Dignity Health East Valley Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program
About our program
- Mission focused: Compassionate and community minded
- High-volume: Low risk and high-risk obstetrics
- Advanced Minimally Invasive Gynecology: High volume complex cases and EMIGS curriculum
- Patient Safety and Quality Improvement focused: Innovative novel didactic curriculum with a focus on patient safety and healthcare quality improvement
- Culture of Scholarship: Innovative ressearch curriculum and mentorship utilizing the 13-step road map to scholarly activity
- Wellness: Focus on resident and faculty wellness
- Career Pathway: Sub specialist rotations early in residency to help with sub specialist fellowship and academic track
Our goal and mission
The Dignity Health East Valley Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program's mission is to train OBGYN residents in a supportive and inclusive scholarly environment to become competent in the independent practice of high-quality, safe, equitable, and evidence-based general Obstetrics and Gynecology and to serve as consultants to other healthcare providers in the community both in the ambulatory and hospital setting.
The residents will be an integral part of Mercy Gilbert and Chandler Regional Medical Center’s mission to make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable while we advance social justice for all. We are steadfast in promoting the advancement of our residents in the field of obstetrics and gynecology through their clinical work, education, and research to provide high-quality, safe, and equitable healthcare.
Message from the Program Director
Welcome to the Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program at Dignity Health East Valley! We are excited to begin this transformative journey with you, guided by our innovative curriculum that seamlessly integrates research, simulation, patient safety, and cutting-edge practices.
Our program stands out for its EQuIPS curriculum - Equity, Quality Improvement, and Patient Safety - reflecting our deep commitment to these principles. By embedding these core values into every aspect of your training, we aim to develop clinicians who are not only highly skilled but also responsive to the needs of diverse patient populations. Our focus on continuous improvement and achieving zero patient harm is aligned with our institute’s commitment to High Reliability and Excellence Every Day, Every Way.
You will have the opportunity to engage with our esteemed community partners, enriching your education and refining your clinical skills. These collaborations will empower you to make a meaningful impact through initiatives that improve health outcomes and champion social justice in the communities you serve.
Our program features a comprehensive 13-step roadmap to scholarly activity, designed to cultivate research skills and advance your academic career. This structured approach will support your growth in research methodology, critical analysis, and the application of findings to clinical practice, ensuring significant contributions to the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
At Dignity Health East Valley, our dedication aligns with the core values of CommonSpirit; compassion, inclusion, integrity, excellence, and collaboration. We encourage you to carry forward these values and the expertise gained during your residency into your professional career. Our goal is for you to lead efforts that address healthcare disparities and advocate for underserved communities, continuously enhancing community health and well-being.
We look forward to working together as you embark on this exciting chapter. Together, we will advance the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.
– Erum Azhar, MD, MS PHS, MHQS, CPPS, FACOG
Would you like more information about our program?
Didactics
- Structured Intern on-boarding/orientation with surgical skill workshop and robotic boot camp
- Dedicated protected weekly "Core Curriculum Conference" series
- Innovative and novel Equity, Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (EQuIPS) Curriculum and training (monthly)
- Resident lectures in general OBGYN/specialty topics (weekly)
- Grand rounds (bimonthly)
- Simulation curriculum and training (monthly)
- Structured research curriculum (monthly)
- CREOG exam preparation sessions and resident wellness (every other month)
- Journal Club (once every 3 months)
- Bonus (flexible) Friday (4/year)
Block schedule
PGY – 1
- Obstetrics (3)
- Gynecology (3)
- Emergency Department (1)
- Family Planning (1)
- Sonogram/Simulation (1)
- Night Float (2)
- EQuIPS (1)
PGY – 2
- Obstetrics (3)
- Gynecology (2)
- Minimally Invasive Gynecology (2)
- Night Float (2)
- MFM outpatient (1)
- SICU (1)
- REI (1)
PGY – 3
- Obstetrics (3)
- Gynecology (2)
- Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (1)
- GYN-Oncology (1)
- Family Planning (1)
- Night Float (3)
- Elective/Research (1)
PGY – 4
- Obstetrics (3)
- Gynecology (2)
- Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (2)
- GYN-Oncology (2)
- Minimally Invasive Gynecology (1)
- Night Float (2)
A scholarly environment
At the end of completion of the four-year residency program, the graduates will be able to:
- Develop the key competencies of obstetrics and gynecology in multiple settings of labor and delivery, inpatient, operating room, ambulatory, and consultative subspecialty training.
- Demonstrate progressive responsibility and autonomy for the care of patients with lifelong learning skills.
- Provide care in community and academic hospital settings and opportunity for additional electives to selectively design their career path in subspecialty interests and career paths of community practice/fellowship/academic OBGYN/research.
- Uphold the highest standards of professionalism, system-based practice, and practice-based learning and improvement in their clinical practice.
- Function effectively in complex healthcare systems to be an effective team leader and work collaboratively as an integral member of hospital committees and multi-disciplinary projects.
- Incorporate wellness and work-life balance leading to longevity in obstetrics and gynecology.
- Provide high quality, safe, and equitable healthcare improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable while we advance social justice for all.
Take a virtual tour of our East Valley hospitals.
Chandler Regional Medical Center is a 429-bed, Level 1 Trauma Center which includes a variety of health care services and a newly added Tower D. Mercy Gilbert Medical Center is a 197-bed hospital which opened in 2006 and is expanding with the development of the Women’s and Children’s Pavilion – a joint project between Mercy Gilbert and Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Enjoy this short video tour showcasing both hospitals where we pride ourselves on teamwork, innovation, faith and compassion.
Hot Opportunities in the Valley of the Sun
Our geography offers a multitude of outdoor activities including hiking, swimming and beautiful destinations that can be explored year-round. The lakes near Chandler offer great water skiing with mountains and and various snow / winter activities being only a short drive away. Indoor attractions include thriving arts and culture, dining, entertainment and more here in the East Valley and only 30 minutes away in Phoenix and Scottsdale. The East Valley offers great communities to live in and neighbors to get to know.
More about our OBGYN Residency Program
General Obstetrics and Gynecology
Jane Ahn, DO.
Namita Kothari, MD
Director Obstetrics:
Charles Boag, DO, FACOG
Erum Azhar MD, MS PHS, MHQS, CPPS, FACOG
Director Gynecology:
Andrew C Villa Jr. MD, MBA, FACOG, FACS, FICS
Naprotecnology/ Gynecology-Minimally Invasive /Natural Family Planning:
Erica Kreller, MD
Sub-Specialist Directors
Maternal Fetal Medicine:
Curtis Cook, MD, FACOG
Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (Urogynecology):
Ali Azadi, MD, MSc, MBA, FACOG, FPMRS
Polina Sawyer, MD, FACOG
Minimally Invasive Gynecology:
Nicole O.Afaupe, MD, FACOG
Gynecology/ Minimally Invasive
Mia Lynne Van Eken, DO, MHA
Gynecology Oncology:
Mario Javier Pineda, MD, PhD
Family Planning – Camelback Family Planning:
Danielle Allen-Herried, DO, MBA
Gabrielle J. Goodrick, MD
Reproductive Endocrinology (REI): Bloom Reproductive Institute
Millie Behera, MD, FACOG, FRCSC
Research/EQuIPS & Simulation
Director Research and EQuIPS :
Abdul Waheed, MD, MS PHS, FAAFP
Director Simulation-Gynecology:
Polina Sawyer MD, FACOG
Nicole Afaupe MD, FACOG
Director Simulation-Obstetrics:
Erum Azhar MD, MS PHS, MHQS, CPPS, FACOG
