Clinical Training and Curriculum

The Henry Ford Health Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship is a three-year, ACGME-accredited program based at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Our curriculum is designed to fulfill all requirements set forth by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) for subspecialty certification in Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The program provides comprehensive training in high-risk obstetrics, prenatal diagnosis, obstetric ultrasound, genetics and genomics, obstetric critical care, and scholarly research—preparing fellows for careers in academic medicine or clinical practice.

The schedule is structured to meet or exceed all ABOG time-allocation requirements, including 18 months of core clinical experience, 12 months of protected research time, and 6 months of elective and supplementary rotations. Each fellow's schedule may be adjusted based on individual research interests and career goals in collaboration with the Program Director.

Year By Year Curriculum

First Year (PGY-5): Clinical Foundation

The first year establishes a strong clinical foundation in maternal-fetal medicine. Fellows begin with antepartum rotations, gaining intensive experience managing high-risk pregnancies in both outpatient and inpatient settings, with approximately 60% of time dedicated to outpatient care. Fellows then rotate through Labor & Delivery in a supervisory capacity, working alongside and supervising the resident team under the direct supervision of faculty. The year is anchored by seven blocks of dedicated obstetric ultrasound training, during which fellows develop proficiency in basic, detailed, and targeted fetal imaging—including biometry, fetal anatomy surveys, and assessment of fetal well-being. Two blocks of protected research time introduce the fellow to the scholarly environment and allow them to begin their thesis project.

Second Year (PGY-6): Research & Subspecialty Depth

The second year is research-intensive, with eight blocks of protected research time allowing fellows to make significant progress on their thesis. Fellows also complete a supervisory block on Labor & Delivery, two blocks of Genetics & Genomics (covering prenatal genetic counseling, non-invasive prenatal testing, diagnostic testing, and genetic consultation), one block in the Heart Failure/Transplant ICU to fulfill the ABOG critical care requirement, and one block of Fetal Echocardiography at Children's Hospital of Michigan. This year deepens the fellow's expertise across the full breadth of the subspecialty while allowing maximal research productivity.

Third Year (PGY-7): Advanced Skills & Career Preparation

The third year offers additional ultrasound training (four blocks) to ensure mastery in prenatal imaging, along with six blocks of continued protected research time for thesis completion and defense. Three elective blocks provide flexibility for fellows to pursue focused interests in areas such as fetal intervention, placental pathology, quality improvement, simulation-based education, global health, or other topics at the discretion of the fellow and Program Director. The longitudinal MFM clinic continues throughout all three years (one day per week), providing substantial continuity care experience totaling approximately 7.6 months.