UNC Health has announced the launch of what it says is the nation’s first Obstetrics and Gynecology Fellowship focused on rural women’s health. The new program, developed by the UNC School of Medicine, aims to train physicians to provide care in rural areas and improve access for women living in North Carolina’s “maternity care deserts.”
Dr. Kavita Arora, Director of the UNC Rural Obstetrics and Gynecology Fellowship, said, “Early and regular prenatal care is critical for reducing the risks of pregnancy and birth complications. More than half of the women in rural North Carolina live more than 30 minutes away from a birthing hospital. That’s more than twice the distance compared to urban areas in the state. Our new OBGYN fellowship is a big step in the right direction to close that gap.”
The two-year fellowship will be based at UNC Health Rockingham in Eden, N.C., serving Rockingham, Guilford, Caswell, Pittsylvania, and Henry counties; and at UNC Health Lenoir in Kinston, N.C., serving Lenoir, Greene, and Jones counties. The program splits time evenly between clinical practice and non-clinical academic work.
Dr. Sachin Gupta, CMO for UNC Physicians Network, described the scope of training: “From office-based prenatal care to labor and delivery to gynecologic surgery, our medical fellows will provide hands-on care with patients as well as work on career development goals like quality training, healthcare finances, executive healthcare leadership development and research. They can also tap into the unparalleled resources offered within the UNC Health infrastructure across the state.”
The fellowship aims not only to prepare graduates for clinical work but also to support their growth as leaders in rural health settings through tailored professional development during non-clinical time.
Applications are now being accepted for this new program. Interviews and selections will be conducted on a rolling basis. Further details about requirements and how to apply are available at www.med.unc.edu/obgyn/education/fellowship/unc-rural-obstetrics-and-gynecology-fellowship.
UNC Health is part of the University of North Carolina system with 20 hospitals and over 900 clinics statewide.
