How to pass the ABOG Oral OB/GYN exam

[Diane L. Evans]

THE ABOG ORAL BOARDS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!!! http://passingyourobgynboards.com/
It was a long arduous process but I passed my oral OB/GYN Boards the first time! I know several others who haven't and some that lost their jobs because they were not board certified and frankly that scared me-- so much that I decided to see all available materials and attend most review courses available. Now I wouldn't recommend this for everyone it cost me a fortune! However I now feel I am one of the few people who can adequately comment on what's available and best help those in this forum.

Without ado I have several strategies that I used and would like to pass along

The first piece of advice I can give
DO NOT procrastinate!

-Get a full size calendar and outline when and what you'd like to study what materials you'll use. Get a partner to help keep you focused. I had several study partners and each had the exam a different month. When their exam was over they promised to help me out as well since I lucked out and had January!

-Get you case list done and reviewed its 50% of your exam and you control what you write. I recommend to have professional review your case list or at least a past board member... while a patient c vaginal agenesis may look good now it forces you to be an expert in mullerian anomalies as well as embryology.

-Go to a review course or at least buy the materials why try and invent the wheel? Companies have spent thousands of dollars and time preparing a course to cover all the topics.

- Start reviewing compendium articles now especially practice bulletins and committee opinions sign up to be a member if you are not already. Or buy the summaries from exampro. And that little red book we all used in residency its golden you have to know all that material but read the lastest bulletins when reviewing that book some things have changed such as fetal demise protocols ( don't do entire thrombophelia just anticardiolipin) as well as thrombophelia workup and treatments in pregnancy. ISBN: 978-0-9645467-7-6


-Find a summary of old exam questions whether its ABC or Dr. Das book, Exam pro summary of prior exam questions, Dr. Walls 5 star study guide or his intensive 1:3 ration of must pass study camps. These questions and sample case of the days are ESSENTIAL to help you pass. They let you prepare for the types of questions you will be asked.

How many people know how to preoperative manage a patient with a ball cage valve on warfarin who needs a hysterectomy? Well that was just one of my case of the days and if I hadn't used those materials I may not of know how to answer. And the answer simply isn't consult an internist... you need to know how to discontinue warfarin what factors it affects what step in the pathway and is that the intrinsic or extrinsic pathway doctor? How to reverse supra-physiologic doses and how to handle conversion to heparin. By the way what is the difference between HIT? Did you know there are 2 types... I didn't until I read these materials and yes I did need to know this detail!

I think that' s the scariest thing and the reason why some candidates who are great doctors fail because they don't know this kind of detail. I can say that I have only had 1 patient in the last 2 years need reversal of coumadin and I look it up each time but for this test you have to have it memorized.




Summary



1. Go to a review course whether it's :ABC, Columbus, Exampro, New Orleans OB/GYN board review, Osler, or University of California at Irvine Review of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology
http://americasboardreview.com
http://www.exampro.com
perinatalresources.org (very good CD of the 10 day course approx cost $200)
http://www.cmeinfo.com/store_temp/The_New_Orleans_Ob_Gyn_Board_Review__394.asp
http://www.memorialcare.org/pdf/che_ob_2009.pdf (562) 933-0100 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting**************(562) 933-0100******end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
www.osler.org


2. If you have a hard time dedicating time to study be creative..

a. Audio tapes-I bought an audio tape from the ABC course and decided that my music would just have to wait. I listened the board review tapes in the car in the gym, on my ipod, between patients, walking down the halls in the hospital and even before bed if I wasn't tired. Ok I have to admit I've fallen asleep listening as well-- whether or not that helped I don't know but I did all the urological procedures memorized prior to the test! The funny thing is I could actually hear Das and the other lectures in my head during the exam when the questions were asked.
http://americasboardreview.com/oral_exams/mock_orals_abog_oral.shtml

b. DVD's of the course- helped reinforce the content I used exam pro's course DVD as I went to his course as well. It helped me focus and move along the material in about 1/10th the time it would take me to read.
http://www.exampro.com/boards/obgyn-oral-boards.asp

c. On line study- Dr. Wall has a mock oral course that starts now and lasts 1 year. It starts out at 1 hr a day and includes case list review and topic presentations on hot topics and must know material. Its great to use for those with limited access to travel. However passive listening will not work you must be interactive if you don't understand something use a reference and look it up during the course on line or afterward.
http://www.obgynboardprep.com/mock.html

d. Compendiums review and outline these especially the older ones from 2000 i.e PMDD and PMS and Osteoporosis.
www.acog.org (publications tab)
http://www.exampro.com/boards/obgyn-oral-boards.asp

e. Case list review have yours professionally reviewed
http://americasboardreview.com
http://www.exampro.com
http://www.obgynboardprep.com

f. Mock orals a must telephone mocks are good for starters do these early to figure out how and what you need to focus but I would do at least 3 live orals. Most review course have them at their courses.


FINALLY...... I wish to let everyone know one thing... its not HOW MUCH YOU SPEND its how much TIME you dedicate into your education. You are the limiting factor... You've made it this far and I know you can go all the way and be successful in passing the orals..

In retrospect I looked at all the time I spend collecting my cases doing the surgeries compiling my lists taking time off to review and alienating myself from family getting and paying a housekeeper and childcare it added up to over $80K!

I wish each and everyone the best luck in their preparation please feel free to PM me with questions.


F.A.C.O.G

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[jvarga]

First of all congratulations on joining the ranks of the Board Certified's. Great recommendations there, but I have a couple that I believe you left out. I mentioned these on a separate thread a couple of years back so here they go again.
1. The best, most accessible, and cheapest form of help lies in your alma mater. Nobody knows your strengths and weaknesses better than your old mentors. Not to mention that they are usually more than happy to take the time to review, correct, and re-review your case list. Some may even be excellent mock Board Examiners that will do a better job than those courses you mentioned. I used Exampro, Wall, partners, and my old program during my preparations and I found my old program to be one of the most helpful in preparing me for the actual experience. However, Exampro and Wall definitely offered more help than any other source when considering the case list alone.
2. Although I agree with the "start now" approach, I know that basic human behavior will make most people (including myself) procrastinate. It is not detrimental to wait, but you will be increasing your stress and the likelihood of having mistakes on your case list. Just focus on getting as much as possible and try not to fret over lost time. Focus on the positives!
3. Don't forget to have a life! I can't tell you how important it is to still do things that make you happy. Studying (i.e. concentration) becomes difficult and inefficient if you are not mentally happy or relaxed. If you plan it right, you will have enough time to study and still make it to your kids soccer games, etc. However, the balance should always be in favor of studying. Finding creative ways to schedule study time is a must!
4. If you have the opportunity to talk with anyone who has failed the exam, try to do so as they can offer you excellent first hand advice on what not to do. Sometimes this can provide much more insight into the process than anyone who has passed.
5. Lastly, you don't need to spend $80K to pass. There is a popular saying that states that you will never regret spending money if you pass and that you will regret not spending more if you failed. With this saying in mind, I have seen many people pay obscene amounts of money, when they could have easily spent one half and done just fine. However, all I could say is do what you think you need to do and that will do just fine. Preparation costs are indeed (for the most part) tax-deductible expenses.
All in all this experience was entirely miserable, but no feeling can match that which you will feel when you pass the exam on your first try!

 

[Diane L. Evans]

I totally agree and thanks for the additional comments.

I did find a few past board examiners that really helped clue into what to expect and this was by far more helpful than any course i took.

In addition I did use the advice of those that failed past exams--the most common feedback i recived was to get a board review course and review it often. Repetition being the key no matter what source you used. And also to review practice bulletins. And to take mock orals

Looking back i also agree that you need to "have a life" midway through my preparation I joined an exercise class to de-stress and meet others.

Lastly yes the process is one that many will choose never to repeat. I hope that our combined comments can help those now studying to excel.

 

[Diane L. Evans]

A guarantee way to pass--Take a case list review course! Remember your case list is 50% of your exam. Several great courses exist. A case list review course saves you $250-400 over a independent review. I have seen too many people fail simply because they didn't know how to defend their case list. I welcome questions by personal message.