Why Family Medicine Obstetrics?

To put it simply, the United States is currently experiencing a shortage of obstetric providers, which is becoming more severe with each passing day. According to a recent report by the March of Dimes, there has been an increase in the number of women who live in areas with limited access to maternity care. This is particularly true in the Midwest, including Missouri. While this is a serious problem, there is hope. Family Medicine doctors are incredibly important when it comes to providing obstetric services, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of Family Medicine residents choose to practice obstetrics after graduation. However, by offering excellent training opportunities in obstetrics, CoxHealth Family Medicine Residency hopes to reverse this trend and ensure that more Family Physicians are equipped with the skills and knowledge to provide high-quality pregnancy care in communities that need it the most.

Why CoxHealth FMOB Fellowship?

CoxHealth is a referral center for the Southwest Missouri region that performs 3,300 deliveries per year. We have in-house OB hospitalists and specialists in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Gyn/Oncology, and Neonatology. As an unopposed training site, our Family Medicine-Obstetrics Fellowship offers high acuity, high-volume training. Our fellow can expect to work significantly one-on-one with our OB Hospitalist group in the OBED and will perform at least 100-150 primary cesarean sections during their training. The fellowship experience will be tailored to the interests of our fellow and can also include training in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, colposcopy/LEEP, Gyn/Oncology, outpatient Women’s Health, obstetric ultrasound, NICU care, neonatal resuscitation, and Family Medicine continuity clinic. We have six FMOB faculty with C-section privileges, two OB/GYNs, and one Women’s Health NP on faculty. We also have many private practice OB/GYNs to learn from. Our FMOB Fellow will serve rotationally as junior faculty supervising our 30 outstanding Family Medicine residents who provide prenatal care and deliver babies from our residency clinic and partnering FQHC, many of whom are underserved and marginalized. You will find the CoxHealth FMOB Fellowship, faculty and residents incredibly supportive, engaging, and fun as you continue on your professional journey.

CoxHealth’s FMOB Fellowship is recognized by the Board of Certification in Family Medicine Obstetrics (BCFMO). Fellows who complete this program are eligible for the BCFMO Board Certification process.

2024 - 2025 CoxHealth Fellows

Kavita Sambharam, MD

Katelyn Smith, DO

2024-2025 Salary and Benefits

Salary: $68,000
Vacation: 26 days, including holidays
CME: four days and $1,000
Meals: Doctors' lounges are available 24 hours a day, as well as a food stipend of $1,400 a year.
Memberships: AAFP, ACOG, and Fitness Center