About Loyola’s Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship
Loyola University Medical Center is a major perinatal referral center for Illinois and a state‑designated Level III perinatal center recognized by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The MFM fellowship offers rigorous, comprehensive training in high‑risk obstetrics, providing fellows with broad exposure to complex maternal, fetal, and placental conditions within a diverse and medically underserved patient population.
Fellows train in a high‑acuity clinical environment with integrated inpatient, consultative, and ambulatory experiences, working closely within a multidisciplinary team that includes neonatology, pediatric subspecialists, anesthesia, genetics, nursing leadership, and social services. This collaborative model supports advanced clinical decision‑making and prepares fellows for leadership roles in medicine and complex clinical practice.
The program provides strong training in invasive procedures and advanced obstetric ultrasound, emphasizing graduated autonomy under dedicated faculty mentorship. Our core curriculua are based on ACGME milestones and ABOG objectives. Coupled with meaningful opportunities in teaching, research, and quality improvement, Loyola offers a supportive academic environment focused on professional development, intellectual growth, and career preparedness, all just minutes from downtown Chicago.
Program Quick Facts
- Length of Training: Three Years
- In-House Call: averages about less than 5 per year. All in-house call is compensated.
- Program Accreditation Date: July 2017
- Training Sites: Loyola University Medical Center (Maywood, IL), MacNeal Hospital (Berwyn, IL)
Living in Chicagoland
Located in Maywood, Loyola University Medical Center offers the advantage of training just minutes from downtown Chicago while avoiding the congestion of an urban core. With easy access to the city via major highways and public transportation, fellows can enjoy Chicago’s vibrant cultural, culinary, and recreational offerings while working in a close-knit academic medical community. This balance allows trainees to experience the full benefits of a major metropolitan area alongside a supportive and collegial training environment.
In addition to daily bedside teaching, the Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship offers a structured and comprehensive educational curriculum that integrates basic science, clinical medicine, and evidence‑based practice. Educational content is aligned with ACGME and ABOG expectations and is designed to prepare fellows for independent clinical practice as well as successful completion of the subspecialty board examination. Fellows are expected to attend faculty‑led conferences and actively participate in discussion.
Educational Conferences and Didactics
Specific educational activities are organized to maximize the fellowship educational opportunity:
- Weekly MFM fellow didactics
- Biweekly SMFM fellow lecture series
- Monthly MFM journal club
- Monthly multidisciplinary perinatal conference (includes MFM, neonatology, pediatric cardiology, pediatric surgery, anesthesiology, genetics, nursing, among others)
- Monthly maternal cardio-OB conference
- Monthly ultrasound lecture series
- Monthly MFM research meeting
- Monthly MFM perinatal morbidity and mortality conference (joint MFM and neonatology)
- Monthly department of Obstetrics and Gynecology morbidity and mortality conference
- Weekly department of Obstetrics and Gynecology grand rounds
- Quarterly Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology journal club
Duty hours
The program complies fully with all ACGME requirements regarding duty hours. All MFM call is home call. There is in-house laborist call that is well-compensated, which averages out to about 5 per year. We emphasize educational activities over service.
Loyola MFM fellowship block schedule
Year 1 (PGY‑5)
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Rotation
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Time
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Research
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7 months
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MFM Service
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5 months
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Ultrasound / Genetics
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1 month
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ICU
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1 month
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Elective
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0.5 month
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Labor & Delivery
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0.5 month
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Year 2 (PGY‑6)
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Rotation
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Time
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|
Research
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3 months
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MFM Service
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4 months
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Ultrasound
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2 months
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Labor & Delivery
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1 month
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Elective
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2 months
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Year 3 (PGY‑7)
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Rotation
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Time
|
|
Research
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5 months
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Ultrasound
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2 months
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MFM Service
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2 months
|
|
Elective
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2 months
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|
Genetics
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1 month
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|
Labor & Delivery
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0.5 month
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Electives
The options for electives are varied and depending on the fellow’s interests. Here is a sample of electives fellows have opted for in the past:
- Fetal intervention
- Pediatric cardiology
- Rheumatology
- Endocrinology
- Medical genetics
Any of the above required rotations can be done as elective, including additional research.
There is also the option for outside electives on a case-by-case basis.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program Research
The maternal-fetal medicine division, as well as the department of Ob/Gyn, place a high value on research and scholarship and encourage fellows development in this area. MFM fellows have 15 months of protected research time.
To prepare for academic careers as independent clinical scientists in women’s health care and maternal-fetal medicine, we require fellows to acquire the following clinical research skills:
- Ability to critically analyze and review the literature.
- Ability to develop testable hypotheses.
- Ability to design clinical trials to test scientific hypotheses and treatment outcomes.
- Ability to write competitive research proposals and grants.
- Ability to disseminate scientific results in both written and oral forms.
- Understanding of interdisciplinary approaches to research in maternal-fetal medicine.
Overview of Research and Thesis Requirements/Objectives Prior to Graduation:
- Complete one primary thesis research project with submission to an appropriate national or international meeting (must be approved by the program director)
- Completion of a manuscript with submission for publication to a peer-reviewed journal
- Prepare and defend a written thesis.
- Present research at the departmental research day prior to graduation.
- There is an option to obtain additional research-related credentialing certificates through Loyola University Chicago.
- Fellows typically publish at least one first author manuscript and present regularly at Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Society for Reproductive Investigation meetings.
List of Alumni and Current Fellows’ Thesis Projects
Emily Holthaus MD: Characterization of the urobiome in the third trimester of pregnancy
Namisha Dhillon MD: Reducing contamination of voided urine specimens in an obstetric population: a randomized controlled trial of the Peezy device compared to midstream clean catch
Ruby Minhas MD: The role of low PAPP-A in assessing hypertension outcomes for maternal risk stratification
Nuong Truong MD: Postpartum Implications of Screening for Social Determinants of Health at the Time of Delivery
Julianna Sung MD: Maternal Urinary Microbiome
Stephanie Rodriguez MD: Maternal Pre-delivery white blood cell count as predictor of chorioamnionitis
Kathryn Patton MD: APT: Assessing the urinary microbiome in patients admitted for preterm labor
Erika Hripko MD: Evaluation of birth experience satisfaction associated with creation of a birth plan: a randomized controlled trial
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program Benefits
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability
- Supplemental retirement annuities
- Worker’s compensation
- Parking
- Reimbursement accounts
- Stipend for travel to the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and or the Society for Reproductive Investigation annually
- Additional stipends for presentations and/or educational meetings are determined on a case-by-case basis
- Loyola Center for Fitness resident/fellow membership discount
Education Fund: Benefits Unique to MFM fellows
In addition to Loyola GME-provided fellows funds for scientific conferences, the Division supports full funding and clinical coverage for the following:
- SMFM Advanced Techniques in Needlework course at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
- Gottesfeld-Hohler Memorial Foundation (GOHO) ultrasound conference.
- First year MFM fellow retreat.
- Loyola MFM hands-on invasive procedures simulation are done 3 times per year.
- $1000 worth of physical MFM and Ultrasound textbooks, given at the start of fellowship.
- Annual membership for SMFM for the duration of the fellowship.
Fellows in the program will be provided with the following resources:
- Full statistical support for their projects
- Access to apply to internal research grants
- Funded trips for presentation at national meetings
Fellows not only have every opportunity to learn, but also to educate and mentor the future generations of students and trainees.
Well-being resources
Benefits, salary and more
For the most up to date trainee handbook and updated benefits, please visit the Loyola GME website:
https://www.loyolamedicine.org/gme/current-housestaff
For salary, benefits and sample contract, please visit:
https://www.loyolamedicine.org/gme/incoming-housestaff
