presentation of original scientific work by the fellow at a scholarly meeting.

Other Benefits

Ample desk space, lab coat, travel stipend and use of a computer terminal will be provided for the Fellowship year.
Proceeds from all clinical, consulting, and/or academic activities will be billed for and collected by MUSC/MUSC Physicians.
No moonlighting of any kind is permitted during Fellowship.
Application Requirements and Instructions are found on this website.
Completion of an ACGME approved US (or equivalent) training program in Urology or OB/GYN is mandatory.
Must attain an Unrestricted South Carolina medical license (to be applied for and paid for by successful applicant), a Federal DEA license, and a SC DHEC license.
Should supply a Letter of Interest from the applicant supported by 3 letters of recommendation.
A personal interview is preferred but not required. This may be arranged in Charleston or at the AUA or SUFU meetings.
MUSC does not participate in the FRMRS fellowship match program at this time.
The MUSC combined fellowship in female urology and urogynecology is not an ACGME accredited fellowship program.

Previous Fellows

2008-2009: Brett Lebed (Temple University)
2009-2010: Colin Goudelocke (Louisiana State University)
2010-2011: Alienor Gilchrist (Emory University)
2011-2012: Ahmed El-Zawahry (Asyut University, Egypt)
2012-2013: Kelly Johnson (Robert Wood Johnson Medical School)
2013-2014: Lara MacLachlan (Yale University)
2014-2015: Drew Freilich (Brown University)
2015-2016: Leah Chiles (Louisiana State University)
2016-2017: Lauren Rittenberg (Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine)
2017-2018: Jennifer Rolef (George Washington University)
2018-2019: Andrew Margules (Sidney Kimmel Medical College @ Thomas Jefferson University)
2019-2020: Caitlin Lim (Albert Einstein Medical Center)
2020-2021: Kevin Cwach (Carver College of Medicine)
2021-2022: Daniel Furlong (University of Miami)

To apply: Female Urology & Urogynecology Fellowship Application

For additional details or to send information please contact:

Eric Rovner, M.D.
rovnere@musc.edu
Professor of Urology
MUSC Department of Urology
96 Jonathan Lucas Street
MSC 620
Charleston, SC 29425
843-792-0212

Becky Kearns
kearnsb@musc.edu
MUSC Department of Urology
96 Jonathan Lucas Street
MSC 620
Charleston, SC 29425
843-792-4538