What is MFM Fellowship?
The maternal-fetal medicine fellowship trains OB-GYN physicians to serve as professional healthcare advocates for all pregnant individuals and function as collaborative consultants to general OB-GYNs and other healthcare providers in the management of complicated pregnancies. The Society supports Fellows through educational programs and funding for specialized research and clinical experiences. We welcome first-year fellows to the Society at our annual First Year Fellows Workshop and Retreat each fall, which brings together veteran MFM specialists and our newest members.
The maternal-fetal medicine fellowship trains OB-GYN physicians to serve as professional healthcare advocates for all pregnant individuals and function as collaborative consultants to general OB-GYNs and other healthcare providers in the management of complicated pregnancies. The Society supports Fellows through educational programs and funding for specialized research and clinical experiences. We welcome first-year fellows to the Society at our annual First Year Fellows Workshop and Retreat each fall, which brings together veteran MFM specialists and our newest members.
Resources for MFM Fellows
A signal is a way for you to show interest in a specific Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) fellowship program at the time of application in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) system.
MFM applicants will get 10 signals in the 2025 ERAS application season. A signal allows you to be more specific than a geographic region preference. For example, you may want to be at a specific program in New York City, but not at any program in New York State. Program signals provide the opportunity to express sincere interest to individual programs.
Signals have been used in other specialties – including OBGYN. The implementation of signaling has decreased the number of applications required to match and decreased costs to applicants. Though signals increase an applicant’s chance of getting an interview, it does not guarantee it.
No. Signals are only used in the application phase of the process to signify interest. They should not be used to help programs compose their rank list.
Experience from other specialties show that the likelihood of obtaining an interview without an application signal is significantly less than when a signal is provided to a program. Different program directors may use signals in different ways and most programs are likely to give preference to applicants who signal them.
There are no evidence-based strategies to how you should use your signals. Applicants should use all their allotted signals (10) and consider programs where you have a strong interest and a reasonable chance of matching. Some experts recommend using all of your signals at your top choices while others recommend a rule of thirds. Applicants are encouraged to work with their local mentors to determine where to send their signals.
In general, yes! If an applicant is interested in their home program, they should signal them. Discuss with your program director at your home program, if applicable, to determine their preference.
Signals help ensure that applicants, regardless of their background or connections, have an equal opportunity to demonstrate interest in a program. A signal takes it out of the hands of ‘who knows who’ and makes communication directly between the applicant and the director.
The MFM First-Year Fellow Bootcamp will officially launch on August 21, 2024 and consist of 4 modules with a broad overview of topics from the ABOG MFM Blueprint Guide to Learning.
Fellow Bootcamp Part 1 - Nuts and Bolts of ACGME, ABOG, SMFM, board certification: August 21, 2024
Fellow Bootcamp Part 2 - Intro to Research and Research Resources: September 18, 2024
Fellow Bootcamp Part 3 - The Detailed Anatomy Scan and Ultrasound Resources: October 2, 2024
Fellow Bootcamp Part 4 - Amniocentesis Simulation: November 6, 2024
The MFM SLOE was designed by the MFM Fellowship affairs committee and approved by the SMFM Board, with the goal of evaluating the key traits important for a successful MFM fellow and MFM provider.
Resources for Fellowship Directors
Program Signaling FAQ for MFM Program Directors
Program signals are intended to be used by programs as one of the many data points in deciding whom to invite to interview. Download the program signaling FAQ to learn more.
Additional Program Directors Resources
Find resources shared at the Program Directors Business Meeting and a link for how you can update your program listing with SMFM in the Fellowship Directory.