Course Summaries - Preparing for the AOBOG Clinical Exam

April 13-17, 2011 ★ September 14-18, 2011 ★ November 16-20, 2011

Course Summary

Day ONE

OK, let's just get right to business and start with PRIMARY CARE (hey, at least it will be done). This topic has received overwhelmingly bitter complaints from recent oral and written board candidates. Most residency programs and board review courses admittedly are the weakest in this area. ABC boasts to the contrary, that this is one of our greatest strengths, thanks to our primary care lecturer. Testimonials from past participants rave that they were exceptionally prepared.

Topics include Thyroid disease, Pulmonary disease, Hypertension, Dyslipidemia, Diabetes, Gastrointestinal disease, Obesity, Headache, Smoking Cessation, Cardiovascular disease, Mood disorders. Perioperative Medical Dilemmas will walk you through a patient having a "bad hair day" to say the least; better our lecturer than you on the day of your test. Finally, Medical Complications of Pregnancy perfectly complements the OB lectures.

Each of today's lectures ended with written exam questions. Are you feeling a little rusty? We will get out the 10W40 and start our optional evening session with tips for the Written Exam. ABC has worked hand-in-hand with education specialists, Martin & Jane Jolley. Unlike other courses that simply give you mock written exams, we show you how to trouble shoot your weaknesses and better yet, how to correct them. This is a must for those taking their ABOG and AOBOG Written Boards Part I or their recertification MOC or OCC Boards. If after the session you realize you need a more in depth instruction, or even evaluation of your test taking skills, sign up now for the Jolley's intense four hour workshop.

For those of y'all taking you oral exam, come back for a night cap. Dr. Krishna Das, author of The Oral OB/GYN Board Exam, the best selling "must" for anyone taking the oral exam, will review the content and format of the exam. Although essentially "mandatory" for those of you taking your oral exam, it would be "good for you" even if you're taking your written exam to see what's down the pipe. You really don't want to be blindsided walking into this test. Forewarned is forearmed.

OK, now you know that half of your oral board exam is spent defending your case list. A well constructed case list is a LOT easier to defend. We will give the basics on how to construct your case list. Again this is essentially "mandatory" for those of you taking your ABOG oral exam, but quite enlightening for those of you taking your written exam. Make sure to bring your case list!

Day TWO

Whew, glad we got that primary care over with yesterday. Let's get back into our comfort zone. We've got just the one to perk you up. ABC will totally spoon feed you with what you need to know for those dreadful topics of Sexual Dysfunction, Intimate Partner Violence, and Sexual Assault. We'll then shift to those every day, but commonly asked topics of Menopause, Osteoporosis, Preventative Care and Contraception. We will give the CDC and ACOG perspective of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, which are always on the test.

OK, now that you're all warmed up, time to get back out of your comfort zone again and tackle REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY & INFERTILITY. ABC will make those uncommon, yet greatly emphasized test topics of Amenorrhea, Normal/Precocious/Delayed Puberty, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, and Prolactin disorders seem like a piece of cake. Speaking of which, we will then make those bread and butter REI topics of Androgen Disorders, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, Ectopic Pregnancy, and Endometriosis seem second nature. Finally, the icing on the cake, will be reviewing the basics of Infertility and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss -- this is after all, the general boards.

For those who prefer the perfect wake-up or nightcap, sit one-on-one with one of the ABC faculty to have a private mock oral exam, review your case list, or have a Structured Case. These services are offered all day. If you have to miss a lecture to take a service, we'll give you a FREE DVD of the lecture you missed!

Day THREE

What better topic to get us over the hump, then ONCOLOGY? OK, so you're not convinced, but ABC has a way of making it seem so easy. We will lecture on Ovarian, Uterine, Vulvar, Vaginal, Skin, Cervical and Breast Cancer. Additonally, Evaluation of Abnormal Pap Smears, Cervical cancer, Gestational Trophoblastic Disease and Radiation and Chemotherapy. We will also address those high yield exam topics of such surgical complications as Thromboembolism, Post op Fever, Wound Healing Complications, Abdominal Incisions, Blood Component Therapy, and Laparoscopy Complications.

Heaven forbid we end too early, especially given yesterday's marathon session. We will sneak in two last topics; GI tract and nerve injuries. These are high yield topics, so you'll end the day on a high note.

Optional Workshop

Written Test Taking Skills Workshop
for those taking their ABOG WRITTEN exam

ABC is honored to align with Martin and Jane Jolley, who are educators that are internationally recognized for their expertise in coaching for standardized testing. They have created a four hour workshop just for those taking their written boards. This workshop will help you identify possible error patterns in your processing of questions as well as help you develop a logical, systematic and thoughtful method for answering questions in timely fashion. They will also address other concerns such as reading difficulties and test taking anxieties. At the conclusion of the workshop, you will have a focused strategy for answering questions and a method for monitoring your test-taking accuracy.

For those of you taking your AOBOG clinical exams, bring your carry out dinner for fine dining as Dr. Krishna Das covers every one, yes every single one, of the ten core topics. If you are taking your ABOG oral exams, we suggest you tag onto your osteopathic colleague's coat-tails. Think about it -- if AOBOG has to chose only 10 out of ALL the OB/GYN topics, you can bet these are high yield topics to cover for your ABOG exam too.

It's been a long day, but stroll in after a relaxing dinner for one of our most popular sessions, Verizon Case list Construction. Here you get to present your toughest case and collectively we'll figure out the most strategic way to word it on your case list. Amazing how easily we can solve these dilemmas, especially after a nightcap.

Day FOUR

You've been waiting all week and finally it's time for OBSTETRICS. The specific topics will include Prenatal testing/Preconception counseling, Gestational HTN, Ultrasound, Gestational Diabetes, Growth Disorders. We will also review Infections, Isoimmunization, Multiple Gestation, Labor Induction, Pre-term Labor, Post dates, PROM and VBAC.

Next we will cover the Obstetrical Emergencies of Shoulder Dystocia, Breech Delivery, and Postpartum Hemorrhage. We'll throw in Cesarean Delivery under Local Anesthesia and Amniotic Fluid Embolus just to go out with a bang.

Exhausted after four intense days? Let's put it all together and have fun too with our seminar, Are You Smarter Than A Board Examiner? This hilarious game, which is modeled after the TV game show Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? gives a whole new dimension on preparing for your written board exam. Your game show hostess is DR. MIKI TAKASE-SANCHEZ. This fun-filled game challenges you on board-formatted written exam questions, as well as clinical applications to structured cases. It will certainly challenge your written test taking skills, as well as help you identify your strengths and weaknesses for various topics to channel your studying. At the end, Dr. Takase-Sanchez will give you the exam questions and an answer key with a narrative explanation of the answers. We strongly encourage you to bring your friends, as you may need to choose a lifeline or cheat. Who knew studying for OB/GYN could be so fun?!

Day FIVE

OK, you have to admit that last night's Are You Smarter Than A Board Examiner? was a blast. Now it's time for more fun with UROGYNECOLOGY. Of course it helps if you first have a refresher on Surgical Anatomy. Everyone must know Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse. You can't be board certified if you don't know how to recognize and manage Ureteral and Bladder Injuries, as well as Fistulae. We will at last get you comfortable with Interstitial Cystitis. Finally we will conclude with Episiotomy Complications and 4th degree Extension, which has made a resurgence on the exam the last couple of years.

We will adjourn at lunch time so you can catch your afternoon flight. Please call our office at 877-222-6249 for the exact time that lectures end as it will vary by course date.