On behalf of the Faculty of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the UCLA Center for the Health Sciences, we welcome you to this site devoted to providing you with detailed information about our programs in women's health. We welcome your interest in our programs, and look forward to serving your needs.

Since 1997, UCLA has been designated a National Center of Excellence in Women's Health by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one of only thirteen centers nationwide and two in the west. This distinction recognizes UCLA as a model for women's health care, uniting research, clinical care, medical training, public health education, and the promotion of women medical professionals around a common mission in the country. Our Faculty is composed of an ethnically diverse and talented group of physicians and scientists who have been successful and productive in many areas within the field. We have a state-of-the-art facility at one of the nation's top ranked public universities and have substantial teaching, clinical, and research activities.

The Faculty consider the Residents and Fellows to be the most precious asset of the Department, as it is these trainees who inspire and stimulate the Faculty in their clinical teaching and creative activities. There is, therefore, a strong focus on the active involvement of Faculty in daily teaching of Residents and Fellows within the Department. Many of our residency graduates go on to pursue subspecialty training and academic careers, while others elect to go into private clinical practice. Our Faculty also teach medical students, both in the basic sciences during their first two years of training, and clinically during their mandatory six-week clerkship and other sub-internship electives during their 3rd and 4th years. As part of our academic mission we host an ongoing series of conferences related to women's health, such as our weekly Grand Rounds in Obstetrics and Gynecology, our annual UCLA/Harbor Obstetrics and Gynecology Alumni Collegium and our Resident's Day Research Presentations. These conferences are open to students, Faculty and the UCLA and medical communities.

Over the years, we have trained many of the best physicians and researchers in our specialty, with our programs being consistently ranked as some of the best in the nation. We have strong affiliations with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, King-Drew Medical Center, Harbor/UCLA Medical Center, UCLA/Santa Monica Hospital and Olive-View/UCLA Medical Center allowing us to collaborate on the research, clinical, and teaching activities related to our Residency Program in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellowship Program, Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program. This offers our trainees the opportunity to experience a rigorous program of study in one of the most diverse and dynamic regions of the country. The chairs of the respective affiliates are also vice chairs of the Department.

In order to teach concepts related to international health and broaden the experience of our Resident trainees, our rotation in Eritrea commenced in October of 2004. Based on our Department's experience with this patient population and observation of their existing problems and pathology, this Resident elective rotation involves advanced gynecologic surgery including fistula repairs, uterine prolapse as well as complicated deliveries, including forceps and cesarean hysterectomy, when appropriate. The Residents and Faculty are enthusiastic about this new opportunity to learn about, and contribute to, healthcare in the developing world.

We are also pleased to participate in the UCLA STAR (Specialty Training and Advanced Research) Program, which is committed to training physician-scientists. This program offers the opportunity for Residents and Fellows to combine their clinical training with advanced research training, with participants usually going on to complete a Ph.D in basic sciences, or a Master's in Clinical Research. Recognizing a need for more researchers within the field of women's health, this program is vital to our Department's commitment to producing promising young physician-scientists. The Women's Reproductive Health Research Center (WRHRC) and Bridging Interactive Research Center for Women's Health (BIRCWH) grants are available for our clinician-scholars pursuing further research training.

The Department's clinical activities are currently carried out in the Ronald Reagan Medical Center. The Faculty is committed to providing the best care possible for women's health care, including the safest and most effective treatments in gynecologic oncology, high-risk obstetrics, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, pregnancy terminations, fertility management, maternal/fetal health, menopause, osteoporosis, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD, formerly known as PMS), pelvic pain, and psychiatric issues.

We have a unique specialization in the areas of PMDD and pelvic pain; both conditions that are typically treated by neurologists and psychiatrists, not gynecologists. The Department's Pelvic Pain Clinic, one of the few in the nation, combines the disciplines of gynecology, psychology, physical therapy, anesthesiology, and alternative medicine to help the estimated 12% of women who have chronic pelvic pain.

A new specialty, the Center for Reproductive Health focuses on the provision of medical and surgical options to patients seeking pregnancy termination, fertility management, and family planning, including state of the art contraceptive services for fertility control and sterilization. Further, the Center provides advanced fertility control for women with complex medical conditions. Through the Center's services, Residents gain expertise in the provision of consultation to other medical specialties regarding reproductive health of the medically complex patient.

Our Faculty also participate in a wide-array of cutting-edge research in clinical obstetrics and gynecology, public health and basic sciences. Clinical trials by the department have focused on areas including female hormones and heart disease, infertility, fetal physiology, early detection and prevention of women's cancers, premenstrual symptoms, family planning, contraception, pregnancy termination, and pelvic pain. We are also Principal Investigators in the Women's Health Initiative and the Gynecologic Oncology Group research studies. Some of our Faculty have joint appointments with the School of Public Health, and are pursuing research related to epidemiologic and preventive aspects of maternal and child health, and to the field of contraception. Basic science research areas by Faculty include immunology, pharmacology, cell signaling, breast cancer biology, cardiovascular function, gastro-intestinal physiology, HIV pathogenesis, and neuroscience. We rank 7th in National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding, with our patients benefiting from research findings being quickly translated into treatment. We are committed to providing the highest level of patient care, pursuing the latest avenues in clinical and laboratory research, and providing outstanding training to the next generation of physicians and physician-scientists. Our Department consistently ranks amongst the top five in the country and we are proud of our accomplishments and the diversity of our programs.

We hope that you find this website helpful in meeting your needs and answering your questions. Should you have any questions or concerns that are not addressed here, please feel free to forward them to kbailey@mednet.ucla.edu.

Gautam Chaudhuri, M.D. , Ph.D.
Professor and Executive Chair
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Professor, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology