Introduction:

Welcome to Yakima! We look forward to making your OB/GYN rotation an interesting and varied educational clerkship. At the same time, we want to encourage you to experience all of the recreational and cultural opportunities that abound in the Yakima Valley.

Contact:

Clinical Coordinator: Roger B. Rowles, MD, FACOG
Office phone number: (509) 453-7109
Cell phone number: (509) 952-2574
Fax number: (509) 453-3659
E-mail address: rrowlesmd@cwhealth.net

Administrative Coordinator:

Elizabeth Brons
Office phone number: (509) 453-7109
3003 Tieton Drive Suite 240
Yakima, WA 98902

Clinical Faculty:

There are four board-certified Ob/Gyn physicians participating in the WWAMI program. During your six-week rotation, you will be assigned to two of these physicians, and will see patients in their offices approximately four half-days per week. You will be expected to go to surgery with your preceptors, and to participate in deliveries done by your preceptors. You will make one or two presentations weekly to your preceptors.

Hospitals:

There are two hospitals in Yakima, but Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital (YVMH) is where all the obstetrics and almost all of the gynecology is done. There is a small study room with appropriate textbooks on the Labor and Delivery suite at YVMH. Additionally, there is a lounge in this same area, shared by students and family practice residents, with adjoining sleeping rooms. A large medical library is located on the first floor of YVMH.

Call:

Your preceptor will determine your call. In general, you will be expected to take call when your preceptor is on call, and to follow your preceptor’s schedule. Most preceptors take obstetric call on their own patients every day of the week, and on alternate weekends. You will be on call two weekends during the six week rotation.

Housing and Meals:

A furnished one bedroom apartment is provided close to YVMH. Linens and dishes are provided, but you will need to provide personal items. Telephone service is not provided at the apartment, so bring a cell phone. You will also be provided a pager while in Yakima. There is a computer in the apartment with Internet access. There is a washer and dryer in the apartment. Meals are not provided, but the cafeteria food is inexpensive and good.

Transportation:

A personal automobile is required, as transportation is not provided.

Educational Conferences:

There are four educational conferences each month. These include Fetal Monitor Strip Review, M&M Conferences in both Obstetrics and Gynecology, and a Grand Rounds presentation by the University of Washington Department of Perinatology, held in Yakima. These conferences are held Friday mornings. Two Fridays per month, a noon conference is also held in conjunction with the high-risk perinatal clinic, staffed by the University of Washington Perinatologists.

Monday thru Thursday, there is an informal OB didactic conference in labor and delivery, reviewing OB cases or discussing specific OB topics.

In addition to these conferences, there are several "mini-tutorials" offered by several of the OB/GYNs, a lactation specialist, and a social worker. You will be responsible for arranging these 20 to 30 minutes sessions at a mutually convenient time. There is also a CD library on pertinent OB/GYN topics.

Other Educational Opportunities:

During your six-week clerkship, you will spend two sessions with a genetic counselor and time in an obstetric ultrasound clinic. Community clinical experiences will include an afternoon at Planned Parenthood, and a full day at the Yakima Valley Farm Workers OB/GYN clinic in nearby Toppenish.

Activities:

During your stay, you will have a membership at the Yakima Athletic Club (tennis, swimming, weights, exercise machines), which is one mile from YVMH. Yakima is also a great place for biking, running, and golf most months of the year, and there is skiing at nearby White Pass in the winter months.

Yakima is situated in the middle of wine country and many winery tours are available. There are also cultural opportunities in the Hispanic and the Native American centers.

Check-In:

You will typically arrive in Yakima on Monday evening, following an orientation at the University. Plan to arrive around 6:00 pm. The drive to Yakima takes 2 1/2 hours. Stay on I-82 until you reach the downtown exit (33). As you exit, stay to the right and follow the signs to downtown Yakima. You will be on Yakima Avenue. Continue west on Yakima Avenue, through the downtown area, until you reach 28th Avenue. Go left on 28th Avenue and continue for 2 1/2 blocks. The hospital and parking lots which will be on your right. Park in any lot, enter the hospital, and take the main elevators to Labor and Delivery on the 4th floor. Ask the receptionist to page Dr. Rowles. That evening you will check into the apartment. The following morning, your preceptor will orient you and provide you with your written schedule for the following six-weeks.

Again, we welcome you to Yakima, and hope that your experience here will prompt a return to our valley in the future.