MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH FELLOWSHIP

The Santa Paula Maternal-Child Health Fellowship’s goal is to augment the training of family physicians with an interest in working in physician shortage areas or internationally, where care of women and children is often one of the primary medical needs. We focus on empowering women to have the kind of birth they imagine for themselves and downplay the medicalization of the birthing process.

The fellowship is based at Santa Paula Hospital, a 40-bed satellite hospital of VCMC, 15 miles east of Ventura.

BACKGROUND

The core curriculum consists of providing obstetric and pediatric care for the area's patient population, which consists largely of Latino and migrant workers.

CURRICULUM

Skills and experience in which the fellow can expect to obtain proficiency include the following:

Obstetrics:

Prenatal care for low-and high-risk pregnancies
Vaginal deliveries, including operative
Primary and repeat Cesarean sections
Ob ultrasound
Postpartum tubal ligation
Repair of 2nd through 4th degree vaginal lacerations
External cephalic versions
ALSO instructor certification

Gynecology:

Common outpatient gyn conditions
Gynecologic admissions at Santa Paula Hospital
Contraception (including IUDs and implants)
Colposcopy and LEEP

Pediatrics:

Outpatient and inpatient pediatric care
Neonatal resuscitations
Care of infants admitted to the NICU at VCMC
NRP instructor certification

Optional:

Surgical and medical abortions (through Planned Parenthood)
Vasectomies (through Planned Parenthood)
Care of HIV/AIDS patients (with AAHIVM provider certification)
Inpatient or emergency medicine moonlighting opportunities at VCMC
Abundant teaching opportunities, including journal clubs, weekly peds and Ob teaching conferences, resident teaching conferences, and VCMC grand rounds

Eligibility Requirements

Due to our transition to the 4-year Advancing Innovation in Residency Education (AIRE) program only internal candidates will be considered for the 2026-2027 academic year and beyond.