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Northwestern University
Northwestern University's Fellowship in Family Planning trains clinician scientists so that they can ultimately provide leadership necessary to improve the quality of clinical care and research in reproductive medicine throughout the United States and the world. Specific objectives of Northwestern University’s Fellowship Program include the following:
Candidates must demonstrate a strong commitment to pursue a career that includes a clinical or full time faculty appointment at an academic or research oriented institution as demonstrated by a desire to teach family planning and abortion and perform research related to reproductive health care. The program consists of two years of full-time training in family planning as a fellow in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Medical School (NUMS). The department hires one fellow annually. The fellowship includes completion of course requirements for either a Master in Public Health degree or a Masters of Science in Clinical Investigations degree. Fellows also have the opportunity to pursue coursework or clinical investigation through Northwestern University’s Institute of Health Policy and Health Policy Research.
Clinical training encompasses all methods of uterine evacuation with emphasis on second trimester D&E. An important benefit of the program is the variety of practice settings in which fellows encounter many kinds of patients and clinical challenges. These settings include an in-hospital outpatient abortion clinic focused on first trimester cases, and a private practice based abortion clinic which offers medication abortions, genetic terminations, and complex second trimester abortions. Further clinical and research opportunities are available through affiliated clinics whose medical directors provide leadership and mentoring. In addition to the abortion experience, fellows receive training in surgical sterilization procedures, including laparoscopic tubal ligation and Essure hysteroscopy. Fellows may choose to complete a Master’s Degree in Public Health or a Master’s Degree in Science/Investigation at Northwestern University. Research may be conducted on a broad range of topics, including contraceptive development, abortion and contraception in women with disabilities, abortion training and education, post-abortion contraception, adolescent contraception and decision-making, international family planning, and family planning program evaluation. Fellows are also able to work on bench research in the areas of contraception development and fertility preservation studies. Family Planning Fellows share their perspectives with other specialties including Social Science, Infectious Diseases, and Maternal and Fetal Medicine. Collaboration is a strong feature of the Northwestern program. Northwestern’s Institute for Women’s Health Research specializing in fertility preservation and contraception and faculty from the Policy Research Institute allows fellows to collaborate with demographers, epidemiologists, and other social scientists who conduct worldwide research, training, and policy analysis. In addition, fellows collaborate with professionals from the affiliated clinic and from surrounding community organizations which includes advocates, and researchers at other universities in Chicago. Overall mentoring in the program is provided by Dr. Cassing Hammond and Dr. John J. Sciarra and includes scheduled mentoring meetings addressing progress in completing fellowship requirements and assisting fellows with all aspects of professional development toward becoming a leader in the field of family planning. Additional mentoring, tailored to the fellow’s research interests, is available through other expert faculty. Diverse international contacts and activities implemented by Dr. Sciarra and other faculty and staff of the Department of Global Health at Northwestern University offer a broad range of international experiences in training, program evaluation or research. The Northwestern Fellowship program expects fellows to participate in an international rotation and, with the Fellowship’s national staff, gives guidance and assistance in arranging such experiences.
Cassing Hammond, MD, graduated from the University of Missouri’s six-year BA/MD program and competed residency training at University of Rochester. Following three years in private practice and University affiliated abortion practice, he relocated to Northwestern University where he gradually assumed responsibility for all clinical family planning services. Dr. Hammond is the Director of the Program in Family Planning at Northwestern. He is also the Director of the obstetrics and gynecologic services for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He remains a busy provider of general Ob/Gyn services in Northwestern’s faculty based practice and directs the 3rd year student clerkship at Prentice Women’s Hospital. Hammond has an interest in educational methodology and outcomes related to abortion training. He is a member of many organizations including the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the National Abortion Federation, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health. He sponsors Northwestern’s Medical Students for Choice chapter. John Sciarra, MD, PhD is the Thomas J. Watkins Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University. He served as Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern, as well as Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern Memorial Hospital from 1974 to 2003. He is past president of APGO, the Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the International Society of Gynecologic Endoscopy, and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). Dr. Sciarra is also Editor of Gynecology and Obstetrics and the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics.
Research and Clinical Interests of the Directors
Current Faculty Research Projects
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